Shakedown cruise begins…..Victoria to Newcastle Island Marine Park

We gave up our slip at Hidden Harbour Marina in Victoria, BC on July 15, 2016.  Tony and I are homeless now.  Well, maybe not homeless.  Mayaluga is our home.  We just don’t have a fixed address any longer.  I have mixed feelings about that.  Its a bit scary on the one hand but so very liberating on the other.  I guess that I will need some time to really get used to and fully appreciate this new existence.  I’m up for the challenge!

The first leg of our journey has us travelling north along the eastern coast of Vancouver Island.  Our plans include visits to the Sunshine Coast and Desolation Sound with a return to Victoria on or about August 9.  This gives us a couple of weeks to take care of last minute preparations before departing on the second leg of our journey to San Fransisco and beyond on or about August 22.

We didn’t get off the dock until after 3 pm because we were waiting for our damaged and repaired camera return via Purolator from Nikon.  It arrived and we were off to Sidney Spit.  A late arrival and early start the next day to Ladysmith where we visited with friends Mayo and Bob.  On the way, we encountered a fishing vessel grounded near Coal Island being monitored by a Coast Guard vessel.

Sad to see a boat on the rocks.  Bob joined us the following day for a sail over to Gabriola Island.  We actually did enjoy some sailing in the waters between Ruxton and Gabriola Passages.  It felt as though the waters were our only private oasis.  Not another sailboat in sight!  We transited Gabriola Passage and

made our way slowly into Silva Bay avoiding the rocks that surround the entrance.  (Raymarine to the rescue!).  Our friends Agathe and Georgette, who live on Gabriola Island and have their boat, Free Spirit, moored in Silva Bay, joined us on Mayaluga for a celebratory glass of wine before we all (5 of us) piled into the dinghy to head ashore for a salmon dinner at their place.  The evening was full of laughter and stories, good food and wine, and great company!  Bob headed to the ferry and Tony and I back to Mayaluga.

Next stop, Newcastle Island Marine Park for a couple of days.  There wasn’t much wind on Georgia Strait but we managed a couple of knots and enjoyed a quiet sail in the sunshine for a few hours.  The skys started to look treacherous over Nanaimo – cummulous clouds and dark grey skies – so I convinced Tony that we should fire up the engine and get Mayaluga to Newcastle.  It turned out to be unnecessary as the thunder and lightening didn’t present itself until well into the evening.  Rounding Entrance Island, Tony and I talked about the possibility of being relief lighthouse keepers after our sailing days are over.   Might be fun.

Tony is working on the final bits of water maker installation (Spectra 150) as I write, with the intent of firing it up tomorrow on our sail over to Gibsons Landing.  As soon as I am finished with this post, I’ll be heading over to Nanaimo with the dinghy to purchase a double ended USB cable to power my laptop – the 2 that I have are not working!!  Darn!  In this life, the dinghy is the new car.  That takes a bit of getting used to for a Taurus from Ontario!  Adventia before dementia!