This was the first extended cruise we have done on Kuredu iV and the anticipation was almost overwhelming during the last two weeks leading up to our departure. The weather was checked twice a day and the boat was washed, polished and supplied days before we were supposed to cruise out. I sneaked away early on Friday, after having checked the KatKam for a final peek at the weather. After some final packing and checking we slowly set out - it was a beautiful day to be on the water.
We opted to head for Polier Pass, which has in the past been a bit mean to us, but today it was flat. Once through we throttled back to a slow 8 kn cruise to enjoy the scenery and relax. We arrived in Montague Harbour around 6:30 and found a spot to drop the hook in the NW corner - our usual preference. Dragonfly arrived just after 9:00 pm with Rob and Heather and Chris and Dana on board. Chris and Dana were joining us on board Dragonfly till Canada Day while they waited for their new boat to pass survey. Saturday was spent relaxing and Lloyd and his family joined us in the afternoon for a visit (they're at their cottage on Galliano for the weekend).
Sunday morning we upped anchor. We needed to drop off some garbage and recycling and Dragonfly needed a little fuel and water. We headed over to Ganges on Saltspring Island but fuel was a complete ripoff and for the life of us we could not find a spot to drop garbage and recycling. We left Ganges disgusted and headed to Annette Bay on Prevost Island for the night. Annette Bay is a beautiful and secluded spot and we had a fun afternoon.
On Monday we left for Winter Cove for Canada Day. Saturna Island hosts the annual Canada Day Lamb Roast which we have always wanted to visit. At the Western entrance to Winter Cove lies the wreck of the Robertson II - a 130 ft wooden sailboat that ran aground last year while we were in Todd Inlet. The weather was still amazing and we had to run the A/C a few times over the past 4 days to cool the interior of the boat down a little.
Wednesday we pulled anchor and headed for Friday harbor, where we would clear customs and full up with cheap(er) US fuel. It's amazing to think we can cruise to the US and fill up and it would still be cheaper than filling up locally. After refueling, filling the water tanks and dropping off garbage and recycling, we headed off to Fishermans Bay on Lopez Island till after July 4th. Our first night in Fishermans did not go well with a severe thunderstorm and high winds which had us drag anchor and then kept me awake the most of the night on anchor watch. The fireworks on the 4th was good and it seemed, at least, as if there were less boats in the bay than 4 years ago. The slightly less than good weather may have contributed also.
Our cruise back to Bedwell Bay to clear Canadian Customs was un-eventful. We pushed Kuredu to WOT throttle for a while and she easily climbed to her current top speed of just over 31 mph. Severe weather was predicted for later on teh 5th so we decided to check in for the night at Poets Cove. The resort is amazing but the docks need a lot of TLC. We had lunch and dinner at the pub restaurant.
We left Sunday morning for our return home. The 150ft Strangelove, home port Aalsmeer in the Netherlands, was anchored in Bedwell Bay. We headed through the Pender Canal and round the SE tip of North Pender. Dragonfly took off for home while we slowly cruised along enjoying the trip. We decided to stop in at Hope Bay at the Northern tip of North Pender. The docks were full but both the day-use buoys were open so we tied up and dinked over. A very pretty spot and worth a visit as you cruise by.
From Hope Bay we headed through Active Pass and up the Strait home. We stopped to help a grounded boat just South of the South Arm of the Fraser River but could not dislodge him. Took his anchor off to deeper water and left him to wait for the tide to change. He had no charts, no instruments and no local knowledge - go figure.
