Orcas

Two..one large one small thru sidney spit..

Sailing Sailing

Had our first great sail!  Must say the Mirage did not disappoint.  Six knots in 8-10 of wind is impressive.  When the whitecaps started we put a reef in the main..furled a bit of genoa and kept the speed.

Tried anchoring on N side of Portland with stern tie but abandoned it as not secure.  Sailed all the way back to Montegue.  Just as well..around midnight there were strong gusts of wind.  Now if Juneuary would warm up it would be hunky dory!

Selby Bay

After a brief stop in Madrona Bay to provision in Ganges we had a wet dinghy ride back to the boat.  Calmed down overnite but picked up again early next morning.  We hightailed it over to Prevost and are enjoying another idyllic sunset in Selby Bay.  Might go hunting crab manana! 🦀

Montegue sunset

Some nights the sundowners just taste better!

All at sea!

After 4 lovely nites in hub city(nanaimo) we are turning back to the gulf islands.  Seems the winds of fate are blowing too strong against us to go further north.

We managed some hikes in Newcastle, margueritas with dinner at Penny's Palapa and replacing the anchor chain!

We will play in the islands nearer to home till the grandkids arrive.

🌬⛵️

Mirage 33

Mirage 33!  Another Perry design.  We are getting to know her and so far the reviews are good.

We have published a book of our South Pacific travels.  It is available on Amazon in kindle, paperback or hardcover format.  Reviews are good!

The Last Chapter!

After 16 years of faithful service, Toketie is moving on.  We will be left behind on this voyage as she makes her way to Seattle, Washington to take up her responsibilities with her new owner.  We are thankful for the many places she has taken us in safety and comfort.

We will miss the quiet anchorages and sense of adventure exploring new places but it is time for us to move on and moving on means letting go.

May Toketie have many more miles under her keel!

North Bay, Thetis Island...sunset!

​

The Octopus Islands

North of Quadra Island through Surge Narrows

a week in the Gulf Islands!

it was nice to get off the dock and the weather was superb....cool nights and warm days...walks in the park and lots of beach combing....


...our sturdy craft got us there safely...

...the wildlife provided entertainment...

...stunning views of the Pacific North West....

...foraging at low tide....

...a feast for the eyes....

The passage home and some stats!

TOWNSVILLE TO HONIARA             1048 NM        8 days

HONIARA TO MAJURO                       1315 NM      15 days

MAJURO TO VICTORIA                      4693 NM       44 days

              TOTAL DISTANCE        7056 NM

The passage across the N Pacific was made in three legs from June 1st to August 30, 2012! 

"love, love me do"

 

"....it was 50 years ago today, Sgt Pepper taught the band to play...."

another sunset

we were often treated to spectacular skies as the sun went down....

Videos en route!

A few short video clips on the passage from Aus to Vancouver Island.....

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxWLB_X4lew

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItWWdbbtf-M

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWJeVhXtNbw

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KW7Yu7rzUg

 

 

Home again, Home again!

Sorry for the long delay in providing the closing chapter! 

 

Yes, we made it into Victoria Harbor that Thursday night on our 45th day from Majuro in the Marshall Islands, three months from Aus.  I have not calculated the distance yet but would estimate that last leg as approximately 4500nm and the overall passage as close to 7000nm. 

 

We were piped on to the customs dock in true scottish fashion, thanks Darroch and greeted by sign-waving fans.....:)...what a great feeling that was. 

 

So Toketie is tucked away into her slip in Maple Bay Marina for the moment.  After a few days of R and R, we began the tedious process of cleaning and sorting through the list of chores on board.  But it is beautiful fall weather with hot sunny days and cool nights so the work is going slowly and we are enjoying the peace and quiet.  It is wonderful to have Toketie back in BC and are looking forward to local cruising for the next while. 

 

More pics and info on the N Pacific passage to follow as I get them sorted......

A true Canadian Welcome!

Prospects were looking bleak...after close to 7000 nm from Aus, we found ourselves a day off the coast of BC, with no wind and no diesel!! But the Gods were kind and smiled down on us...a ship appeared on the AIS and on further investigation turned out to be the Canadian Coast Guard Science/Research vessel "JP Tully"....so I called them up and asked if they could spare a bit of fuel! Two hours later, 80 liters more diesel in the tanks and we are steaming under moonlight on a calm sea! And they gave us two containers of home made chocolate chip cookies!! Now isn't that a true Canadian welcome!
A few glitches with air in the fuel lines were resolved and hopefully solved the problem. Not to temp fate but with luck and continuing on our current course, we could be at the entrance to Juan de Fuca Straight before midnight on Wed...another 65 miles overnight could see us in the inner harbor sometime Thurs....keep your fingers, toes, ankles and arms crossed for us as we are ready to come home!!

Well, the trials were not over and the engine quit several times. Hours spent bleeding air out of the lines and transferring fuel proved futile but changing all four fuel filters seems to have done the trick. We are now motoring up Juan de Fuca Straight and could be in the inner harbor by midnight....Neptune willing!

end game!

The home stretch, as it were! And what a stretch! After the cold, the fog, the beating to windward, the calms and heavy winds, you would think Canada would be opening its arms to welcome us through our ordeal! But we are having to work for every mile, currently headwinds are making it difficult to close the coast. Having come through the squash zone between High and Low pressure systems, with only 260nm to the entrance of Juan de Fuca, the winds have gone light and right on the nose! If we had 60 more liters of diesel, we could motor all the way but we have to save what we have for the straight with its tides and busy shipping! Getting tired of pasta, rice, crackers....down to last can of chicken so maybe one more curry. Looking forward to fresh fruit, salads, anything green and some protein on the barbeque!! Soon we hope!

5 weeks...almost

34 days from Majuro in the Marshall Islands! About 3500nm under the keel on this leg so far and exposed to a bit of everything from calms to surfing downwind in 40 knots winds. A wave found its way into the cockpit and took out the fridge, not a great loss at this stage as we were down to the last eggs and one onion! The UHT milk for our coffee or tea seems to keep in a sealed bag and the cheese is not mouldy yet! Morale is high, though we are both tired and look forward to the warmth of the down blanket after our four hour watch. Sail changes are constant and sap our energy, but we are moving steadily towards the coast, with 1100nm to the Swiftsure Bank. Still hoping to make the Juan de Fuca Straight by the end of August though a High Pressure system is forming ahead of us which may push us further N or leave us without wind so it is too soon to predict a landfall. Motoring through the night at the moment in very light winds with the sound of Willie Nelson to remind us of the world that awaits us. Had HF contact with 'Daydream' out of Rebecca Spit the other night, was nice to hear familiar voices and envied them their warm summer evening sipping wine at a secure anchorage!

week 4

as the 4th week draws to a close, we find Toketie with 1800 nm to the Swiftsure Bank! we dug out the down duvets as the nights are cold now, refreshing after years in the tropics! have had strong winds for many days as three Lows compete with several Highs for territory, we being in the middle of it all! but we are going the right direction, visited by several of what appeared to be Minkie Whales who surface nearby and make a circuit around us before continuing their migration NW!