North Cove, Thetis Island

Anchored at 5pm in North Cove after an excellent day on the water. We had good winds most of the day and after motoring out of Ganges harbor around 8 this morning we had fine, variable winds sailing. From 8 knots to gusts of 28 knots, lots of sailing in steady 17 knots. Showers, sun breaks, blue sky patches and the close of the day with a mackerel sky. Classic NW sailing.

We scoped out Herring Bay on Ruxton Island but it was pretty narrow and didn't look like we'd have much scope there. Also considered Pirates Cove on De Courcy Island but it was low tide and we'd be unable to cross a bar to get into the cove. Which is a shame, De Courcy Island is on my list of places to visit - it was the site of a personality cult, where the charismatic leader sent the men to one side of the island, kept the women for himself and somehow was able to convince the men to give him their money. He disappeared one night with one of the ladies and a rumored million bucks. But went south to North Cove - plenty of swinging room, only boat anchored, a few houses on the shore, a nice view up to the west. Tomorrow morning we'll go through Gabriola Pass at slack tide, 9:30am. We're about 7 miles from the pass so will leave early in the morning to get that all lined up.

Yesterday in Ganges we did some provisioning, had pizza at an over priced, mostly vacant tourist joint. Ganges feels forlorn and abandoned for the winter. Our highlight was walking down the sidewalk and having two large, inebriated guys pass us - one mumbled "hat, coat" (Douglas had on his red team Zissou hat, and I was in my orange raincoat) his friend a couple steps behind him lunged at me as he passed and tried to tickle me....oh, Canada, even the obnoxious drunks are friendly.

Ganges harbor was bustling with fishing traffic and float planes. There was a constant buzz of activity in the morning and in the late afternoon. Several planes taking off and landing one right after with a few sprinkled around the rest of the day. Early this morning as we readied the boat for departure a plane taxied up alongside us, I could see the pilot and his passengers a boat length away. The engine revved up and the sound was like a storm shrieking past. He deftly meandered around the moored boats of various stages of abandonment and disrepair and then off. Moments after he was airborne another plane swooped in to land. Seems dangerous and incongruent - I can't imagine what it's like in the summer with more boats, more tourists, more planes and more folks anchored out in front of the town. Our afternoon there, albeit entertaining, was enough, we were ready to move north.