pacific north west

[Frank]

Heading out to Bellingham on monday, then boating up to Sidney Vancouver Island and working our way to Desolation Sound, Bute Inlet and Quadra Island area. This is a simply beautiful part of the world!!! Snow capped mountains, fiord like settings, orcas, sea lions and tons of bald eagles. The fishing is great as well. This will be my 4th cruise out there.....I just love it. Each trip was during the fall and you rarely see another boat once you get further north. Off seasons have benefits.

[CaptMac]

Sounds great, what kind of boat will you be cruising on?

[Frank]

Will be travelling on "the dark side"  ;D  A friend has a trawler and 1st invited me back in 08.
Waking up in the morning, turn the furnace up, put coffee on, sit back, warm and dry... looking out through the damp-cool morning mist at the mountains with the coffee smell lingering in the air. Ask me if I missed a cockpit?   ;D :o ::) Best boat type for fall cruising up in the PNW

[Frank]

Quick update:
Bellingham Wa though SanJauns to Sidney Vancouver Island...cruised up through the Gulf  islands with several stops enroute to Naniamo, then crossed the Gulf to Pender harbour (friends there)...then down to Gibson's landing...then yesterday to downtown Vancouver.  Vicky flys in tomorrow...a quick tour of the Gulf Islands then up to Desolation Sound-Bute Inlet-Quadra Island area.  I love it out here. Few active boats this time of year, funkie people and beautiful scenary!!!!

[Tim]

 :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(  Pictures!!!

[Frank]

once I figure out this darn computer.....
I hate change. You learn one way..then things get switched!!
Kinda like going to a town you know but the streets are all different!
Wish windows 98 was still going   ;D

[s/v Faith]

Thanks for sharing Frank!  I suppose it is something like "the right tool for the right job"...

Of course it is easy for me to. Say so, once again posting from the warm Nav station of my favorite Pearson 424 ;)

Enjoy your trip!  Hope you get the pictures figured out soon!

[Frank]

Fog set in for the entire crossing from Bellingham to Sidney and later from Naniamo to Pender....actually most of the week. I'm a minimist by nature...but radar was SO comforting!
These are new waters for me. Much stronger currents in the narrows with tides, shipping lanes and lots of rock.

[Frank]

more...

[Frank]

There were porpoises visit and swim with us. lots of seals and it was fun to watch a sealion break water trying to get a seagull

[Frank]

The scenary speaks for itself....

[Frank]

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[Frank]

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[Frank]

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[Tim]

Thank You Frank, but now I am crying even more  :'( :'( :'(  ;D

[Frank]

Vicky landed yesteray. Had been anchored in "false creek" Vancouver. Headed over to Nanaimo today.
I forgot to mention that Gibson's Landing had some colourful signs.
One was a "cougar sighting"
The other...well...I booked Capt K into!!!!!

[CharlieJ]

ROFLMAO!!

[Jim_ME]

Beautiful photos, Frank.  :)

I was thinking that the rocky coast and forested hills could be the coast of Maine. In the last photo, though, the mountain range is bigger.

Seems like being SF drunk and cougars could be a bad combination?  ;)

[Frank]

Depends....Some "cougars" are more dangerous if you're drunk than others!!    ;) :o
We are heading up to Desolation Sound in about a week. Then you definately won't confuse the coasts. I'll post pictures later...it is SO beautiful there!

[Jim_ME]

Then you definately won't confuse the coasts.

Oh, there you go now...playing that stereotypical geographic illiteracy card!!  :'(  ;)