Back to the Gulf Islands

We launched ourselves back actress the Straight of Georgia without a real destination in mind, knowing that we would have at least 3 hours to figure one out. There are only a few openings through into the Gulf Islands from the Straight, and the currents  running through them can be very considerable.  It turned out that we were way too early for slack tide at the passes nearest us, so we opted to make it a short day and head to Silva Bay on Gabriola Island, which is accessed directly from the Straight.  The guidebook described it as a very good anchorage with a nice marina.  The current situation is that the anchorage is filled with boats on permanent mooring buoys, leaving the marina as the only option for a visiting boat.  We tied up and had our lunch before going for a walk.

After quickly realizing that it was a very expensive marina, and many of the local businesses weren't open for the season yet, we decided to carry on.  Our 2 hours in Silva Bay had put us right on schedule to go through Porlier Pass at slack tide, so off we headed again.  After a couple of hours we pulled into Clam Bay, neat Thetis Island, and dropped the anchor with only a few other boats in sight.

Telegraph Harbour is on the other side of the island, but only a 15 minute dinghy ride away through a shallow channel.  We decided to go exploring, and ended up staying for dinner at the pub.

Our neighbour in Clam Bay

The next day, we headed off early, intending to make it to Poet's Cove between North and South Pender Islands, which is one of the most popular cruising destinations in the Gulf Islands.  Once there, we tied up to a mooring buoy, and eventually headed in to explore the resort.

Poets Cove

After a snack in the restaurant, we headed to the swimming pool, where we met some more old hippy islanders.

This was the day that our offer to buy Arctic Tern (aka the orange boat) was formally presented to the buyers, who had briefly stopped in El Salvador.  We had a 24 hour window to sort out a deal, otherwise it would be unlikely to pull the proposed plan together in time.  For the first time in a few weeks we had no cell coverage on the boat, so I nervously made multiple trips over to the resort in the dinghy to get on their Wifi.  There was no feedback at bedtime.

When I woke early the next morning, it was raining, and I had decided to delay my trip in for Wifi for a while.  Luckily, my cell phone connected briefly, and I had an email from the sellers, notifying me that they were accepting our offer without modification.  Game On!!!