A group of LPS members decided to meet up at Montague for the BC Day long weekend and invited us along; but Lisa was working. So it was with mixed feelings that we headed out without Mom, for our first trip out with just dad and the girls. Although we got away a little later than we had planned, the crossing was flat. We missed slack through Active Pass, but it wasn’t running more than 1.5 as we went through, so remained pretty calm. When I called in for Customs clearance I forgot about how long the reduced speed channel just prior to entering Montague was, and found myself having to call Customs a second time to adjust our ETA at the clearance dock. As it turned out, we circled around for about 5 Min. until our allotted time had past, then continued on our way to find the rest of the squadron.
Newfie Bullet and Persistence were already in place on the NE shore. They both had anchors set and tied off to a big fir tree on the shore, so all we had to was tie onto them. Gladsong II came in shortly after us. They also call Point Roberts their home, but their boat was fully enclosed in its protective green tarp, so I didn’t expect to see them out. They were there however, and were just about to begin untarping her when they saw the stern of BoB go by. They did try to hail us once they got underway. I heard the end of a transmission from a Gladsong (not II), but knew that they weren’t out because I had just seen her tied up at the docks. Anyway, knowing that another 20 tonne vessel would be coming in much later and should go on the other end of the raft for balancing sake, we cast off and let Gladsong II into our place, and then came up and secured along side them.
Trincomallee II was expected in around 2330, but didn’t make it in till around 0045 Saturday. I was listening to the VHF as Bob hailed her as she was entering Montague. There were so many boats in the Harbour, she really didn’t have a chance of finding us through all the anchor lights, so I started flashing my mast light and Jim picked it up pretty quick. Once along side of Persistence, everyone was quckly asleep for the rest of the night.
Elsa was relieved to see Lucy, the Henderson’s black lab pup, had made it inovernight. Some people get to know boats, or people, but Elsa has a knack for remembering dogs and their boats. Every other boat was getting me in trouble by trying to get me to borrow their tenders instead of getting the girls to do the rowing. Of course when some of them started having outboard problems, I just smiled. Karma.
Gladsong II had other commitments and had to leave Sat. morning. There was another larger vessel expected to take her place, so while we casted off to let out Gladsong II, we swung around to the other end of the raft and tied up toTrincomallee II.
There were a lot of activities happening at the park throughout the weekend. There was an archaeological dig/lecture going on so I took Megan, Elsa and Jilly into it. Jim gloated me into using their powered tender and off we went. All three girls found it really interesting, but best of all was watching Jim rowing our tender in to take Lucy for a walk. I also signed up the girls for the night time viewing at the marine shack. The Hendersons went with their tender and we hitched along side for the ride. Again, the girls found this really interesting, but the woman presenter could have given them a lot more interesting information.
Everyone enjoyed the pot luck feast that went down Sat. night. By now the girlsand the grandchildren from the other boats were starting to get to know each other a bit. When we rowed in to use the facilities, we couldn’t help but marvel at the vivid green phosphorecence in the water lighting up our wake and paddle strokes. It was a full and fun day.
Late Sat. morning, Elsa and I rowed out to the bakery boat, the old 3 car Gabriola Island ferry, to order cinnamon buns for Sunday morning, and to get an afternoon snack. So Sunday morning we were heading out to get some fresh baked buns. Delicious! After breakfast there was a late morning beach combing being done by the marine park, so all of the kids went in for that. We cheated and hitched a ride from the Hendersons again. The Stones came along side us to make for a twin screwed trimaran, but they had to break off and rescue the Snezels, who had ran out of gas. We couldn’t help but laugh when they too, ran out... I never seem to have these problems with the oars! The kids spent most of the afternoon over on our boat, playing cards, entertaining/watching over the younger kids, and just having fun. After dinner, the Snezels put a DVD and popcorn on for them all to watch, and that took care of Sunday night.
Everyone else had to get going earlier than our planned Monday morning departure time, so we went over near the park dock and tied up for a couple of hours in order to catch slack at Active Pass. We whipped up some pancakes, went for a walk on the beach, then it was time to go. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if Lisa could have made it. More photos
Newfie Bullet and Persistence were already in place on the NE shore. They both had anchors set and tied off to a big fir tree on the shore, so all we had to was tie onto them. Gladsong II came in shortly after us. They also call Point Roberts their home, but their boat was fully enclosed in its protective green tarp, so I didn’t expect to see them out. They were there however, and were just about to begin untarping her when they saw the stern of BoB go by. They did try to hail us once they got underway. I heard the end of a transmission from a Gladsong (not II), but knew that they weren’t out because I had just seen her tied up at the docks. Anyway, knowing that another 20 tonne vessel would be coming in much later and should go on the other end of the raft for balancing sake, we cast off and let Gladsong II into our place, and then came up and secured along side them.
Trincomallee II was expected in around 2330, but didn’t make it in till around 0045 Saturday. I was listening to the VHF as Bob hailed her as she was entering Montague. There were so many boats in the Harbour, she really didn’t have a chance of finding us through all the anchor lights, so I started flashing my mast light and Jim picked it up pretty quick. Once along side of Persistence, everyone was quckly asleep for the rest of the night.
Elsa was relieved to see Lucy, the Henderson’s black lab pup, had made it inovernight. Some people get to know boats, or people, but Elsa has a knack for remembering dogs and their boats. Every other boat was getting me in trouble by trying to get me to borrow their tenders instead of getting the girls to do the rowing. Of course when some of them started having outboard problems, I just smiled. Karma.
Gladsong II had other commitments and had to leave Sat. morning. There was another larger vessel expected to take her place, so while we casted off to let out Gladsong II, we swung around to the other end of the raft and tied up toTrincomallee II.
There were a lot of activities happening at the park throughout the weekend. There was an archaeological dig/lecture going on so I took Megan, Elsa and Jilly into it. Jim gloated me into using their powered tender and off we went. All three girls found it really interesting, but best of all was watching Jim rowing our tender in to take Lucy for a walk. I also signed up the girls for the night time viewing at the marine shack. The Hendersons went with their tender and we hitched along side for the ride. Again, the girls found this really interesting, but the woman presenter could have given them a lot more interesting information.
Everyone enjoyed the pot luck feast that went down Sat. night. By now the girlsand the grandchildren from the other boats were starting to get to know each other a bit. When we rowed in to use the facilities, we couldn’t help but marvel at the vivid green phosphorecence in the water lighting up our wake and paddle strokes. It was a full and fun day.
Late Sat. morning, Elsa and I rowed out to the bakery boat, the old 3 car Gabriola Island ferry, to order cinnamon buns for Sunday morning, and to get an afternoon snack. So Sunday morning we were heading out to get some fresh baked buns. Delicious! After breakfast there was a late morning beach combing being done by the marine park, so all of the kids went in for that. We cheated and hitched a ride from the Hendersons again. The Stones came along side us to make for a twin screwed trimaran, but they had to break off and rescue the Snezels, who had ran out of gas. We couldn’t help but laugh when they too, ran out... I never seem to have these problems with the oars! The kids spent most of the afternoon over on our boat, playing cards, entertaining/watching over the younger kids, and just having fun. After dinner, the Snezels put a DVD and popcorn on for them all to watch, and that took care of Sunday night.
Everyone else had to get going earlier than our planned Monday morning departure time, so we went over near the park dock and tied up for a couple of hours in order to catch slack at Active Pass. We whipped up some pancakes, went for a walk on the beach, then it was time to go. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if Lisa could have made it. More photos