With Gardens and Customs under our belt, it was time to do some sailing. Tuesday morning we started with Cowboy Omelet, pulled up anchor and motored out of Butchart. Next up was the port at Ganges where we’d stock up for our next few days in the remote Princess Louisa Inlet. We wouldn’t see a grocery for a week so it was time to shop.
Ganges – Home of Thrifty Mart and the best hardware store around
The two forms of transportation around these parts
Float Planes are like taxicabs
Once we had provisioned Journey, we got back underway. Our next destination was Wallace Island to meet up with Allen and Wendy on Blue Fin. A storm was brewing in the distance, which brought some brisk breezes and an amazing sunset.
Demeree sails towards a squall
The wind picked up and skies were black
But the sunset we arrived to on Wallace was spectacular
and kept getting better
On Wednesday we’d take our biggest sail yet, across the open waters of the Strait of Georgia – the waterway which separates Vancouver Island from mainland British Columbia. We set out early in order to miss the high winds of the afternoon. We motored cork-like across the choppy seas and finally reached the BC Coast after 3 hours. We sailed protected waters East of Texada Island and the winds went from 10 mph to 20 mph.
Though we’d reached our destination, the perfect sailing weather was too good to pass up and we spent the next 2 hours close hauled to the wind with a heel of 30 degrees and testing how fast Journey could go.
Crossing the Straits of Georgia
That’s right 0 degrees is level, we are sailing now!
After our afternoon of sailing we tucked into Smuggler Cove, a beautiful hideaway. Andy and Demeree toured the cove on their sea kayaks while Tim and I rowed the dinghy, exploring the lagoons. After a dinner of curry, we rinsed our dishes off the back as the water glowed with phosphorescence.
Smuggler’s Cove with Allen and Wendy
Here Tim and I decided upon our Pirate names: Mr Tim and Barnacle Betty
Here Tim and I decided upon our Pirate names: Mr Tim and Barnacle Betty
The next morning we set sail for our final destination. The remote Princess Louisa Inlet. The day was spectacular and though the winds came and went, it was an amazing trip into this remote corner corner of the Pacific.
The Lay of the Land
Sailing up Prince of Wales Reach
The Winds pick up
Maximizing the Wind with Wing on Wing
A different perspective
Blue Fin in the distance
The Malibu Club guards the entrance of Princess Louisa Inlet – Once an exclusive resort, it is now a Christian Youth retreat.
Blue Fin poses
Journey takes her turn in front of the waterfall
Demeree on the front of Journey
This great shot is too good to not take advantage of
Malibu Rapids is the very narrow entrance to the Inlet
Beautiful views!
Approaching Malibu Rapids
The Malibu Club with its guardian totem protect the Rapids
Inside the Inlet
Demeree takes a stand!
The head of the Inlet. At the base is beautiful Chatterbox Falls with North America’s tallest falls cascading down the cliff on the left
Blue Fin anchored at the base of Chatterbox
Here we setup our anchored camp for the next 3 days. At the base of Chatterbox Falls, miles away from a town, road or cell tower, we were truly away from it all.