Saturday, June 30
The first day we ferried the boat over to Des Moines Marina for provisioning and loading belongings.

Sunday, July 1
Loading the boat at Des Moines Marina.

Monday, July 2, 2007
Departure day. After fueling, we got underway at 10:05 AM. We had no firm plans for destinations on his summers cruise. It is a beautiful sunny day. While underway, we decided to spend the first night at Langley Boat Harbor. Estimated arrival is 3:50 PM. The actual arrival was 3:48 PM and we got a pretty good spot.

Tuesday, July 3
Had a good night and got up early. We need to leave as soon as possible to make the slack current in Deception Pass. Untied and left Langley Boat Harbor at 8:07 AM. After we got underway, we discovered we were bucking the current in Saratoga Passage and should have left an hour earlier. Had to make up for that by increasing the throttle to 13 knots. Ideally we wanted to cruise at 7 to 7.5 knots for fuel efficiency. But the water conditions are very good and cruising is smooth. At 11:35 AM we are passing through Deception Pass. We decided on Blakely Island for the night. The slip for the night was $38.40 including 30-amp electric power. The store in Blakely Island Marina had free wireless internet. Worked great in the store, but the signal would not reach the boat. Had to take the laptop up to the store.

Wednesday, July 4
Up early today. Untied at 7:25 AM and left Blakely Island. Next stop, Canada Customs in Bedwell Harbour. Tied up to the customs dock at 10:28 AM. Got our clearance number and continued on at 10:43 AM. Heading for Port Browning through Pender Canal. Arrived in Port Browning Marina at 11:43 AM. Overnight moorage was $36 CDN including 15-amp power. Took a 10-minute walk up to the shopping center.

Thursday, July 5
Wanted to get to Nanaimo today, so left Port Browning at 8:40 AM. It's sunny and the water conditions are very good. The temperature in the cabin is 72° F and that is with all the windows open. However, we heard on the VHF weather channel that there are high northwesterly winds predicted in Nanaimo. Therefore we changed our plans to only go as far as Thetis Island today. At 12:45 PM we arrived at Thetis Island Marina in Telegraph Harbour. The overnight stay here was $35.50 CDN which included 15-ampere electric power. Had lunch in the Pub. This turned out to be a really hot day. At 4:30 PM it's 85° F in the boat with all the doors and windows open. Gloria had both of the 6-inch electric fans going.

Friday, July 6
Left Thetis Island Marina at 10:45 AM. Still hearing of high winds in Nanaimo so decided not to venture out through Dodd Narrows. Instead we will begin heading south. It's cooking up to be another very hot day. At noon, it's already 76° F in the cabin with everything open. We decided to have a look at Crofton. It's a rather small marina and packed with commercial fishing boats. No room for pleasure boats. Got some good photos anyway. Decided on heading for Maple Bay. Cruising conditions are very good. However we started feeling some rudder vibration, but not so bad that we couldn't continue on at 6 or 7 knots. Now at 12:45 PM it's already 81°.

Arrived at Maple Bay Marina at 12:55 PM. There was quite a wait at the fuel dock. Finally at 1:35 PM we finished fueling. Then by 1:50 PM we were tied up and secure in our assigned slip. We have burned 117.3 gallons since leaving Narrows Marina. A good brisk wind has come up and it sure feels good. Found out that there is a haul-out just next to the Maple Bay Marina and they could take us out right away. At 2:18 PM we untied and motored over to the haul-out dock. Turned out that we had picked up some cedar bark around the prop. Got that off and went right back into the water for $55 CDN plus tax.

Saturday. July 7
Saturday, July 7 We timed our departure from Maple Bay to make the 10:15 AM slack in Sansum Narrows. A lot of boats were heading the opposite direction. Our destination today is Cowichan Bay. We've never been there before, so it's someplace we want to see. And it certainly didn't disappoint us. What a colorful place. Lots of activity and things to see. We moored in Cowichan Bay Fisherman's Wharf. It's a good sheltered moorage with 20-ampere power and had good laundry facilities, so we did a load of washing. There was a good bread bakery and we had some tasty bread. Also a small, but useful, grocery store, which provided some needed ice. The highlight, however, was the ice cream shop.

Sunday, July 8
The plan for today is Tsehum Harbour. This is an extensive harbour and is somewhat confusing after you enter because of all the boats moored in the center. We wanted to try Westport Marina, but they were full. So we opted for Van Isla Marina, which itself is an excellent marina right next to Philbrook's Boatyard.

Monday, July 9
We took advantage of the proximity to Philbrook's Boatyard to have the stuffing box tightened. They are always very helpful. The mechanic took only 15 minutes to do the job. We got out of Van Isle Marina by 10:15 AM. Today is another very warm day, but there is a good brisk wind, making for rough white caps and rollers from the northwest. Because we were taking the waves broadside, Gloria considered this very uncomfortable. To help, we cut into the waves for awhile and then turned to take them astern for awhile. Finally we got into the lee of Moresby Island and things improved. After that it wasn't too bad crossing Swanson Channel to Bedwell Harbour. We decided to do Poets Cove Marina tonight, arriving at 11:40 AM. The price here was $55.54 CDN including 30-amp power. It's a good place to watch the boat traffic in and out of Canada Customs.

Tuesday, July 10
Out of Poets Cove at 8:30 AM heading for our return to the United States in Roche Harbor. We had the northwesterly winds again today, but since they were on our stern, it wasn't too bad. Tied up to the Customs dock in Roche Harbor at 10:09 AM and received our clearance number. Finished clearance by 10:18 AM and called Roche Harbor for a guest slip assignment. By 10:30 AM we were in slip #29. Moorage here was $46.00 including 30-amp power. In previous years, Roche Harbor was the most expensive stopover, but not this year. Today is beginning to be a scorcher. At 12:15 PM it was 88° in the boat. By 1:45 PM it was 94°. Then by 4:15 PM it got up to 95°. We're both dying from the heat. Finally by 9:30 PM it was down to 76° and 74° by 11:00 PM. But it was a beautiful day for taking pictures.

Wednesday, July 11
We decided to stay another night in Roche Harbor. However, it's going to be another scorcher today. It got up to 98° by 3:30 PM and peaked at 100° at 6:00 PM. Carl began getting used to the head and did some odd maintenance jobs on the boat. Gloria was really frying. She used her "Quick Cool" water fan to help cool off. It sprays your face with water, which then takes 1 and ½ to 2 minutes to evaporate away before you are frying again.

Thursday, July 12
We left Roche Harbor at 8:32 AM heading for Anacortes and arrived there by 12:30 PM, but headed for the fuel dock first. Finished fueling by 12:57 PM and secured in guest slip #E63 by 1:20 PM. The cost here was $38.00 including 30-amp power.

Friday, July 13
Left Anacortes at 10:35 AM heading for La Conner. Arrived La Conner Marina at 12 noon.

Saturday, July 14
Left La Conner in the morning, but not sure how far we will go. We considered Oak Harbor, Langley Boat

Harbor, and Kingston. It is sunny and calm so we decided on going all the way to Kingston. We got the last open space on the guest dock.

Sunday, July 15
No hurry today, so didn't leave Kingston until about 12:30 PM. We want to stop over in Des Moines Marina for unloading, but there is a wooden boat show going on this weekend and there is no guest moorage available. So we thought we would try Blake Island. In the event that is also full, we would just stop at the fuel dock in Des Moines and then head for Narrows Marina. Fortunately we found room in Blake Island so we will spend the night here.

Monday, July 16
Des Moines Marina should be available today, so we'll head for there. Made Des Moines Marina before noon. Carl took the bus home to pick up the car. Overnighted the boat in the marina, but went home for the night.

Tuesday, July 17
Set out to ferry the boat back to Narrows Marina. Since there was a strong ebb current coming out of the Narrows, Carl stopped for lunch in Gig Harbor, waiting for slack current.