Back on the boat and trying to get ready to take the boat North with our favorite traveling partners Ron & Bonny Zuckerman. HOWEVER.......we are having problems with Canada immigration. There will be no crossing into Canada until we get this mess figured out. Time for some serious decisions. No Canada? Cold Weather? Another winter in the Pacific Northwest? Maybe Not !!!

Back in Seattle. Jim and Sonya on a plane headed back to Las Vegas. Its time to put Freyja up for the summer and head back to West Yellowstone to get ready for another season of serving the traveling public. See ya in October Freyja.

We received word that our wonderful friends from Las Vegas wanted to come and visit. Their flights were made and we needed to make it to Sidney BC to meet them. Our weather was a bit unpredictable and we were not sure which day to try and do the Strait of Georgia. Heading south was very nice and there were weather windows almost everyday so crossing didn't seem to be an issue. HOWEVER......once we arrived in Secret Cove the wind started blowing and blowing. The weather said a good window early in the morning so we tied tight, fixed dinner and hunkered down with a good book. Cast off lines bright and early and headed for the Strait. Somehow we had missed the window and the wind and waves were not in our favor. We poked out a bit further but decided this was not our day for crossing. Headed back followed by two other bigger boats that also felt waiting was better. Two days of strong howling winds and rain and most everything Mother Nature had to offer came our way. Our next planned departure went well and crossing was a bit rough but certainly nothing to worry about. We arrived in Sidney with enough time to spray off the boat and buy groceries.

With the weather on our side we spent time in Montegue Harbor, Ganges for a couple of days because it was the first farmers market/craft fair of the year. You know Sonya and a craft fair. What an awesome time we had. On to Nanaimo and since the weather was perfect we crossed the Strait to Vancouver for a few days. We visited the Farmers Market, China Town where we had some good Dim Sum with the locals. Caught the Steam Clock as it was "steaming", some old churchs and the gardens. We found the best bookstore in all of Vancouver

One night in Gorge Harbor with 45 knot winds turned into three nights at Gorge Harbor with 65 to 75 knot winds. It was pretty scary how the wind moved this 60,000 pound boat. We had one more adventure to complete before leaving Desolation Sound. Teakerne Arm at the end of a beautiful channel with two stunning waterfalls and a private dock so you can hike to the top of the falls. Beautiful channel and stunning waterfalls Awesome

Private dock ~ Not. Maybe big enough for the dinghy.

We said Goodbye to Desolation Sound and headed south

Powell River - Here We Come

This picture is the north end of highway 101 in Lund Canada. Highway 101 - also named the Pan-American is the world's longest highway. It stretches 9,312 miles from Castro on Chile's south coast to Lund on BC's Sunshine Coast. We hope someday to include a picture of the southern end of the highway.

As we headed south we were seeing the tugs with their tows pulling in close to shore. They knew something we didn't. The winds were picking up again. We slipped into Secret Cove to wait for the morning window. 7am and lines were pulled and we headed out to cross the Strait of Georgia. The window had gone away and as we turned around to head back there were several boats also looking for shelter. We spent two more nights in the well protected Secret Cove, but still the winds reached over 80 knots. April 3rd we poked out and headed to Nanaimo in very mixed up seas. The storm winds have raised havoc in the Gulf Islands. We headed to Ganges to hang for a few days but were told "our docks are broke and our breakwater is gone...sorry". Our trip is far from over but its sad to see what mother nature can do.

We entered Homfrey Channel which is over 2400 feet deep. It is the deepest sounding in coastal North America. The 2400 foot deep water is surrounded by sheer mountains that rise over 8000 feet high. It makes one feel very small and humble to be here.

We spent several nights at Toba Wildernest. Andrea, Rowan and dog Teddy made us feel right at home. Dad/husband Kyle was in Campbell River getting supplies. Rowan is four and what a talker. She took us on a tour of the grounds and told us to be careful of the goose poop. We also got fresh prawns as a welcome gift. Yum !!

Sittin' in the mornin' sun I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come

Watching the tide roll in And then I watch 'em roll away again

I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay Wastin' time Wastin' time

JUST LIKE THE SONG................

Waterfalls. Waterfalls. Waterfalls and more Waterfalls. And the runoff has not started.

Logging is everywhere you turn. Its almost impossible to find a hillside that is not being logged or is just recovering from a recent cut. The loggers live on large boats tucked in bays and commute by helicopter.

The porpoises found us several times during the day and played in the Freyja bow wave. They are so fast and dive under the boat and run along side trying to get Freyja to go faster so they can jump higher. So fun to watch.

Mornings are the favorite times. Mostly very calm water and heavy clouds and fog.

Freyja tucked in safe and sound at Gorge Harbor for a few days. 40-45 knot winds and rain. Think we will just tie up, connect to power, pop some corn and do movies.

Left Nanaimo in awesome weather. Wind was less than 10 knots and the sun was shining. Took about 3 1/2 hours to cross the Strait of Georgia. This is big water for us. We crossed here in January on the way back from Chatterbox Falls. The waves then were over six foot ~ today we had a ripple on the water. One night in Secret Cove where we caught one crab. We definately are not getting full of crab at this rate.

We ducked into Powell River for two nights as the weather was calling for 30-40 knot winds. We were right by the ferry dock and were entertained by watching the ferrys come and go. Powell River was once home to the worlds largest pulp and paper mill. It produces 2,000 metric ton of paper a day. The above picture shows 10 of the old liberty ships that were sunk and are now used as a breakwater for the paper mill. Liberty ships were used to haul troops during World War II. Tugs haul sawdust into the paper mills to make paper from lumber mills in the area.

As usual we just can not describe the scenery. We take hundreds of pictures because the islands and the inlets are everywhere. They say in the summer every inlet holds many anchored boats. We are lucky. We only saw one sailboat today.

We did however have quite a treat in watching a pod of Orcas.

It was so neat watching them we almost forgot to take pictures.

Arrived in Refuge Cove just before the mailman. The mail is delivered here by plane. The name Refuge Cove sounded so quaint we went out of our way to visit. Interesting is probably the best word for this small town. We were hoping for a bit more activity but it isn't tourist season yet and the 12 residents are still in winter mode. As you can see - not much going on.

Its amazing that around every corner there is a "wow". We are wondering in the Gulf Islands while the weather remains windy and unsettled. When the weather is calling for gale force winds its tuff to "head to sea". So we have enjoyed what this area has to offer and settled in to a much slower style where the big decision of the day is "do you want to play cribbage or farkle"? The marine life is so interesting. The stars are purple, orange and pink. The seals are everywhere. We have tried to crab. We would starve if we had to feed the family with our crabbing ability.The small marinas are very laid back and quaint. Yes, the wind blows and the waves roll the boat. There have been some interesting times where we are moored out and the weather turns real bad. Sleeping in the pilot house with all the alarms set is not our idea of the perfect quiet evening. But we seem to make it thru.

The weather is going to break and we will be ready and waiting. Headed to Nanaimo (like the chocolate bar) to wait out the wind. Looks like the winds will lay down some on friday and we will cross the Strait of Georgia to Secret Cove. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather.