Friday morning seemed to come way too soon. Waking up every hour to chamois up water under the floor was a less than desirable way to spend your night, trust me on that one. Poking our heads out of the boat proved we were still above water and that the wind was still blowing. It did feel like it had calmed a bit but was still probably 10 to 15 mph at 7 am.
Time to put the blueberries we had picked the day before to good use so I fired up the stove and made us some blueberry pancakes. They might have been small but once heated up in the batter they sure were flavorful. After breakfast we hopped in the dinghy and went over to the east side of the harbor to check out that side of the island. It wasn't as pretty as the west side as it lacked the views of the water but it was still fun to climb around on the rocks.
As we hiked about Cindy started telling me that she wished I had not told Russell and Jean that we would be back in that day as she wished we could stay out at least one more night. We had plenty of food and beverages, might run a bit low on ice but that was just keeping the booze cold so we could stay another night. Knowing that the wind and waves were probably going to get cranking again pretty soon I thought we would just stay put, maybe even tuck behind the rocks if the other boat left. Cindy really wanted to get down to the Benjamin's so we decided to try it.
Back when we first started planning this trip I made the point of saying, several times, that we needed to travel early and get to our anchorage early. Not only to get a spot but to avoid the winds and waves that build early and big there. Just being a 20 foot boat we could not plow through 4 foot rollers like a bigger boat. Cindy was worried I would not let her sleep in if we did that but I assured her that in the original plan I had allowed time for sleeping in on days that we did not venture out. Well that plan was long gone and now it was mid morning and we were just getting started, in a boat that had a leak, into winds that had continued to build all morning. The winds were now 20 plus and the waves were 2 feet and increasing. We just needed to go 2 or three miles. How bad could it be. Remember my 3 strike rule, I was soon about to put it to use.
We decided that we would just motor because the wind was right on the nose. Heading out of the harbor and into the main lake area we realized the waves were pretty big as the bow fell off the first one. Down the bow went with a big splash when it bottomed out. Something down in the cabin caught my eye so leaving Cindy in charge of the tiller I went below just as we fell off another wave. As we bottomed out I could clearly see what it was that got my attention. Water shot out of the port side of the top of the keel trunk between the keel trunk and the bottom of the winch box. OH SHIT! With chamois in hand I tried my best to stem the spray but with each wave brought more water. I was really thinking this was not a good idea. Not that we would take on so much we would sink in 3 miles, but if it got worse, everything was going to get sprayed in the boat. At least now I was pretty sure were the real leak issue was.
About then we fell off another wave that rolled the boat to port pretty good nearly dumping out the tote I was wringing water out into. Another big spray of water came in when the keel trunk filled up underneath. Executive decision time. Although the Admiral out ranks the lowly Captain, I had to pull rank. I turned around and hollered back at Cindy, wanting to make sure she heard, "Turn around and run with the wind!!!" We need to stop crashing into these waves before I was swimming in water.
Cindy brought the bow around and almost immediately the ride smoothed out a bit. We were now surfing with the waves instead of plowing into them head long. I stayed down below and mopped up the mess before going topside to deploy the headsail so we could run along without the motor on.
No matter how much we wanted to see the Benjamin's today was just not a good day for us to beating it into the wind and waves. The original plan allowed for lay days if we ran into winds like this. But now with our time limited sadly we did not have that option. Looking at the chart and taking into consideration what the winds were doing and what they were forecasted to do I had to come up with a plan to get us out of here. The winds were supposed to really get cranked up to 35 to 40 mph in the afternoon and then lay down overnight and only be 10 to 15 the next day. So looking at the chart I felt like we could hide on the lee side of Eagle island and Frichete island and get back to Oak bay where we could find a quite little cove to hide out in and enjoy another night on the water. That would get us closer to Spanish so we did not have so far to go the next day incase the winds did not do as forecasted. Cindy thought that sounded like a great plan so off we went. Things finally calmed down enough once we got behind Frichete island for me take a pic or two.
Here we are with just a double reefed main and about half the headsail unfurled and were doing between 5 and 6 mph on a broad reach. That is pretty good as hull speed is 5 mph. The wind was still honking but the waves here were not as bad as the island was breaking up the fetch.
We had plenty of company as several other boats had the same idea. I think we counted 10 or 11 sailboats all headed up the east side of Frichete with us. As we round Gilmor Point we were over taken but this very pretty wood cruiser.
Notice his crane they use to lift their dinghy aboard with. Turned out they were headed for Oak bay as well.
We followed the wood boat into the bay and then turned to the northeast to go in search of a private little cove a couple of honeymooners could have some fun in :-) This cabin on the lake cracked me up. Must have been built back when the lake was 5 feet lower a few years back. Either that or someone had very poor planning skills.
Watch that first step, it could be a wet one. We had our sights set on a small cove northeast of this cabin but as we rounded the point we saw two large motor cruisers in there already. You know what they say, 2 is company but 3 is a crowd, so we turned around and went further northeast.
Oak Bay is very pretty but you better watch your charts and depth readings as this is one of those locations you could ding a rock pretty easily if you are not paying attention. We got back out in the main body and unfurled the head sail and ran up the bay under sail. We were now heading for what looked like could be a very nice anchorage in about 8 feet of water behind a couple of small islands. On the way there we passed several coves on the north side of Hotham island that were getting pretty crowded with larger boats hiding from the wind.
They are kinda hard to see but there were already a dozen or so boats anchored in this cove. We continued under sail further back in the bay till we reached the mouth of the cove we wanted. I furled in the head sail and fired up the motor so Cindy could motor us in as I watch off the bow for rocks. We just had to move a bit to port to stay clear of some rocks then eased back behind the last island in the pool. There was already one boat in the cove tucked up tight behind the island but there was room for us behind them so we set our trusty new claw anchor and backed off till we had the scope we wanted. We were not totally protected from the wind but at least the water was much calmer than we had at Fox harbour. We set up the pop top tent first thing and got our house keeping down. I soaked up all the water I could under the liner before we retired to the cockpit to enjoy the beautiful view of the stone mountain and a cold beverage.
Again I just have to say the picture does not do it justice. It really was a beautiful place. The air quality up north is just so clean. The blue sky is just so crisp and sharp you feel like it might cut you if stare at it too long.
We finished out beverages and hoped in Ding Dong to do some exploring. We motored out to the mouth of the cove opening to see how the waves were. Cindy was getting sprayed by waves coming at us hitting the bow so we turned back :-) We parked on one of the rock islands and went hiking. Of course we had to go all the way to the top just so we could see what was on the other side.
There were 3 thirty foot plus sailboats tucked into that cove trying to hide from the wind. The view off the southern point of the island looking to the southwest down Oak Bay was very pretty.
This was actually taken on the island to the east of our anchorage that we climbed in search of a place to watch the sunset that evening. It was a rough climb that had us off into the woods several times trying to get around deep cuts in the rock. We decided that it might be better to watch the sunset from Ding Dong instead of trying to climb back up here in low light. Here is a pretty little hiker that crossed my path
What do you know, that is my wife, fancy meeting her way out here LOL!
We tooled around quite a while in Ding Dong then went over to apologize to our neighbors for disturbing their peace and quite. They were really nice and had been hiding out there since Tuesday. They were retired and spend the summers on the water there and winters in Florida. Must be nice. They said we were the first boat to come back in there to join them.
We made our way back to our boat where lounged about and maybe even took a nap. I remember my eyes were closed. Pretty sure I might have dozed off. Waking up I felt that familiar empty feeling so I started cooking supper for us. Tonight we were going to have a North Channel delicacy, grilled Spam!!! While the Spam grilled I made some broccoli and cheese noodles to go with it. Say what you want, Spam on the grill is just pretty darn tasty! Cindy even had to agree on that one.
After dinner I aired up Cindy's paddleboard so she could paddle around a bit. The water was really much warmer feeling that either of us really expected which was a pleasant surprise. While Cindy paddled
I put my 83 dollar, US, Canadian fishing license to good use. This was the first chance I had to actually fish so off I went in Ding Dong in search of a lunker. I found him, just a little before he reached true lunker status though
I caught two fish total, the other one was even smaller. That was only 41.50 each for minnow...
We decided to take North Channel baths as the sun began its slide to the other side of the Earth. I just jumped in and after the initial shock I warmed up or got numb to it, not sure which. Either way it did not feel bad, actually rather refreshing. Cindy weenied out and just sat on her paddleboard. The skeeters were just starting to fly around by the time we got back aboard. We made quick work of drying off and jumped inside the boat. After lighting the candle we settled in to play some more cards while we watched Captain Ron on the fire. Well who can concentrate on cards watching a movie. I think Cindy took advantage of me as I played two awful games of cards.
I took this picture out the window as I thought I saw the beaver who lived in the lodge on the bank just west of us.
Later I would realize two things. One, you cant see in the picture what I saw, and two, it wasn't the beaver but instead it was a very large snapping turtle! He must have been at least 2 feet across and had a head larger than a baseball, but smaller than a softball. We saw him again the next morning and it was very clear who was in charge of the cove.
We finally heard a loon off in the distance as we sat in the boat that evening. What a fitting way to cap off our last night on the North Channel. I think we both knew or understood that this trip was not going to be a typical honeymoon trip. No matter how much I prepared for it there were just going to be so many factors at play that were beyond my control. No matter how much I told or continue to tell myself that I still feel awful. I feel like I let my beautiful wife down. Had I just removed that keel winch the leak probably never would have happened. I have learned my lesson and hopefully all you who read this who have 30 pus year old sailboats follow my example and remove every piece from your boats and reseal them. Not every piece but one, but every piece. Just as soon as you skip one it will be the one that bites you in the ass like it did me. I just hope if it does, that you have a wife as half as understanding as mine.
Sure our trip could have been ruined by the leak, by the mosquitos, by my come apart, by the leak again, but Cindy just refused to let it phase her. I could learn a lot from that little lady if I just wasn't too stupid to see the melt downs coming and not let it consume me. Cindy informed last night that we could easily be married for 35 years which considering our ages would be a long time. Hopefully by the end of our lives together I will have learned to be more like her in some ways.
All I know is that as I laid there in our leaking little floating love nest with my wife snuggled up tightly to me as she drifted off to sleep I felt so blessed, honored, and down right lucky to have found such an incredible little lady to experience this adventure called life together with me. I love her more each day and I knew as the number of days remaining for our honeymoon dwindled to just a few, I was really going to miss her by my side all day long. But for the moment I just enjoyed her being in my arms as I softly kissed the top of her head and whispered I love you to my pretty lil bestie...
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