(seals on the reef)We left Preedy Harbour in the late morning and headed off for the short trip to Thetis Harbour Marina(48 59.619N 123 40.115W). It was just around the corner so it took a whole 45 minutes. As we passed the reef at the Southeast channel out of Preedy, there were seals all over the rock sunning themselves and sleeping. We see seals from time to time while we are out sailing but there were a lot of them on the reef.
We rounded the corner and headed up Thetis Harbor just as a ferry was headed in. Luckily, he was far enough off that we could easily stay out of his way. As we neared the dock, while Tracy got the dock lines ready, I slowly motored past the marina to do a scouting run. A simple run in and a easy port side tie up. As I turned around and headed back toward the entrance, the depth gauge went crazy and Zephyr slowed a bit. We were beginning to run aground in the shallow harbour. I changed course quickly to head us more toward the center of the harbour and poured on the diesel. We slowly powered through it. We're lucky to have gotten past it as the tide was going out and any later and we would have been stuck there for quite a few hours as the water went out. We rounded up and entered the marina and tied up.
The biggest reason for our stop is as always laundry. We're fine with food, water and diesel but clean clothes are another matter. We'd planned on eating lunch at the "pub" at the marina but they aren't really open till next week. They had some soup and bread but that was about it. We feasted on Zephyr with a great chicken salad. As we ate, people kept coming by inspecting Zephyr and everything we have on her. I guess not many boat stop in with all the hardware we have on board. You don't often see a sailboat with a satellite dish on their stern.
Off to the laundry room. Well, more of a laundry closet. One washer and one dryer. $3.50 per wash load and $1.25 for the dryer that might get your clothes dry if you added a second $1.25. With only one washer, I spent most of the afternoon reading and waiting for one load to be done so I could get it into the dryer and get on with the second load. Once I finished the first load, I walked it down to the boat and came back and waited for the second load to be ready for the dryer. I got back shortly before dinner time.
I'd opened up a chub of hamburger from Costco and added some diced onions and garlic and barbecued a couple of patties on the grill. Topped them with some nice cheddar cheese and steamed some broccoli for the side, uncorked the wine and we both had a great dinner. Just because we're sailors doesn't mean we have to rough it.
It was another beautiful day. Warm enough that we actually opened one of the port holes to let in some fresh air. The kids came out and laid in the shade or wandered the deck as several sets of eagles soared overhead. We get one more day of wonderful weather and then the rains is supposed to return. I guess we will see.
Tomorrow, off to Pirates Cove Marine Park on De Courcy Island. Bill and Susan recommended it so we shall give it a try. It is supposed to be one of the most popular coves in the island so hopefully it won't be too busy this early in the season. At least it isn't Saturday.
We still have no confirmation that the part we are waiting for has shipped. With luck, we might find out tomorrow so we can plan accordingly as to when we should arrive in Nanaimo. I don't figure the box will get there before Monday as the earliest. We are both chomping at the bit to get heading farther North. Each day we spend down here is one less we can spend up there and that is where we really want to be. Far away from all the marks of civilization we see here. Were we can be by our selves with no one else in the cove. Of course, it would help if we had some wind to take us there instead of having to run the engine just about every day to get anywhere. All in good time I guess.
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