Our last post ended with us arriving at Hot Springs Cove, just north of Tofino.
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The next day, we were up at dawn to have a private soak in this amazing natural setting.
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Our arrival at Hot Springs Cove was the beginning of a shift in the nature of our trip. At this point we are starting to leave the wilderness and edge back into the domesticated world.
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View from our anchorage that evening. This is where we were at the time of the Kamchatka earthquake and subsequent tsunami alert. We were unaffected and had a peaceful night.
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We arrive in Tofino, and brave the tourist bustle in order to buy some groceries.
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We are searching for fresh food. It is now late July, and we find that the busy grocery store has a fine selection of winter gourds and root vegetables, but no peaches. (No flowers either, it seems.)
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Walking back to the dock with our small selection of groceries, we can see a huge fog bank lurking among the islands.
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Anchored in historic Adventure Cove in Lemmens Inlet (Meares Island), a picturesque floathome occupies one end of the cove.
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Looking across Lemmens Inlet as the sun dips behind the hills.
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In the morning, fog drifts into this collection of larger floathomes occupying the other end of Adventure Cove.
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We spent several hours that day cruising in the fog. We couldn’t see anything, and had to rely on the GPS and radar to safely navigate from Tofino to Ucluelet.
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We burst out of the fog and into sunshine as we approach Ucluelet harbour. That unusual green colour of the water is due to an algae bloom. We hadn’t seen this phenomenon before but these blooms are happening more frequently now due to ocean warming.
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Close neighbours at the dock in Ucluelet.
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We went out for dinner for the first time in weeks. This was at Ucluelet Brewing, where we had good beer and a casual, tasty dinner.
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The following evening, Jan had managed to arrange a table at the renowned Pluvio restaurant. Their food is exquisite and we had a superb dining experience!
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Back out on the water, islands in the Broken Group defy the fog in the background.
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Out for a paddle among the Deer Group islands, we discover this huge sea cave and arch. Yes, that’s me way in the back there!
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View from the other side of the arch, looking out at Jan taking photos of me. These arches and caves are tricky to enter, as there is constant water movement from the ocean swells.
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At the entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait, we stop over among the sport fishing fleet in Port Renfrew.
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Closer to Victoria, the first Whale Watching boats come roaring by.
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Just outside Sooke Harbour, new waterfront condos grace the shoreline.
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Just inside the Ogden Point breakwater a ship is unloading new yachts just shipped over from the Orient.
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An evening view of the Parliament buildings from the docks, as a light rain moves in.
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Next morning, despite the rain, we set out on the bikes on a quest for local experiences.
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First, we sample coffee at Fantastico, with snacks from the Fol Epi bakery next door.
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We do a little shopping at Market Garden.
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We watch local residents engage with their environment.
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Early one morning, as we leave the harbour, we pass a cruise ship docked near the Ogden Point breakwater. It’s a different kind of on-water experience from ours.
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Outside Ganges Harbour, we pass the 285 foot mega-yacht Lonian. Yet another type of on-water experience.
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Accompanying the Lonian is their 216 foot shadow yacht, the Hodor. Hodor was specifically constructed as a toy box to carry accessory craft. On board are high speed boats, several jet-skis, a Hobie Cat, a helicopter, and even a submarine, for added dimensions to the on-water experience.
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On the Raven Song, we have the pleasure of cocktails on the upper deck with Jan’s brother Bruce, who joined us for a few days.
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Bruce and Jan walking the trails on Portland Island.
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Evening calm in the Gulf Islands.
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Morning sun on the Gulf Islands ferry.
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We squeeze under the bridge in the Pender Canal, between North and South Pender Islands.
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The Gulf Islands are busy! We are still adjusting to having so many boats around us. On this evening some wildfire smoke is in the sky.
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More boats on the water means more radio traffic and more incidents. Here, the Coast Guard Hovercraft is attending to a sailboat that was taking on water. (They successfully stopped the leak, and the sailboat didn’t sink!)
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At Thetis Island we meet up with friends from the sailboat Jina. Heather and David entertained us with stories of their summer exploring the BC Central Coast.
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Our final afternoon at the beach, at Walker Hook on Saltspring. Tomorrow we head home.
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Back at our dock at Milltown Marina.
We have been gone for two months and have had lots of adventures, several changes of plan, but no misadventures. An excellent trip all round!
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