These photos are from 2008, we were anchored in Silva bay, and took the dinghy for a look around the smaller islands. Some of these islands have incredible rock lace, one of them being Vance island and Carlos island.   I just have to share these, i find these rocks beautiful!!

Sand stone “rock lace” on Vance island.

All through out the Gulf Islands, ( IN THE SALISH SEA),  every where you go ashore, you are bound to find some intriguing shore lines, amazing rock formations, beautiful sculpted sand stone rocks, marked by years of salt water, splashing and dripping in the same spots…..  i call these” rock lace”, as some of them are beautifully crafted by nature.

The Gulf islands consist of high ridges of erosion resistant sandstone and conglomerate, in between lies more easily eroding

Conglomerate rock.

Sandstone with “rock lace”

As dry and rocky the shores are, these little succulents keep on growing, Tough little plants!!!!!

shale, the conglomerate is especially evident at the shores of South Pender Island, huge conglomerate boulders line the shore, broken off from higher up, while in between , sand stone  ridges and rock show the “rock lace”.       I have a lot of older photos of the rock lace , from the shores near  Silva bay.      There, whole caves have washed out from the constant waves.

We stayed three nights, when we were walking towards the shopping Centre, on North Pender, we met a very nice couple from Alberta, their power boat was tied to the dock at Poet’s Cove, Perry and Jo-Anne, Perry heard our accents and started talking about Holland, he is part dutch too, so the dutch names of many little places in Holland were coloring the conversation!!!             We saw them again later on at Poet’s Cove and invited them to come for coffee on board of Curtsy the next day.     They had never been on board of a sailboat before and both were pleasantly surprised!!!      But, i am getting ahead of things, the night before we had a most beautiful sunset, so i need to share that.

Gorgeous heh??

A second photo never hurts, the beautiful colors are slowly fading away…..

We left the 29th of March , the day before, Bert unfurled the sails, checking them for any problems, he took the dinghy down, mounted the engine, went on a trial run, all was good, i bought the necessary groceries to keep us well fed and happy, and on Tuesday, away we went!!        Actually , we had no plans, no idea about where to go, but first we have to head out of Saanich inlet, then we took a right turn into Satellite Channel , Bert put the head and the main sail up.      The wind was kind of all over the place, it always is here, the tide was running hard , especially in Boundary Pass, and we decided to head towards Bedwell harbour, South Pender Island, i always like going there, and this time of year its not too busy.     The resort, Poet’s Cove , is nice to visit, and we had the use of the showers and the hot tub.       We tied to one of the buoys, that are put there by the Provincial Parks , and relaxed…….               Now, i believe that all things come in threes, so, first, our little fridge decided that is was not getting enough power on 12 volt, in the middle of the night, it starts cycling, trying to start, as i sleep with one ear open at all times (first mate), i started listening to it, on off, on off,   when i flip the 12 volt switch, it might start, but then, it might now,   so, i decided to turn it off, and sleep, everything was nice and cold in it, so it should be ok till morning, as long as i didnt open it……

Next problem, when we were sailing that day, we at one point heeled 30 degrees, to starboard, there is one water tank at starboard, it is fiber glass, built into the hull, but, it has a small crack at the very top, Bert thought he had fixed it, but heeling that much, showed it was not closed off yet.         A foot of fresh water was sitting in the hold next to it, not a huge problem, as i keep a plastic bucket in there, plus some things that can get wet.    I cleaned it out, dried it all , and we still had over 3/4 tank of water left, plus two other full tanks, no worries.            Now, like i said, things come in threes, the next day , Bert

Bridge link between the tow islands.

Pender Canal, no problem going through with the dinghy, but some bigger boats, and sailboats, run into problems sometimes, at high tide, some masts scrape along the bottom of the bridge, you can see the scarring when you go through!!!!

asked me if i wanted to go through the Cut, between South Pender and North Pender, and walk to the shopping centre near Port Browning.        Yes!!!!   would love that, so, Bert put the engine on the dinghy, and proceeded to start it, he pulled  and he pulled, i started hearing some choice words, some more pulling, not a kick in the darn thing!!!!!       Now Bert takes very good care of everything, so this was weird, he proceeded to take the engine apart, every little part, checking if the fuel came in, checking the hoses, taking out the spark plugs, cleaning them, they looked good, put it all back together , still would not start, gas not getting there, so, take apart the carburetor , he is so patient, and so thorough   , i watched with great admiration   , half hour later, put it all back together, pulled the cord, and away she went!!!!!     And, it has never sounded so good!!!!!!      So, there you go!!!!!!   all things come in threes!!!!!

Bert hauled out all the anchor chain yesterday, all 89 meters of it, plus the anchor, he stretches it all out on the dock, then repaints all the measuring spots, every so many meters, yellow first, then red, the paint stays on for about a year, you can tie little ties to the chain too, but other boaters told us that they all break off, eventually, so paint it is!!!!    Here in Brentwood bay, we are surrounded by green, trees, bushes, flowers, and every spring ,they all bloom, and emit pollen into the air, it is a fine green powder, i get sick from it, my face swells up, eyes, ears, it all itches terribly, so i go into hiding, until the pollen stops, the boat is green, and i mean green!!! everything has a coating on it, Bert just hosed her down, and washed her,but  this morning, after the rain, yup! you guessed it, everything is green!!!          My little bonsai is thriving, i love the new little leaves, so tender and soft, the two pots of pansies are blooming, amazing, as they just sat there, all winter long, really the toughest flowers !!!!      Tomorrow we head out for a bit, direction North, we just go, no idea where to, the weather is suppose to be beautiful,  maybe head to Cabbage island…….

This is a few weeks ago, view from our aft hatch.

This is now, moss is growing on the soil again, it seems to protect the tree.

Flowers in the cockpit, this is before Bert painted it all while i was away, it looks awesome now, he did a great job!!!

Its Easter Sunday, and its raining, but thats ok, as i can see blue sky to the North!!!!      I have been trying to write to everyone and wish them a joyful day, but this way seems to make more sense.     We are taking the boat out tomorrow, but a few days, she needs to stretch her legs so to speak, and i love the bays in Spring time, there are many hikes we can go on, to have a look how the wild flowers are doing, i have not seen any Fawn Lillies, yet, those beautiful little flowers that look like little umbrellas,they usually come out at Easter……  I drove up to the Comox valley, to see our daughter Karen and family  , and their new puppy, Penelope, a Spaniel, brown and white, she is totally adorable and oh so smart!!!       Karen’s garden looks lovely, all kinds of flowers are popping their heads up , the trees are blooming, the air at night , is full of the song of many frogs, it is such a good sign that they are still there, frogs are a big indication that nature is still healthy!!!

THERE IS ONLY PEACE TO BE FELT

ONCE AWAY FROM CITIES AND ROADS

SLOWLY MAKING MY WAY THROUGH THE TREES

BIRDS SOUNDING THE ALARM;

THAT I AM HERE!!!!

THEN, OCEAN SALT IN THE AIR

COMING TOWARDS THE BEACH

WATER  LAPPING AT MY FEET,

AND THE ROCKS,FIRST GREY

THEN A DEEP BLACK.

BUT BACK IN THE FOREST

THE SILENCE CREEPS IN

OVERWHELMS,PACIFIES,

A SNAIL,HOUSE ON BACK,

SLIDES WITHOUT A SOUND

LITTLE EYES TURNING,

THIS WAY AND THAT,

ON MY HAND,JUST THE HOUSE NOW

BUT,OCCUPIED!

SLOWLY ,EYES COMING BACK OUT

HE REVELS IN THE WARMTH OF MY HAND

BECOMES ACTIVE!

WHAT A JOY

THIS LITTLE BIT OF LIFE!!!

A poem by Mejan          March 10  2016

,

I have been keeping to myself a lot since the trip, actually just enjoying being on Curtsy, with her warmth and comfort, i love my mornings, Gribley, “my” gull, flies in around 7, waiting for his treat, but i now have a new gull, “SPUD”, this is a young fellow, from last spring, he even still has his baby face, i call him Spud because he likes potatoes!!!!!!!   This is totally weird , as gulls hate potatoes, but maybe he just doesn’t know any better just yet……    he has no fear, as yet, sticks his head into the boat, through my porthole in the galley, and looks around, waiting for his treats.     He pays no attention to Gribley, who has a total hissy fit, because this young gull seems to taking all his treats, it is very entertaining to watch!!    Then there is Jaytoo, the older, wiser bird, he does not show up till the evening, when it is almost dark, all the other gulls have long gone, so, how smart is he????       He stays till well after dark, a very bright, white bird,he already has his summer plumage.    So, that is what keeps me busy, we are planning to get a kitten, and i can just imagine what will happen with the birds, they wont like it a bit, but hopefully they will get used to him!!!

my solitude spot, where i write and meditate.