Mike and Beth's Adventures

Princess Louisa Inlet Can you find the smiley face on the mountain? Hint: It's at the top! Pender Harbor is a good jumping off spot for any trip to Princess Louisa Inlet.  It affords an opportunity to top off fuel, water, and provisions for the 40+ mile trip north through Agamemnon Channel and Jervis Inlet.  When planning your trip, you must start with determining the time of slack water in Malibu Rapids.  This is the narrow opening at the entrance of Princess Louisa Inlet.  If you try to transit this area mid-tide, you will encounter strong currents and you can see the height difference between the inside and the outside as water levels try to equalize. You earn your entrance to Princess Louisa Inlet by traveling 40+ miles up a long fiord. It is easy to imagine that you might be in Norway.  This is a long distance at trawler speed, but time passes quickly as you are turning one way or the other to see the sights that present themselves in all directions. Toweri...

The sea conditions as we departed Nanaimo to cross the Straits of Georgia. Our destination was Smugglers Cove. Beth indicates she is ready to skillfully skipper Amy Marie from Vancouver Island, across the Straits of Georgia, and back to the mainland. Prime Time is enjoying the flat seas as we cross the straits. Our first landfall was in Half Moon Bay, north of Sechelt B.C. Lighted Navaids are strategically placed to keep mariners out of trouble The entrance to Smugglers Cove was so well camouflaged that we initially sailed past it.  Once inside we each dropped a bow anchor and then ran lines to points where rings and chains were attached to the rock.  When in confined areas, this is a more secure method of anchoring as it restricts swinging in shifting winds and currents. Both Prime Time and Amy Marie launched dinghies to facilitate the process of stern tying. Each vessel carried a reel with 300' of yellow polypropylene line.   It is easy to see, and it floats on the...