Familiar Anchorages

 We left Bowen Island in light rain but we did get some wind and by 07:00 we were on the Georgia Strait and sailing  at 5-6 knots.  We held onto the wind until about 10:30 when it dropped out, then motored the last hour and half to Newcastle Island where we managed to snag the last 40' mooring available.  We bought a mooring device called a "Happy Hooker" a few years ago to make picking up moorings easier.  It's paid for itself many times over.  No trying to lift mooring chains, or mooring buoys to get a line through them.  We used it at Newcastle and had a brief conversation with a couple on a nearby trimaran:

Tri: That looked easy...

Us: yep, bought this a few years ago, it's called a Happy Hooker

Tri: What???

Us: A "Happy Hooker", every boat should have a "Happy Hooker"

The conversation went downhill from there.....

The next day we picked up the new RACOR from Harbour Chandler and some floating line for a new dinghy painter.  I am NOT going through another rope wrapped around the prop!  Got the new RACOR installed, bled the system, and fired up the motor.  Checked that it continued to work over the next few days, and happy to say, problem solved!

View from Newcastle Island - Nanaimo

From Nanaimo we headed sailed south to Dodds Narrows, motored through the narrows then on to Montague Harbour, one of our go-to anchorages.  Stayed there for a few nights, did some nice energetic walks, lunch at the Crane and Robin (great view and food), and generally chilled out.  

Squirrel!   

Galiano Wildlife

We are on a bit of a timeline as we're meeting friends from Ontario on Aug 18th. but we still had a few places we wanted to go so we headed over Ganges Harbour and tied up in the marina for a night to deal with laundry and a bit of provisioning.  Got our chores done, had a drink on the boardwalk and generally wandered around with no real plans.

Mermaid in Ganges - Salt Spring Island

Had a lazy morning and left Ganges Marina just before 10:00.  Sails up just outside the no-wake zone in the harbour and we sailed through to the end of Satellite Channel, outpacing a few boats on the way.  We particularly like overtaking new sailboats using our 40 year old design and technology.  We headed to Genoa Bay for the night.  Dropped the hook behind reef and settled in for the night, didn't even bother launching the dinghy.  

Happy Cathy

Genoa Bay Sunset

We were headed to Mill Bay the next day to met up with friends for lunch.  Sails up outside the anchorage and we had a great sail with long tacks to around Arbutus Ridge before the wind died.  Motored the last 1/2 hour and tied up in the Mill Bay Marina to met old friends for lunch.  We first met Don and Monica when we moved to Maple Bay Marina back in 2002.  They have a place now in Mill Bay and spend winters in their RV travelling south to warmer climes...

Going South

What feels like our eternal search for wind continued as we left Billy Goat Bay on Helmcken Island bound for Waiatt Bay and the Octopus Islands.  No wind again but a lovely day.  One thing about Billy Goat Bay is there is a lot of kelp.  We pulled a lot of it up on the anchor and caught a bit on the way out with the rudder.  A brief pause once we were out, a burst of reverse that chopped up the kelp and on our way again.  

Dawn @ Billy Goat Bay

Had a good push of tide with us so we made great time down Johnstone Strait.  The currents around the Walkem Islands were intense with lots of eddies and whirlpools.  We did hit 10+ knots through there however so all good.  We turned into Okisollo Channel and slowed down to try and get closer to slack tide at the lower and upper rapids near the NE side of Quadra Is.  We went through about 2 hours before slack with the current running with us.  We followed the advice in the cruising guide (and watched a local who went ahead of us) and stayed close to Quadra Is. through the lower rapids.  Lots of unsettled water on either side of us as we shot through but the channel close to shore was calm, fast, but calm.  When we turned the corner towards the upper rapids, it was a different story. It is noted that there are dangerous rips and overfalls and they're not kidding.  We went straight east towards Grant Island from Cooper Point, following a channel of flat water.  The rips and overfalls were incredible but we stayed well away.  A bit of turbulence when we got abeam Hole in the Wall, but again, no issues so on we went to Waiatt Bay.  Anchored in more or less our usual spot just outside the marine park boundary, launched the dinghy and went to explore the cruisers shack.   Cathy and I had been here in late May and it was interesting to see how much had been added since then.  

Waitt Bay Sunset - Octopus Islands

We left Waitt Bay the next morning to catch the tide turn through Surge Narrows.  On the way to the narrows, we passed a couple of large launches going quite slow and they ended up following us through.  I guess they figured if a 40 ft sailboat could go through a 65 foot Norhaven could as well!  We anchored in Heriot Bay briefly to make it easier to get to the store and stock up on meat and veggies, then off down into Drew Harbour to anchor for a couple of nights.  Noticed Tatoush was there so stopped by and invited them for happy hour the next day.  Paul and Suzanne came by the next day and we had a nice catch up on where we'd all been.  Really nice couple!

Drew Harbour Sunset

Next stop on the run south was Lund.  We left Drew Harbour early enough to try and arrive at Lund around check-out time, 11:00, in hopes of getting a spot on the docks.  It was a drizzly kind of day, no wind, as usual, but we did get onto the dock.  We did stick out a bit as they misheard our length and thought we were 30 ft., not 40.  Ended up with one boat rafted to us, no issues at all for us as they were happy to have us leave around 08:00 the next morning.  Mother and daughter sailing together from Desolation back towards Seattle.  On a side note, many years before in the early 2000's, we went into Powell River and looked for a boat to raft up to.  We were summarily snubbed by everyone and instead of push the issue, we left.  I did say then that if the situation was every reversed, we would welcome another boat to raft up with us.  It was nice to have this come around!  

The weather cleared by early afternoon and it turned out to be a lovely day.  Had lunch at the bakery, and picked up a cinnamon roll for breakfast!

Boardwalk in Lund

Lund Evening

We left the next day, just after 08:00 and we weren't 100 meters from the dock when the engine quit again.  Pulled out the headsail, and with current with us, managed to get safely out of Lund Harbour.  It was easier to do that than try and get back to the dock.  Checked the fuel tank again, no issues.  Checked the fuel filters and found the port side Racor was fouled.  Changed that, primed the filter, bled the system and got going again.  A giant pain but that wasn't the end of it!

We motored down Malaspina Strait to Pender Harbour and into John Henry's Marina.  We'd managed to book that the day before while in Lund.  Beautiful new docks, decent general store and the added bonus of garbage and recycling, which was welcome as we hadn't been able to deal with any of that since we left Port McNeil.  

The next day, I started the engine early to let it run and good thing, it stalled again from fuel starvation.  Bled the system once more, got it running and off again to try and get to Gibsons by 11:00 to get a chance at a dock at the Harbour Authority docks.  With the engine issues still plaguing us, I wanted to be at a dock.  Managed to snag the last available slip at the Harbour Authority so had lots of time to explore around Gibsons and try and sort out the fuel issues.  There was a Friday night market that evening so we stopped there for some music and gin tasting! We're loving the growing craft gin community in BC and bought a lovely bottle of "Joker Gin" from the Bruinwood Estate Distillery.  No real luck troubleshooting the engine but I narrowed the issue down to the dual Racor system.  There is a small air leak that that is causing the engine to lose its prime.  Decided to wait until Bowen Island to try and fix it.  

Closed due to Staff Shortage!

Gibsons Harbour Authority Marina

Got the engine started Saturday and headed out towards Bowen Island.  We sailed, motored, sailed, motored, and finally, after round the north end of Bowen we turned the motor off and tacked our way to Snug Cove.  A bit of a discussion about or reservation (made it in May) but got it all sorted out.  With our arrival at Bowen.  I temporarily fixed the engine issue by taking entire Racor system out of the fuel circuit.  I had enough pieces on board to build a fuel line hose mender so all good.  We love Bowen Island and Union Steamship Marina, we always have a good time there.  Cathy and I had a couple of walks, and generally relaxed.  Got the boat sorted after Jan and Tony left for NZ on Tuesday and get ready to sail across to Nanaimo the next day and hopefully resolve the fuel issue once and for all.  I ordered a new RACOR fuel/water separator from Harbour Chandler in Nanaimo, a single unit, not dual (dual unit was going to cost upwards of $2500!!), this should fix the issue!

Sunset over Unions Steamship Marina - Bowen Island

The Broughton Archipelago - 2023

We left Fly Basin to start our slow journey south under overcast skies and no wind.  The wind does come up of course, but only in the afternoon and when we're trying to get places, we don't wait unfortunately.  It was a very calm trip around Cape Caution and on to Allison Harbour.  We anchored down the bottom of the harbour and took a tour in the dinghy to explore the bottom to "arms" in the anchorage that are too shallow to get in with Cygnet.  Found a flattish beach with a several bits of abandoned machinery.  We walked through a small cut to another bay but not much more of interest than that.  We went back around into the other "arm" and watched the kingfishers as they went back and forth.  We did see some amazing small ducks that instead of flying away from us, the ran on the water.  It was bizarre to watch.  The wind blew down the harbour but no issues for us.  By nightfall there was 6 boats in, 2 sailboats, and the rest varying sizes of big launches.

Abandoned Machinery
in Allison Harbour

A view to the Other Side
Allison Harbour

Not Falling off a Rock!
Allison Harbour

We left after 09:00 for the short trip down to Blunden Harbour.  While we're not getting wind, we've been getting current with us just about everywhere we go.  So three hours later, we're tucked up on the inside of Blunden Harbour.  I had a bit of work to do so Cathy and I didn't get much time on shore.  Nice place and would have enjoyed a longer walk, oh well.  Wind came up like clockwork in the afternoon, again!  We were well hooked so no issues.  

Looking out onto Queen Charlotte Strait
from Blunden Harbour

Jellyfish - Stranded at
Low Tide - Blunden Harbour

Over to Port McNeil for my birthday.  The strait was glassy calm as we made our way across.  The reflections were amazing.

Reflections on Queen Charlotte Strait

Got into Port McNeil and it was full on chore time.  First was laundry, no issue, not busy.  Next was fuel, a few issues.  Propane refill is easy at North Island Marina.  Take your empty tanks to the office on the dock, they fill them and put then back bside your boat.  Easiest way we've ever experienced!  I needed to sort out our dinghy gas and that's where is all started to get messy.  I was filling the small jerry can from the 20 liter jug and the spout slipped out, spraying me with gas.  Oh well.  Next was diesel.  They bring the hose to the boat, and I had 2 x 20 liter jugs to fill and the main tank.  The fuel nozzle is really designed for bigger boats and I ended up overfilling one jug.  Got that sorted then came the main tank on Cygnet.  It took a long time to fill trying to make sure it didn't back up the fill pipe.  This is a problem we have all the time and the key is patience.  Got there in the end but still managed to get some diesel on the 2nd pair of clean pants I'd put on that day.  I kind of gave up after that.  We did go to the liquor store and grocery store to get a nice wine for dinner and the fixings for steak, caesar salad, and garlic bread for Cathy and I.  Jan and Tony both can't eat salads so it was steak, pork and veggies for them.  Caught some beautiful sunset photos from the boat, a nice end to the day.

Sunset at Port McNeil

Sunset over logging crane
Port McNeil

Sunday in Port McNeil was another load of laundry, more food, and a nice long walk.  We did meet up with an interesting couple, Rick and Pru, who have been coming up here for years.  Pru was a net controller for the Great Northern Boaters Net up until 2010.  In their late 70's, they keep very active.  Sailing in the summer, gold panning in Alaska, and an RV to tour around the rest of the year.  They knew Pat and Bob (MV Tonga) who we last saw in Napier Bay in 2007.  As of last year at least, they were still in the Broughtons on Alder Island.  We'll try and get hold of them while we're here.

We put a plan together to see a few places in the Broughtons before we head further south, so on Monday morning, we cast off the lines and once again motored out and once more, back across the Queen Charlotte Strait.  This was the third time we rounded the north end of Malcolm Island past the Pulteney Pt. Lighthouse.  Amazing clouds on the strait as we made our way into Napier Bay.  

Amazing Clouds on the Strait

More Reflections on the Strait

We were hoping to get some hiking in but its now an active logging operation.  The same accomodation barge is still here that was here in 2007, but now call "Gypsy Logger".  The little brother is next to him, "Gypsy Junior".

Floating Logging Camps

We did take a brief dinghy tour around them bay, very sheltered.  When we were last hear in 2007, someone had made up a "dead logger" on the shore.  After 16 years we found the remains of the "dead" logger that has been in repose for a long time, not much more than his hard hat has survived.

The Logger 2023!

The Logger 2007

The next morning brought the usual overcast conditions and we needed to wait to leave to head to Turnbull Cove.  I had a meeting for one of my contracts and Cathy has an online exercise class.  She started these classes (in person) when she was recovering from breast cancer.  Inspire Health, an organization that provides supplementary services for cancer patients and survivors, runs these classes and they offer them online as they are able to reach a much broader audience.  With Starlink, Cathy can still take part, no matter where we are anchored.  It turned out to be a good thing that we had these commitments this morning.  Just before we going to start getting to leave, Jan saw a black bear on the beach at low tide as he (or she) rooted around for clams, crabs, etc.  1st bear sighting of the trip.

First Bear Sighting this Trip!

We left Napier Bay bound for Turnbull Cove, about 9 miles away.  We had the tide was with us all the way.  We got into Turnbull shortly after noon and anchored on the NW side of the Cove.  We did figure out later that the sunniest spot was in a small cove on the NE side.  Turnbull was as calm and as peaceful as Cathy and I remembered it.  There were a few boats anchored but lots of room for everyone.  I put the crab trap down in the afternoon and left it overnight.  The next morning I got 2 nice dungeness crabs, enough for dinner.  We went for a walk up to Huaskin Lake.  The trail goes up at a nice rate, not too steep, and the view from the lake was worth it.  This area has been logged in the past and the amount of abandoned machinery is unreal.   When we went ashore for a walk, Cathy and I decided to kayak over and Jan and Tony took the dinghy.   We went at low tide in the morning (I had a meeting in the early afternoon) and the shore was sticky mud, very sticky!  I did put the prawn trap down outside the cove in about 80 meters of water, but only hauled up 4 undersized prawns, oh well, at least we got some crab.

Later the second evening, I stuck my head out for one final look around and when I looked over to the beach, there was a black bear rummaging around at water edge.  Got a picture but it was a bit too far away.

Huaskin Lake Dock

Huaskin Lake

Turnbull Cove

Turnbull Cove Calm Evening

We left Turnbull Cove shortly after 9 am and headed south, bound for Cypress Cove.  We stopped by Sullivan Bay and dropped Jan and Tony off with the dinghy while Cathy motered slowly around and I continued in a meeting.  They came back with ice cream for all of us, a liter of milk, one head of broccoli and hot chocolate, $60.00!  Jan tried to mail a postcard for Cathy from the post office there but the lady had no idea of the cost of a stamp for a postcard to NZ and was afraid it would get lost anyways.  A bit weird for a Canada Post Outlet.  We left there to go to Cypress Cove but when we got close, we saw a big fish farm taking up half the bay.  Not something we wanted to share an anchorage with.  So a quick conference in the cockpit and we decided to head to Simoom Sound.  It was a very good decision.  We passed a humpback on the way, and I actually got a couple of good pics.

The Hunp...

The Tail

We got into Simoom Sound and found a good place in the NE side of the sound.  Took a stern line in, OK Tony took a stern line in, and we settled in for a couple of nights.  The guys on the Tiamat, a Beneteau 42,  came over to say hi when we got settled and introduced to their pet bearded dragon.  Cedric and Kevin were great.  A really lovely couple and we talked at length about heading down the west coast of Vancouver Island as they've decided this was the next part of their journey.  When Jan and Tony were talking to them a bit later, they got on the subject of sea sickness tablets.  Cedric and Kevin  had scopolamine on board.  Jan has used it with really bad experiences to offered them some of her tablet, cyclizine, non-drowzy, and you remain functional! 

The next day, after a morning of work, Cathy and I went exploring around the anchorage.  Stopped by Blue Haven, a Ranger 31, and had a great chat with Fran and Carl and got an invite back to their boat for Happy Hour at 5 PM!  Next stop was a 40 foot sailboat, Wind Runner, with a couple from Leavenworth WA.  Larry and Sally, again, great people who've been buddy boating with Blue Haven for some time up.  We stopped by Tiamat on the way back and mentioned to Cedric and Kevin that they were invited as well, and they decided to change their plans and stay one more night.  They also asked to borrow our Starlink, and as they were close enough they were able to got on our network. They were able to catch up with family and check weather for the next few days as they tried to figure out when to head around Cape Scott. We all ended up at Happy hour and shared stories and plans for a couple of hours.  Wonderful time and the most social anchorage we'd been in.  

The Mountain Behind Simoom Sound

We left Simoom Sound on July 21, in the rain, and made our way down to Joe Cove.  A bit of rain, brief wind, and not many boats out.  

Leaving Simmom SOund

Clouds and Mist

Cathy and were in Joe Cove in 2007, and the raft that was here then is still here, but no longer useable.  We have the anchorage to ourselves, and the day cleared up nicely.  We put the prawn trap down and we'll collect it in the morning.  The chart actually shows that this is a good prawning area so I'm hopeful.  We checked out a midden in the cove on the way back in found a trail but didn't walk far as we hadn't tied up dinghy.

Cathy on the Midden

The Midden!

Cygnet in Joe Cove

Sunday morning dawned with thick fog, but enough visibility to go collect the prawn trap, just!  So out in the dinghy.  I stopped at the entrance to Joe Cove to make sure my navigation app on my phone was working as the fog was pretty intense.  Found the trap, pulled it up and we had around 10 prawns, so not too bad, enough for a snack. I was glad I had the navigation app on my phone as I had got turned around and couldn't see Joe COv e through the fog and actually started heading the wrong way.  

The fog cleared a bit later and in the early afternoon we pulled up the anchor and headed for Waddington Bay, all of 5 miles away.  Waddington is very protected and there were 8-10 boats already there.  Lots of room however so we found a nice spot and settled in.  Cathy and did a kayak tour around the bay before dinner.  The rain started overnight and continued most of Monday, as expected so a quiet day.  I did get lots of work done so all good.

Reflections in Waddington Bay

Kayak Touring...

We left the next morning to head over to Echo Bay Resort and Marina.  We hadn't been in Echo Bay since 2007 and when we last visited we parked our last boat, Tarun, on the bottom.  for more details, look back in the blog to a post from May 2007!  We called into the marina and got our dock location and I decided to go bow in.  In hindsight, not the best idea as we would have to back out and we had no idea of what might end up behind us.  So we swung the boat around using some long lines and pointed her bow out.   It was chore day again, so laundry got started and checked out the store for provisions.  Echo Bay Marina changed ownership and few years ago and it is struggling to keep up with what it once was.  There is only a couple of staff, and they're run off their feet, so much so that the have a hard time getting fresh provisions so the food available was pretty scarce.  When we were last there, the school was still going, but it closed in 2008 and subsequently burned down unfortunately.  Windsong Sea Village is still there, and currently remains separate from Echo Bay Marina.  One of the things I really wanted to do in the Broughtons was go back to Bill Proctors Museum.  I had to do some consulting work in the early afternoon, so Cathy, Jan, and Tony took the dinghy to go around instead of walking the trail.  We'd been told it would be quite muddy, wet, etc. after the rain.  My meeting finished a bit early, so I headed out to walk over.  The trail was great, no issues at all.  Got over to the museum, and Bill Proctor shuffled out of his house to come over to open it up.  He's moving a lot slower now but still lives on his own and is getting around.  He's 88 this year and has been in the Broughtons since he was 4 days old!  I got him talking about his life and fishing, and what's going on around the area.  He's had an amazing life and he's collaborated with a couple of other locals and published a few books describing it, "Heart of the Raincoast: A Life Story (1998)", "Full Moon, Flood Tide (2003)", and "Tide Rips and Back Eddies (2015)", all available on Amazon.  While I was talking to Bill, Cathy, Jan, and Tony showed up.  They had been visiting an art gallery just around the corner.  The museum is a lifetime of collected odd bits, or as Bill Proctor puts it, junk.  I disagree, it's an amazing collection.

Artifacts From the Beach

The Museum

We said our goodbyes to Bill, and Cathy and I walked back to the marina.  Finished off the laundry, had a shower and started getting dinner ready.  We got interrupted a bit by an impromptu gathering on the dock.  There were only 5-6 boats in the marina, and we ended up meeting more of boaters out exploring.  I talked with Brad who with his wife Laea were visiting his sister and brother in law while they cruised the Broughtons.  Brad and Laea used to have a Beneteau that they sailed around the Bay area.  Very interesting guy and Laea has a smile that light's up a room.

Windsong Sea Village

Echo Bay Marina and Resort

After a night at Echo Bay, we planned to go to Lacy Falls and then anchor in Kwatsi Bay.  Thought we'd leave around 9-9:30, but not to be.  Couldn't get the engine started.  We just couldn't get fuel to the motor.  I took the fuel line off the Racor system and blew back into the fuel tank.  It took a bit to blow back but got there without passing out.  OK, so try again, still no luck.  Next was to try and bleed the fuel lines on the motor.  ended up cracking open the plug on top of the main engine fuel filter, but all I got was bubbles when the fuel pump was running.  So off to look at the fuel tank.  When I checked the line out of the fuel tank, it had a small crease and it looked like it was leaking.  This is the copper pick-up tube that runs to the bottom of the fuel tank, and out the top, connecting to a fuel shut-off valve and then the fuel line to the motor.  Talked about various ways to sort this out and ended up sanding the copper tube to rough it up, mixed up some 5 minute epoxy with West System 406 adhesive filler, and sealed up the fuel line.  Let that set up for about 20 minutes until it was hard, bled the engine again at the main fuel filter and voila, the engine started, all good, or so we thought.  So off finally around 11:40 through Hornet Passage into Tribune Channel.  Once again, the motor started to cough and loose power so I switched to the other Racor filter (we have a twin Racor filter system for the fuel before it gets to the engine filter) and the motor steadied up.  One of the things about the  Racor filter is that it's also a water separator.  The bowl on the first filter was almost full of water.  No idea where the water came from but OK.  So the engine is running, seemingly OK.  After discussing with all 4 of us, the decision was made to go through to Lagoon Cove Marina and bypass Kwatsi Bay.  We had wanted to stop in Kwatsi because it's typical to see Orcas and Porpoise in the Bay.  Oh well, it turned out it was a good thing we didn't.  Got to Lagoon Cove OK but couldn't get to the dock, they were full, so we anchored about 750 feet away.  To make the day complete, when we were anchoring, the dinghy painter had come undone where it was tied inside the dinghy out of the way of the towing line.  None of us noticed this and when Cathy started to back the boat down to set the anchor, the painter wrapped around the prop and the engine quite.  Not a huge issue as we were anchored but I did have to go for a swim.  The instruments showed water temp around 17C so not too bad.  I dug out my fins, mask and snorkel and jumped in to see what was going on (side note, the water was NOT 17C, much colder than that)  The line was well wrapped but no damage anywhere so I managed to cut it all away with a lovely new knife that one of my managers had given me for a retirement present last year (awesome knife, thanks Huck!).  Back on deck about 10 minutes later and once again the beginning stages of hypothermia setting in.  I've experienced this more ofter this year than ever.  Maybe I should stop swimming in really cold water.  Anyways, a warm shower on deck and all good

We settled in for the night and Lagoon Cove marina had told as soon as boats started to leave the next morning we could come in.    The next morning, boats leaving, so I went to start the engine, no go again, couldn't get fuel to the engine again.  So I took the active Racor off to replace it with a spare (I'd already replaced one of the 2 Racor filter sabout a week before) and the filter was black, lots of grunge, so OK, maybe we had a bad case of diesel bug (an organism that can grow and thrive in diesel fuel).  Bled the system once again, and the motor started.  So anchor up and off to the dock.  But we're not done yet.  Cygnet has an inspection hatch on the diesel tank and I wanted to see how bad the fuel was.  So off with the nuts, pulled off the hatch, and no evidence of diesel bug, just nice clean fuel.  I took a flashlight and peered into the tank, then I looked at the where the fuel pickup tube.  Cygnet is designed with the diesel tank molded into the hull and all along the bottom edge of the tank was this white pile of something.  It didn't look right and there were 2 big chunks of this white stuff lying just in front of the pickup tube.   We figured out that these chunks were getting pulled into the fuel pickup tube and partially blocking the tube when the motor was running, but not completely.  When I blew back into the tank, I was blowing these chunks out of the tube, and problem solved, briefly.  I could reach the bottom of the tank so I stuck my arm in to pull out these chunks, and they were crystalized fuel.  I stuck my hand in again and ran is all along the front edge of the tank and pulled out a handful of the crystalised fuel.  So got it all cleaned out, put back together, and turned the key to see if I could get the system to prime (it's designed to self prime and I shouldn't of had to bleed it)  Primed right up and started right away.

Crystallized Diesel Fuel

Cathy in meantime was searching on google to try and find out what could cause this.  It turns out there is paraffin added to diesel and in certain conditions, if the temperature is below 4 degrees C, the paraffin can crystalize out of the fuel.  This year we left the boat for 2 months, March and April, with only enough heat on to keep it from freezing.  This may have been the culprit.  I have additive for this but had stopped using it.  I won't stop again!

With that out of the way, we could relax and take a breath.  Lagoon Cove is an interesting place.  They host a happy hour every evening starting at 17:00.  They typically supply a bowl of fresh cooked prawns and boaters bring a small plate to share.  We went up the first night we were there and that was dinner!  There was tons of food.  Managed to meet up with another person from the Ham net as well.  John and Barb off Aeris, a Grand Banks 42  Had a nice long chat with them, really nice couple.  They have a place in Pender Harbour and keep their boat our front!   We walked all the trails around the property and generally chilled out.  I did get a good tip the second day about where to put the prawn trap down so Tony and I went out to try one last time.  We left it in for 4 1/2 hours, all the time we really had, and got 18 nice big prawns.  I was told that we should leave the pot down for 24 hours, they are typically pulling 120+ prawns in that time.  We did the math and we were on track for that many, so a good haul.  I marked it on the chart!  Went to Happy Hour again, and ran into Brad and Laea, they had arrived that day.  Got caught up with them and talked at length with Holly, who, along with her partner, bought Lagoon Cove in 2016.  They work hard at making everyone feel welcome and are absolutely wonderful people.  They used to have a kids camp in Northern Minnesota, so have lots of experience dealing with large groups.  They live at Lagoon Cove year-round and are open year-round as well.  Off-season they primarily cater to commercial boats for fuel etc.   We will definitely go back the next time we're in the Broughtons.

Happy Hour Gathering Place

Cygnet @ Lagoon Cove

Trail Map - Lagoon Cove

Face's in the Tree!

We left Lagoon Cove just after 8 in the morning to catch the tides through Chatham Channel and out to Johnstone Strait.  Had a good run down to the strait and by mid-day, we turned the motor off and sailed on a deep reach down to Billy Goat Bay.  Lovely sail with a few easy gybes in 10-18 knots of true wind!  Billy Goat Bay is nicely sheltered but there are now signs up warning you to stay off the island, its private property and under video surveillance.  Not exactly a welcoming place.  With this stopping off point, we are now out of the Broughtons and into the Discovery Islands