A week in the Gulf islands

Nehalennia

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2007
10,006
Marysville, WA
Boat Info
2001 310DA twin 350 MAGs, Westerbeke 4.5KW
Engines
Twin 350 MAG V-drives
It began a slow departure out of town on Friday the 6th of Aug. We arrived at Deer Harbor and dropped a crab pot then tide up on the north pier for the night. It was a little wet sitting in Deer Harbour on a Saturday AM with rain and drizzle. I pulled the crab pot with nothing. I think someone may have helped me check my pot and took them home to measure how big they were? We met my cousin Brady and his bride and kids. He has a 225WE and we headed to Bedwell Harbour to stay at Poet's cove.

It still wasn't too warm
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Looking back towards the US from the light entering Bedwell HBR. The island on the left is Stuart Island in the US and the point on the right is North Pender island in BC. The little bit of blue sky proves to be an omen
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As we left Poet's Cove the clouds peeled back and we had a great run over to Sidney.
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We look like a yard sale but we're happy to be in the sun.
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From Sidney we plan on going over to Sidney spit for a night on the hook and hopefully more crab but as we leave on Monday AM it begins to rain again. We talk over the VHF and I suggest that instead of having all of us bored to death watchin it rain that we head up to Otter bay. Once again we lucked out and the sun broke out
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We left Otter bay after staying there 2 days and we stopped by Ganges for a couple hours to refresh on groceries, beverages and ice. We headed from Ganges to the small bay at Butchart Gardens to moor for the night. Brady got one of me running
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The girls had a nice relaxing time that evening
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Brady and Michelle left our company the next day, Thursday and headed off for other plans they had. We left Butchart and headed to Port Browning. Had a fun night there
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Headed back to the states for 2 hot nights at Roche harbor. They were so busy that both the ends of "G", "H" and "I" were tied meditteranean style.
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On the way home yesterday we went to the west side of San Juan Island, saw some whales and then through Deception pass to head up the Swinomish channel
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Some video of running through Deception pass.
http://qik.com/video/10755222
 
Very cool...thanks!
 
Boy, I miss the San Juans! I only got 3.5 weeks over there this year! :grin: I wish I had more time and money and a bigger boat! Oh well! Someday!

Todd, how does the crab trap ride bungeed to the bowrail? I might have to try that next year!
 
The crab trap actually rode there pretty well. It was nice that the water was pretty flat all of the trip too. It obviously blocked the view slighty but you can see how much boat traffic here I had to worry about.

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Todd, as always, enjoyed you'r pictures. Beautiful country, and water. Thanks for sharing. Nicky
 
Wonderful pictures Todd.

Edify us fresh waterers - what do you use as bait to catch crabs? How do you know you'll be catching crabs and not other ocean vermin? (I don't know what other ocean vermin there are...)
 
TODD!!! Your pictures are beautiful as always!! Grant and I wish we could have been up there with you!!

THANKS for sharing!!

Kathy
 
I like the crab pot on the rail...scaled down Deadliest Catch. You could put a chicken in there for fresh eggs...or a cook out later in the trip. Love the pictures of the pines and the boats.
 
Wonderful pictures Todd.

Edify us fresh waterers - what do you use as bait to catch crabs? How do you know you'll be catching crabs and not other ocean vermin? (I don't know what other ocean vermin there are...)

Crab bait can be any nasty rotten thing you have! Most folks use chicken and that seems to be the predominant bait. Some use a can of cat food cracked open to attract them and there are some others that use "secret" stuff to catch them. Occasionally you'll pick up a stray fish of some sort, starfish and we've had shark follow the trap to the surface. I'm sure other folks have seen other vermin! I just can't understand why people would want to catch and eat sea spiders!
 
Yeah we use chicken, leftover fish, salmon carcass after we've fileted it to eat. The only other items you will get in the pot are starfish and sometimes small soul/flounder.
 
You basta.....I mean, nice pics Todd! Just jealous...no SJs for us this year. Big trip next year though to include Desolation Sound. Looks like you had a good trip.
 
There are a bunch of us considering a trip to Desolation Sound next year. Should we all be coordinating or is it too early?? Well, I guess I'd get the "wrong" itinerary and I'd be a week late! DOH!!!
 
Yes a Desolation trip would be great and I'd love to be out for 2 weeks.
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Here's a shot of me cooking up about 15 or so of the Red Rock crabs we caught right off the dock in Otter bay.
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...and me holding the keeper Dungeness
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Great pictures and narration as usual Todd. The tourism council for the PAC NW ought to pay you for being such a good spokesperson.

I want to see the pacific northwest by boat very badly. The scenery is just beautiful. I also have a cousin who I haven't seen in 40 years that lives on Whidbey Island and my wifes cousin also has a place in Seattle that overlooks the water........maybe that would be a good reason to go.:smt038

Dave
 
I forgot to mention...................:
We were moored on a bouy at Buchart Gardens. My bridle got fouled by hooking itself under my anchor. I decided to go over the railing and step on the line to free it. That worked great but when it freed my right leg slid down the side of the anchor fluke. It's more purple now.
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