Pendor Harbour
May 9, 2014
Garden Bay in Pender Harbour
After cruising for a little
over five hours, we arrived at Garden Bay. We have docked near here in Hospital
Bay on another visit to this harbor. Anchoring saves us moorage fees so we are
going to do as much of it as we can this trip.
I think I have the anchoring technique down now.
David has painted the “dog” a bright orange. This is the thick bar of iron
which I need to remember to release before pulling in or letting out the
anchor. He replaced the first one we had after I bent it into a question mark
having forgotten to release it more than once…that hydraulic pressure is
something else!
David has found internet
access so is trying to catch up on work emails. My computer is not cooperating
so later I will lug my computer to the local pub in hopes of finding internet
access. I need to get my blog online!
We listened to a book CD
while cruising today which was a first. Quite enjoyed it. Along the way we
heard someone on the radio reporting a whale sighting. We called back asking
again for the location but he did not respond. DRAT! We also have heard two Mayday calls. One boat
was on some rocks and another was taking on water. It gives one great pause when one hears the
Coast Guard repeating requests for coordinates and number of people aboard and
you hear no reply. We do know that the boat stranded on rocks was retrieved and
everyone was safe and the boat suffered no great damage…which is a blessing.
The helpful orange "dog"
We have already realized that
we are running out of cruising time. Our hope was to explore as much as we
could of Desolation Sound where we have never been before meeting up with
Ashley and Ada in Bellingham, WA on the 21st. We had a later start than planned and even
thought we try to abide by our two day rule and stay in a spot for at least two
nights, it looks like we are forced to break our own rule. Most likely we will have but one night here
in Garden Bay…better get to that pub!
After enjoying a beer and
some appies, we drove the skiff to the park dinghy dock and went for a
hike. We came upon a rusted deserted old
donkey engine once used by the lumber industry to pull logs out. David was fascinated
by it. There was an old regulator still attached with the priced tag of $7.95
still on it. The path took us in a circle pass thick woods of cedars and pines.
Along the way, there were many photo opportunities to capture the Belle sitting
proudly in the bay.
A machine with a mighty past.
The Belle in the Bay
We took a cruise in our skiff
along the edges of the bay and looked at all the homes, marinas and boats. We can
just imagine what this area must look like in the summer…it is one of the most
popular and most developed cruising destinations in BC and is sometimes
referred to as “the Venice of the North”.
Some fun boat names spotted
were:
Yoda
The Last Dance
Knot Hiz (do you think there
may have been a rather contentious divorce?)
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