The calm after the storm, Gorge Harbour, Cortes Island. They say sailing is 99% boredom and 1%excitement.  At times, the same can be said about cruising, and that would aptly describe the last four days. It rained Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday while southeasterly winds continued to blow outside the anchorage.  Apart from taking Sally to shore, we spent most of our time stuck inside the boat and, sooner...

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Driftwood Beach The wind continues to blow from the southeast and Environment Canada has now upgraded the forecast from light and variable to 25 knots in the late morning, so we’re staying here in Deep Bay where we’re well protected until the conditions subside.  I can’t speak for everybody aboard, but I didn’t mind:  The extra day gave me the opportunity to explore more of the island.  Yesterday...

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There are several anchoring options available throughout Jedediah Island, but our stay coincided with southeasterly winds leaving us only one choice:  Deep Bay on the island’s northern end.  Considered to be one of the safest anchorages in the area, Deep Bay offers all-weather protection.  And we agree.  While it was blowing over 20 knots in the Strait of Georgia, we only saw a breeze inside the anchorage –...

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Cambria stern tied in Deep Bay, Jedediah Island We made our way north to Nanaimo on Monday – something neither of us really wanted to do but consider a necessary evil.  Not only is it a convenient stop, it’s the largest city we’ll be in for months and our last real opportunity to take care of any land-based business before we move into remote areas.  But three days...

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Miss Sally enjoying a walk along Montague Harbour's midden beach. After a somewhat restless night tied to the dock waiting for customs to come and knock on the hull, another boat from the US arrived this morning around eight o’clock.  I watched the captain stroll up to the hut, confident enough to keep his engine running,and return within minutes with his clearance number:  There’s definitely something wrong here. ...

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Cambria stuck at the customs dock in Bedwell Harbour, South Pender Island. West Sound on Orcas Island has been a favourite stop of ours for years.  It’s not the anchorage itself that makes it special, it’s our friends, Bill and Sylvia, who live there.  We met shortly after we arrived in Washington back in 2008 and have made a point to see each other ever since.  In fact,...

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A Trident Sub transiting Admiralty Inlet Timing is everything in the Pacific Northwest and today was no exception.  The forecast for the next couple of days isn’t the best and calls for a strong surface trough to move through the area late this afternoon with increased southwesterly winds followed by a system of high pressure.  Small craft advisories are in effect from one o’clock through midnight for the...

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Cambria at anchor in Port Ludlow with the Olympic Mountains in the background Today was the day!  After months of waiting and preparation, we were finally ready to drop our lines and head north . . . or were we? About two hours into the trip, David discovered two diesel leaks coming from loose fittings on the fuel supply lines at the number two and/or three injector.  He was...

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Part number 9: the missing nut There are certain things in life that I never expected, nor wanted, to know anything about.  Fuel injectors would definitely fall into this category.  But now that we’re stuck in Poulsbo because ours were removed over three weeks ago and have yet to be reinstalled, they’re a topic of regular conversation aboard Cambria.  It’s a long story, but aren’t they all when it...

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