Oak Bay and Blethering

After a short cruise over to Oak Bay we docked at the Marina for a day and night in Oak Bay. The Marina facilities were many, however their washrooms and showers left much to be desired. For $55/night it was disappointing. The town of Oak Bay is a short hike away - about 1/2 mile amongst pretty little and large homes and condos. Many of the older homes were very English in their architecture and all a delight to the eye.

Our first stop had to be the Blethering Place for lunch! Dad had bangers and mash, while I had Welsh Rarebit.


A stroll around town and a visit to Starbucks for internet for me and a roam around the art galleries for Dad. Delightful street scapes here, very typical of the Island.

We couldn't resist a trip back to the Blethering Place for late 'tea'. I blew my otherwise healthy diet by treating myself to scones, clotted cream and strawberry preserves.

Dad satisfied his sweet tooth with a generous portion of treacle pudding.

Both were yummy and well worth a special trip to Oak Bay just to enjoy some English favorites.

Saturday we made our way back home first a stop for customs at Friday Harbor where we yet again get a new questions from the customs agent -- how long have you known her (question for Dad)? do you have any rum? did you have any guests on board while in Canada? So, I guess they're suspicious of Canadians marrying Americans, demon rum and Canadians leaving germs on board when visiting the boat. Should have told them we were importing the Canadian Health Care system..... that would have caused near apoplexy.

We crossed Haro Strait and made Deception Pass at slack tide and then anchored in Skagit Bay to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and were entertained in the evening with thunder and lightning storm. Sunday dawned hot sunny and clear so we stayed to soak up the day before heading home after dinner. Cate and Dan saw us at the dock from their sailboat Mythirandr (sp?) and we were given great welcome home hugs at the dock. After sharing a glass of wine with the world's best neighbors -- and catching up, we ended a delightful day.

Dad and I will be home for 4 days getting chores looked after. The dinghy engine became quite unreliable and it's in getting an overhaul. We'll pick it up on Friday along with our big guys Mike and Aaron and be off again Saturday morning to enjoy the Islands with our grandsons. Leslie and Steve will enjoy a peaceful week sans enfants at home in LaConner.

It is sweltering hot in LaConner and although enjoyable it does slow us down. The evenings have been cool enough to sleep though.

More over the weekend as we cruise the San Juans with the boys.......

The Sun Shines on Cadboro Bay

We beached the dinghy near the children's play park at Cadboro Bay and walked to town. Does anyone know what this tree is? The flowers are a gorgeous purple -- can you spot the bee? Spent some time wandering around the town, a visit to Starbucks to internet the last blog post and then to the English Pub for a beer before returning to the beach.


The kids on the beach sure knew how to make sand castle forts!
In the evening we enjoyed the sailboat races in the Bay -- I'm sure the sailors were happier to be able to see their marks. This morning (Thursday) we had a leisurely cruise over to Oak Bay and after checking in the at the marina, we took a walk to town. More later about Oak Bay.

To Cadboro Bay on Vancouver Island

Relaxing on the afterdeck enjoying the sunset at Sidney Spit, we had a visitor come join us. He wasn't easily shooed away so we just let him sit there and squawk at us - obviously he had something on his mind.....
We left Sidney Spit in the morning under beautiful sunny skies -- a half hour later we were in the fog soup. Here's Darcy Island looking as eerie as its past. It was a leper colony in the 1800's - primarily inhabited by Chinese immigrants. When the whites started coming down with the dreaded disease, they moved the Chinese to Little Darcy - a separate island - so as not to mix the two. And, that is the way it was in those days - thankfully gone. We didn't anchor at Darcy for lunch as planned since the bay looked extremely unappealing - rocks everywhere.

The view from the bow of the boat shows you that we were socked in with fog all the way to Cadboro Bay. Thank heavens for an experienced skipper, electronic charts & GPS and the radar officer (me). We arrived safe and sound in Cadboro Bay and amazingly they were having a sailboat race!
The fog did lift and we dinghed to the beach and took a walk to town.

Sidney Spit -- nothing better!

Here we are at Sidney Spit. The sun is shining, the sand is warm and the picnic on the beach was great. Here's Dad applying some of his 50 weight lotion.









It seems that the sand goes on forever here. We take a walk right out to the end of the spit and on the way, Dad practices his high wire act.









Hey, Jocelyn -- this one's for you! The Canadian Navy ship anchored near the spit gave some of their hotties a bit of shore leave......









The walk to the end of the spit is about 3/4 mile both ways. Our dinghy is docked where you see the trees in the back of the picture.









And here we both are at the light at the end of the Spit. Buffy -- the picture you have of Aunt Marian and girls was taken at this same spot (only about 70 years ago...)

Princess Margaret Island, Moresby and Brethour Islands

We left Cowichan with another stellar day of sunshine! We've been lathering ourselves with what Dad calls 50 weight sunblock and so far we've avoided any burns. The winds have been fair today and we've spent a lot of time gunkholing on our way south. The huge house in this picture is the Duke of Sutherland's estate near Duncan, B.C.

We cruised the various bays on around Princess Margaret Island now called Portland Island. The province gave her the island as a gift when she lasted visited B.C. and she in turn gave it back to the province to be a marine park. Dad found an adventurous little bay to tuck into for the afternoon and we enjoyed watching all the marine traffic go by. It wasn't a good place for the night so after dinner, we went over to Moresby Island and tucked into another of those 1 boat bays we love so well. Here's the sunset!

As we head over to Sidney Spit the next morning we pass by the Brethour Island of our family connection. Thar being many rocks on the north end we swing round to the end and pass between Domville and Brethour and "surf" to the spit at 11 Knots at one point - helped by 3knot current in both directions. Dad was grinning.

Cowichan

The wind continued yesterday but we had a hot sunny morning at Genoa and an EXCELLENT lunch at the cafe. The marina is very comfortable -- also very pretty with lots of flowers. Cate, get a load of these lillies!


Jocelyn was bragging to me about her bedding out plants and how prolific they are -- well how about my bedding outs!

We left after our lunch at the Genoa cafe and headed over to Cowichan -- a very short run so we decided to spend a night on the dock to get properly charged up.

We docked at the Fisherman's Wharf -- you'll recognize the typical Government Dock red rails and behind the gangway, A cappella is sitting pretty.

Cowichan is a funky little town with shops tucked in here and there and down the "main street".
Among other notables -- an all organic bakery which is fabulous, and aroma drifting out enticing us in to spend $9.00 on a bag of molasses and ginger cookies; an old fashioned ice cream parlour called "Udder Guys", little boutiques with Asian type fabrics, a shop named "The Mud Room" where a sculptor displays her wares as well as her much developed fabric felting skill.

The highlight was a maritime museum built out over the docks on the waterfront. A First Nations carver was demonstrating his work, 'guys' were restoring old wooden boats and on display were many restored launches, dinghies, boats, engines and boat models.


Dad in front of the Maritime Museum showing off an old tug boat engine.

Main Street Cowichan in front of the bakery (Dad is by the telephone pole) -- the bicycle above the door has loaves of bread haning from it - strange....

Weatherman calls for more sun and we call for more fun -- we're off to Princess Margaret's Island (Portland) today and further anchorages in the Canadian Gulf Islands -- perhaps we'll stop at Brethour Island (named after a relative -- well specifically named after Grandpa George Cochran's sister who married a Brethour -- are you keeping track?)

Beautiful Genoa Bay!

After a big wind up to Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island, we decided to put in to Genoa Bay -- somewhat more protected. We "danced" with a triamaran who couldn't get his anchor set correctly so we did the fender dance while the winds still shifting. He finally tied to a mooring buoy and we felt safe enough to go to the dock for a lookaround and a walk.
This huge tree is just up the road from the Marina. Dad looks pretty small compared to the trunk of the tree! This is a great place and would be quite a lovely spot to live.

Some boats take no chances anchoring! This guy macramed himself to the buoy! The windy night kept the skipper busy as many boats drag anchor. A cappella, and her new anchor, stay put despite the will-a-waws!

Sunday morning brings us no wind and a stellar day -- we dinghy over to the dock for email and lunch at the well recommended restaurant.

The restaurant at Genoa Bay.

After lunch today, we'll try Cowichan Bay again. It's reported to be a "funky" marina and lots of unique shops in town.

Sidney - Friday Morning.

We leave Garrison Bay on another bright sunshiny day and wend our way north to customs at Port Sidney on Vancouver Island.
A good walkabout town shows the amazing changes even since we were last here. This is the building named 'The Sidney Cannery' which stands on the same block as the old cannery did which was (for you Tomkinson children) owned and operated by Colin Caird Cochran and George Anderson Cochran (Colin being your 2nd great uncle, George being your Great Grandfather.

Richard finds someone he remembers from visiting Sidney as a tot -- she's rather a permanent fixture! He is no doubt pointing to a painting in her book and telling her all about it.....

We are leaving Sidney today (Saturday) and heading out to Cowichan Bay and perhaps Maple Bay. Our thoughts are that we will also visit Princess Margaret's Island before heading south again.

English Camp Part 4 - Leaving

The history of English Camp at the park entrance.

The gorgeously gnarled bark of the Gary Oaks.

An Osprey is captured minding her nest. The Park attendant tells us that the babies are not flying yet.

We depart English Camp in the same manner as the Royal Engineers did in 1870 - peacefully and well satisfied with our time at the Camp.

English Camp Part 3 - Cemetery

After about a 3/4 mile hike we arrive at English Cemetery where 7 souls are buried. These seven men died while the English were at Garrison Bay during the Boundary dispute.

The plaque commemorates the 7 men and was put up by the BC Maritime Museum Association.

The Tombstones - standing but difficult to read. They have been transcribed and plaques have been mounted on the fence. Most died of drowning, while the one below particularly caught my eye.

William Taylor -- shot by his brother by accident at 24 years of age.

Richard is holding up and pointing at the "spirit stone" we found in front of the tree. This will be added to our rapidly expanding collection of stones.

English Camp - Part 2

One of the first things the Royal Marines did when they established the camp was to build a vegetable garden. Later when the camp was established, they turned it in to a formal walking garden much like at home in England. It was done to please the wives of the soldiers and beautify their surroundings. The trail above the formal garden was the officers quarters.
View of the formal garden from the Officer's Quarters.

This beautiful maple is 340 years old, predating the camp and enjoyed by not only today's tourists, the farmer who owned the land after the English left, the Royal Marines and the Native peoples before them. A midden was dug here the last time we were on the site (about 25 years ago if you can imagine that) and many remnants of the Salish peoples were found. There is also a beautiful shell beach at low tide.

Richard in the field on Young Hill surrounded by Gary Oak trees that have been reforested to approximate the original flora on the island.