Bridge to Everett

Our time on Vancouver Island for this year ended with an ACBL Bridge Tournament in Nanaimo - a beautiful harbor between Sydney and Campbell River. Nanaimo was the site of a major coal mining operation that was by the Hudson Bay Trading Company. The Bastion houses a small museum that explains coal mining life in the early days. The harbor was lovely and the company was terrific. Debra and Ralph joined us for bridge and subjected themselves to our rusty play. A good time was had by all and we won master points every day. (Albeit not many master points.)
We cooked, laughed and had a wonderful time. Our friends, Sandy and Gene joined us for two dinners (cioppino and paella) on the boat.
Now we head to Everett to spend some time with Jan’s family augmented by trips to Vancouver and Olympia. Another adventure awaits.

Pretty Scary!!!

Couples who dress alike or who wear coordinating clothes have always been a pet peeve of mine. I swore that Doug would never have a tee shirt that announced "stop yelling" that matched mine that declared "I am not yelling!"
I have long prided myself on being above such things...and then I realized that Doug and I have identical light rain gear (modeled by me) AND we have two pairs of shoes that are the same AND identical rubber boots. This could morph into something really ugly. What if is creeps beyond the boat into public places? What if they start making fashionable pumps in a men's 11? Oh, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

No Red Sky at Morning

The storm passed last night. Our achorage was good but the storm was strong. It was at best a restless night with many checks of the barometer and the anchor watch. the sun rose without red and the seas are beginning to lay down. Hope to move inland tomorrow but it could be the following day. We want to be inland when the next storm hits.

Red Sky at Morning

As we enjoyed the last remnants of summer with Kathryn and Bob storms were brewing. The first was a gale that we weathered anchored in the Ucluelet channel. Saturday morning provided enough of a window to move part way across Barkely Sound and select a protected anchorage at Effingham Bay where the weather is eerily calm today and we were greeted by a brilliant sunrise and reminded of the mariner’s adage:

Red sky at morning

Sailor take Warning

Doug has let out additional chain on the anchor and done a strong stern tie. We expect the storm to pass north of us but a cautious captain is to be had and we are prepared for winds even though we expect none. The storm is expected to hit late this afternoon. Storms are typically part of a low that is foreshadowed by a falling barometer

1000 hours -The barometer is 30.06 and steady.

1100 hours – The barometer is 30.05 and falling slightly.

1200 hours – The barometer is at 30.04 and falling.

1300 hours – The barometer is at 30.03 and falling.

1400 hours – The barometer is at 30.00 and falling more rapidly than previously.

1500 hours – The barometer is a 29.97 and continuing to fall.

The Crab Farmer

You can take the boy off the farm but not the farm out of the boy. Two or three times a day Doug announces his intention to care for the livestock (aka crabs and oysters). He gives them fresh sea water with lots of oxygen and then plays with the crab to “liven them up”. They are learning to play or suffer the consequences…becoming crab meat!

Canada has a plethora of big crabs and catch limits of 6 per day and a possession limit of 12 crabs. Right now we have 10 (soon to become 9) in the livewells. And, believe it or not, we are somewhat tired of crabl

Last Guests and New Journey

Our friends, Bob and Kathryn left yesterday. We had a grand finale crab pull in Useless Inlet and a great paella in Ucluelet. We saw whales, gathered clams and ate well.

We are weathered in, anxiously watching for a window with no promises by Zeus that the sea will quiet soon. A gale is raging and another follows on its heels. We are not anxious to become Ucluelet's newest winter residents but we will be here until a safe passage can be had.

This will be the last regular posting to the blog since we are moving south to assist with some family health issues. If you would like further news, please email driftercline@gmail.com and updates will come.