Two weeks in the Gulf islands

[Westie]

In July my wife and I packed up and headed west for 2 weeks in the Gulf islands.
It’s over 1000km to drive from Calgary to Vancouver with a few mountain passes to go over to get there. Here is just one sample of the road.

At a rest stop just outside of Golden BC

The worst hills were on the Coquihalla hi way. One stretch is 8 % grade for 19 Km.
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/popular-topics/documents/Hwy%205%20Coquihalla%20Pass%20grade-profile.pdf

The new Tundra had no trouble maintaining 100km per hour on any of the hills I encountered.

Leaving Vancouver (Burrard inlet) We actually launched at Cates park in the Indian Arm.

Our traveling companion made herself right at home in the mid berth.

Anchored in Conover cove.

And the old cabin at Conover cove where everyone leaves a plaque with their boats name on it.

Sunset in Shelby cove.

On the way here I spun a prop hub so had to change a prop while hanging over the back of the swim platform. Lots of fun doing that by feel only.

The customs dock in Poets cove.

And sunset over the dock in Poets cove.

More to come if anyone is interested.

 

[Dave S]

Fantastic scenery and great pictures.

 

[tdschafer]

Wow, Those are some beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing.
Todd

 

[Pietro]

We are definitely interested in seeing more pics!!! :grin:

What a trip :smt038:smt038:smt038

 

[Gofirstclass]

Westie, nice pics of one of the most beautiful areas of the world. Like Pietro said, we definitely are interested in seeing more pictures.

 

[Nehalennia]

Very good. We were there Aug 6-16. Plan on coming back over next summer. It's time to organize another trip to Desolation sound with a big group. Let me know if you're interested.

 

[Westie]

On to Todd inlet and the cove behind Butchart gardens.

And the Butchart gardens

And the usual wake shot picture

Looking back to the mainland from Newcastle island just outside of Nanaimo Vancouver is just south of the view in the photo.

One of the residences of Newcastle island

Sunset at the public dock at Newcastle island

Pirate’s cove. One of our favorite places to anchor

At around 3:00 am the wind came up in Pirates cove. The cove is quite sheltered except for a wind from the north. I got up to check our boat and we were fine, never moved. The boat that was beside us was now about 50 meters away.
There were around 15 boats that night in the cove and out of those 7 or 8 dragged anchor. We were lucky, we were upwind of everyone so had no issues with anyone drifting into us.
I made sure when I equipped my boat that the ground tackle would hold us well. It worked well that night.:smt038

On the way across the straits of Georgia back to Vancouver, about 40 km across.

Lions gate bridge in Vancouver

And finally nearing the end of the 13 hour drive back home.

Todd: we will be heading across to the coast again next summer, and the summer after and the next after that and every year that we can.
I would love to meet up with some others for a trip up to Desolation Sound.

 

[Bel_Mar_Pointe]

Great pics! Newcastle Island marine park is cool stuff, eh. The formations on the beach are awesome. The admiral if from Calgary, well....Airdrie actually.

 

[wetpaint]

Wow...Another cruising world out there that we east coast folks dont see.....Is it typical when you are anchored or on mooring ball to always have a stern line to some anchor point on land?

 

[katricol]

The pic of the gardens was great!! (the rest too)

 

[wish2fish]

can't see myself towing the boat over 600 miles. But I guess 2 weeks makes it a little easier.

 

[Nehalennia]

Wow...Another cruising world out there that we east coast folks dont see.....Is it typical when you are anchored or on mooring ball to always have a stern line to some anchor point on land?

There are a few places where the cove is well protected and small that it's necessary to run a shore line. The bottom is also 40' in one spot and 8' in another in some of these smaller coves so swinging on the hook in the wind and tide can land you high and dry with a 12' tidal swing.
Where he shows he's tied to shore and where we tied to shore in early August, Butchart gardens actually requires you to tie to shore.
I wasn't prepared for that so I had to tie nearly every line I had together to make it.

Well worth it though

This is a picture of Nehalennia II (230OV) and Brady Bunch(225WE) a few years ago moorinng on the hook in Laura cove in an area called Prideaux haven in Desolation sound.

can't see myself towing the boat over 600 miles. But I guess 2 weeks makes it a little easier.

You would get it if you came. It's really great boating for most of the year.

 

[Bel_Mar_Pointe]

So what length of rope do you guys recommend for the Desolation trip? Looks like a 100'er might do.....maybe a floating nylon line?

 

[Nehalennia]

So what length of rope do you guys recommend for the Desolation trip? Looks like a 100'er might do.....maybe a floating nylon line?

I have a 300' spool of Poly that I will bring on the Desolation trip for just this reason. It's easy to get to shore with 100-150' depending on where you are but the best way is to loop it to a tree or loop in the case at Butchart, and tie it back to the boat. This makes it easy to leave. You just untie the one end and pull it back in.

 

[Westie]

Wow...Another cruising world out there that we east coast folks dont see.....Is it typical when you are anchored or on mooring ball to always have a stern line to some anchor point on land?

Todd's description was right on. In this particular inlet the balls were quite close so a stern tie keeps you from swinging into the guy next to you. With tide changes of 3 to 4 meters you do move quite a bit. When we were there there was one guy in a 35' boat that didn't stern tie and he almost swung into the boat next to him.

I have about 300' of cheap poly line that I use. I got it at home depot. It floats which is a plus. Generally most people loop the rope around a tree or one of the anchor points on shore and then back to the boat. That way when you leave you just untie one end on your boat and pull it aboard, no need to paddle to shore to untie it.

 

[Westie]

Looks like Todd is a faster typer than me, and said exactly the same thing.:lol: