Saying Goodbye!

Friday August 12, 2011
exit Shearwater
arrive Lockhart Bay Horsfall Island 52 12.19N, 128 15.47W
This is where we are parting ways with Invictus. It has been so much fun boating along side with them and I am sure we will do it again next summer. But they have to start their journey towards home, and we still have lots of time to play!

I love the colours in this picture... looking towards the mainland coast mountains, just outside Bella Bella.

Our day was pretty uneventful, mostly grey and no wind. Our first stop was at Bella Bella to fill up with fuel and water since they don't have potable water in Shearwater (not sure why not, but that is what they told us).
Our first pick for anchorage, just west of Mallory Islands, was too crowded with fishing charter boats, so we turned around (very tight anchorage) and went a little further on, anchoring in very quiet Lockhart Bay.
Saturday August 13, 2011
Decided to stay another day in this beautiful bay, something we call a home day, where you just stay put. We waited for the rain to stop, and then used the dingy to explore the shore. Not much to report except a very large mass of fishing net and floats caught up on the rocks close to shore. It looked awful, but lots of creatures were making in into a home so we left it alone. Spent most of the day reading and just hanging.

The continuation of our trip.

On a shore in Johnstone Strait, example of what boats plying these waters have to watch out for.

Tuesday August 2, 2011
exit Port McNeill
anchor Walker Group 50 53.91N, 127 05.73W
Engine hrs: 1864 Fuel consumption: 94 lt / 47 hrs.
Sometimes I take a picture and then later look at what I have on my camera and ask myself "wt*?" Not sure what the picture is of or why I took it and on this trip there are a lot of pictures like that. But I know that sometimes I was trying to get the picture of a whale or dolphin and all you see in the photo is blurry water. But I will be posting at least one awesome picture of a whale's tail I was finally able to get.
Anyway, we left PM with full tanks of fuel (136 lt) and water (130 gal). We are going to be ultra conservative with the water because there are three of us on board and we are not quite sure when we will be filling again. Mom is still getting used to how things work on the boat after accidentally leaving the bathroom tap in the on position and draining one water tank while we were motoring under way.
The Walker Group is an almost bomb proof anchorage. Once you get inside you are totally protected from the winds and swells or chop in Queen Charlotte Strait. We usually have the snug little cove to ourselves, but on this night we shared with two commercial fishing boats that tied up to the mooring buoy.

Gettin' ready to go, finally!

After all the work we have had done on Splendid Mane, we are just itching to get going on our trip. Earlier in our blog, I had mentioned we would be sailing north to spend some time around Rivers Inlet and Calvert Island. We are leaving on Tuesday July 26th, yeah!! Splendid Mane is just about ready to go. We started provisioning today and will finish up on Monday night. We will have enough on board to last us for the next 5 or 6 weeks.
Today Jerry changed the oil (1816 hrs) and yesterday Stephen put new zincs on for us. We are fueled up and full of water.
I hope to be posting as often as possible, but once we get past Port McNeil, the internet is pretty sketchy.
Go'in Boating!

And they're at the post....... they're off!!

Monday August 9, 2009
Leave our dock, Ladysmith 1330
Trip log: 0nm
Arrive Nanaimo Harbour 1745
Ultimate destination: Seymour Inlet 51 04.98N 127 39.40W

Lots of reading material for our trip.

We are off, FINALLY!! It took us two full days to pack the boat with enough supplies to last us one month. That is a lot of trips down and up the stairs. But, we are one hour into our trip and so far neither Jerry or myself can think of anything we have forgotten.
We will get through Dodd Narrows just before slack so we get a little push with the current. Next stop will be to fill up on diesel and water in Nanaimo, then we can put the anchor down in the harbour and enjoy our reward..... a nice dinner with a glass of wine. Then Splendid Mane will gently rock us to sleep. Saaa-weeet!!!
Welcome to all our followers, we hope you enjoy the trip!
Fuel: 114 lt (with extra gas can) $125.29
Water tanks full.

Filling the tanks for our next trip.

Wednesday August 5, 2009

Fuel and water fill: 1555.5 (117 lt @ $.8664)

We're off again... to Barkley Sound... Woof Woof

The 7:00 pm ferry leaving Sidney Harbour.

Wednesday July 8, 2009

Leave: Our dock 1245

Trip log: 0.0nm

Our first stop will be fuel and water in Chemainus.

Fuel: 82 lt $76.57 Hours: 1479

Water: both tanks full.

Through Sansum Narrows, around the south end of Saltspring Island to Portland Island.

The winds were either right on our nose or non existant all day, so we have had to run the motor. Once we get the anchor down it will be nice to listen to the peace and quiet.

Arrive: Portland Island, Princess Bay 2000

Trip log: 30.4 nm

Portland Island was given to Princess Margaret (1958) as a gift, but then in 1967 she gave it back to the province to make into a marine park. Another island that is very close by, Brackman Island is a nature reserve created by The NCC.