Craving a Refreshing Cold Confection at Malibu Club

One of the things we had come to enjoy while cruising in the Pacific Northwest this year was our time exploring away from the boat by dinghy. We would try to get as much information about where to beach our dinghy so that could do a nice hike and maybe encounter a freshwater lake or woodsy waterfall. On our last full day at Chatterbox Falls, we decided to spend the day taking a dinghy ride from the dock at the falls all the way back to Malibu Rapids (5 miles) to visit the Malibu Club, a summer camp for high school students.

First off though, we needed to clean up somewhere and we’d heard about a waterfall that might be just the ticket. Off we went, scouting out the shoreline for signs of a possible waterfall and preferably a small pool of water to splash around in. Thirty minutes later we came to the approximate spot we’d been told about, we tied the dinghy to some boulders and began our short hike up some rugged terrain. What we found was a waterfall and rocky riverbed that had found its way from somewhere 3,000 feet above. Over the years natural pools of waist-deep water, lined by rocks, boulders, and fallen tree remains, had been created, making it the perfect place for a refreshing dip or, in our case, a fresh air bath. The water was a bit nippy at first but we soon got used to it.

We stopped at this dock located at an anchorage spot, the golden mossy boulders stood out in great contrast to the surrounding forest, water, and sky.

Now that we were all cleaned up it was time for our dinghy ride to Malibu Rapids for a visit to the Malibu Club, where we had heard they sold ice cream, it was a hot day and this sounded like a great treat for us. Malibu Club was created in 1941 as a high-end resort for the likes of John Wayne, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope. It has been owned by Young Life, a Christian organization, since 1953 and is run as a summer camp for teenagers. Upon arrival, we had a guided tour and a short history lesson about the facilities by one of the campers, then we found a great vantage point to watch a few boats ride the forceful current of the rapids into the inlet as the tide was coming in. Later we sat on the lawn in front of the cafeteria and had a long overdue ice cream treat.

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We left our anchorage at Octopus Islands late morning, during slack tide, to head to Pendrell Sound. Just as on most days during this trip, we had sunny skies and calm waters for our day’s cruise.

“How was the swimming at Pendrell Sound?”

We often get asked this question in regard to how a cruising territory meets some fairly typical cruisers desired water activities. The reason I bring this up in this post has to do with our stop in Pendrell Sound. British Columbia’s Desolation Sound is located within close proximity to the 50th parallel. As a reference the only place above this parallel, in the United States, is Alaska. With that said you’d think the water would be too frigid to go swimming. Not so!

If you look at a map you’ll notice Queen Charlotte and Johnstone Straits are situated north of Desolation Sound, while the Strait of Georgia is to the south. In the middle sits Desolation Sound where the meeting of the tides occurs. The proximity of these straits and poor tidal circulation, as described to me by a local boater, is what maintains a year-round water temperature averaging 74° and some of the warmest salt water north of Mexico. We initially thought our thermometer was broken when we stuck it in the water to gauge the temperature before jumping in. It registered a surprising 79 degrees (most of the rest of the Pacific Northwest bodies of salt water average a brisk 48 to 54 degrees).

With that said we didn’t waste any time getting into the water after getting settled into our two-day anchorage, located at the very tip of Pendrell Sound.

We spent most of our time in Pendrell Sound swimming and relaxing in the warm sun. In between swimming and enjoying our new fjord-like setting, we ventured off to explore the upper part of the large cove by dinghy. There was quite a variety of vessels anchored in our midst, everything from boats our size to mega yachts and everything in between.

Returning from our dinghy ride, we stopped to visit a large oyster farm not far from our anchorage. Oysters like warm water and seem to thrive in Desolation Sound. While talking to one of the farmers, we learned that the warm, dependable, water temperature of Pendrell Sound makes it an ideal location for this major oyster culture operation, specifically to collect oyster seed (spat). Pendrall Sound was eventually set aside as a reserve to protect breeding oyster stocks. The type of oyster most widely cultivated in BC and the PNW is the Pacific oyster which is not native to the area, most of the seed was imported from Japan to British Columbia between 1930 and 1940s when they eventually became naturally established. Like most farming, the work they do looks pretty demanding, but if you like to work outside and be on the water with Mother Nature I don’t think you could find a better setting than Pendrell Sound.

It was hard to leave Pendrell Sound in our wake as we headed out after two days of blissful anchoring, but there is still more for us to explore before we leave Desolation Sound.

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We found Toba Inlet to be some of the most beautiful areas in Desolation Sound. When we were there the water was that greenish color, almost like we’d see in the Bahamas. It seemed to have a phosphorescent glow about it.

As we approached Toba Wildernest Resort, we enjoyed a parade of boats passing us as they left the marina.

Lots of boats coming and going from Toba Wildernest.

As we slowly approached the marina dock I radioed Kyle, who gave me instructions to dock on the inside of the T dock closest to shore. My immediate concern was if there would be enough water being that close to shore. With Kyle still on the radio, I asked him if there was enough depth for our two-foot draft. His comment was that there was more than enough. Once tied up I noticed the distance beneath our boat was whopping 40 feet.

I missed it the first few times, maybe you didn’t, the name is Toba WilderNEST Resort. The owners, Kyle and Andrea, have made a “nest” out of this beautiful piece of “wilderness,” off Toba Inlet. They raise their family and run a business in this remote wilderness. They live there year-round and enjoy a lifestyle not many of us would entertain, not long-term anyway. Their location is very remote, not a neighbor for miles. The only way to get to this marina is by boat.

“Some might say there’s not much do to at this marina/resort and to that, I’d quickly say that although that statement may be true – that is what is so very special about Toba Wildernest Resort.”

Situated off Pryce Channel, to the North of the Redonda Islands, and at the gateway to Toba Inlet, Toba Wildernest gave us a chance to experience a very rustic and remote dockage situation. It also gave us an opportunity to get off of our boat, stretch our legs, fill up our water tanks, take hot showers and socialize with other backcountry seekers. But, more importantly, it allowed us to get up close and personal with a stark, peaceful, uncultivated wilderness setting.

Lisa and I had read there was a trail, starting not far from the resort, following a riverbed up the mountain, so soon after we were settled in at the dock, we headed to the trailhead just past the marina building to take in the “Wildernest” falls. We followed the homemade signs up the steep incline, using tree roots as steps in some areas. We made it, not to the very top of the mountain, but high enough to get some good exercise on the steep, rooty trail. We can’t imagine what the runoff from that waterfall would be like in the springtime as there has not been much rain in this area lately and the riverbed is all but dried up.

Interestingly enough the resort’s, (consisting of the marina, family home, and rental cabins), entire electrical source is generated by Kyle and Andrea’s home-built hydroelectric plant and they use water from the falls for their water supply for the whole resort (above and below).

Cocktail hour was held on the dock of Toba Wildernest that night. I enjoyed swapping stories with the C-Dory owner and a few other guys on the dock while Lisa was preparing dinner.

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Refuge Cove is a relic of the past.

We have not been out cruising in Desolation Sound that long, this being our fifth day, but we missed getting fuel while we were at Gorge (it was busy when we left and we didn’t want to wait). So when we left Teakerne Arm we thought we’d head over to Refuge Cove, a fully functioning marina and year-round community, centrally located on West Redona Island in the heart of Desolation Sound. We wanted to fuel up and top off our water supply. Refuge Cove is a relic of the past. We marveled at how the store still stands in one piece on top of the ancient barnacle-covered pilings below. The cove provides a seasonal home to 20 families and home to half that many during the off-season.

While there we had a quick trip through the little store and were pleased to find quite a selection, more than we thought they’d have – all the basics were covered and some fresh produce to boot. We picked up a few items at the store and investigated all the other buildings – a laundry and shower facility, a used book store that also sold local honey, and a small gift store and cafe on top of the rocks.

We were really impressed with the laundry and shower facilities at Refuge Cove. They also make and sell ice there.

We like the looks of the marina’s Boater’s Lounge (above).

We ran into a couple of Ranger Tugs while we were at Refuge Cove, one of them had delivered Kenny, Service Rep at Ranger Tugs, to Refuge Cove so that he could catch a seaplane to Seattle to attend the wedding of a friend. We had talked to Kenny earlier about him cutting his Desolation Sound trip short to attend the wedding, he said it was really important that he be there for his friend. The reason Kenny is still sitting at the dock mid-Saturday with his suitcase, a day after his scheduled flight, is that during his trip to the marina to catch his scheduled flight, the boat ferrying him to the marina had a mechanical problem. Kenny chose to forego his flight to stay and help the owner identify and repair the problem. Now that’s way up there on the charts for first-class customer service. Way to go Kenny. It all worked out for the best in the end. We later heard that Jeff Messmer, Ranger Tugs Sales Manager, arranged a special flight for Kenny and he was able to make it to the reception.

The marina has an unusual plumbing system (above and below, right).

We had never heard of this game called Washer Dome (above left and below). Have you?

I guess you could say I have a weakness for cute dinghies. The bright colors of this one caught my eye. Isn’t it sweet?

We stayed less than two hours checking out the cove and getting fuel, water and groceries, then we were on our way again. Next stop… an anchorage in Tenedos Bay.

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We could not have had a better weather day to cruise from Comox to Gorge Harbour, BC, the last stop for the Ranger Tugs group cruise, after a little downtime and one last party at the marina, we’ll all go our separate ways to explore Desolation Sound. As we all slowly trickled out of the marina, glassy water awaited us, the kind every boater dreams of for a first-rate cruising day. We also got our first glimpse of some snow-capped mountains off on the horizon. A short way out we crossed paths with the fishing boat we brought shrimp from last night (below).

Gorge Harbour at Last!

Upon our arrival at Gorge Harbour Marina Resort, on Cortes Island, we were officially considered to be in Desolation Sound. Desolation Sound is a group of islands that reside at about the 50th parallel north, between Canada’s Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia, Canada, at the north end of the Strait of Georgia, a little over 200 miles northeast of Seattle as the crow flies. It’s hard for us to grasp the fact that we are finally here after all the waiting and planning during the last two years. It is hard to describe what it feels like to be at the dock with all these other Ranger Tugs and Cutwater boats in Gorge Harbour.

The marina in Gorge Harbour is set in a large, perfectly enclosed cove, accessed through a single narrow, high-walled canyon entrance. The atmosphere in the marina was electric as boats docked or rafted off other boats and excited crew jumped onto the docks to stretch their legs. Sixty-eight Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats were in attendance. It didn’t take us long to find our swimsuits and run up to the pool that overlooks the harbour from the top of a rocky, grass bluff. It was hot and so were we, a relaxing swim and nap by the pool was just what we needed to refresh our bodies. It was time to savor the moment.

After our swim, we checked out the little store, showers, and recycling area and took a little walk up to the main road and found some huge evergreen trees. The resort has many cabins and campsites on site, it has a smoky, rustic feel. The store was better stocked than we thought it would be, but we didn’t need anything yet since we had visited the grocery store in Comox the day before

On our morning walk, we found our way to the entrance of Gorge Harbour.

After our walk, followed by quick showers, it was time to gather for our last official Ranger Tug 2013 Desolation Sound Cruise function. One hundred and thirty people gathered on the terraced lawn just above the marina for a social hour where we had time to discuss each other’s cruising plans. The dinner that followed was provided by Volvo Penta, they did a great job grilling chicken and burgers for all those people, and no one went away hungry, in fact, there was so much leftover that many folks were able to get a “to go” container of meat or chicken for the next day. It was interesting to hear the loud chatter and laughter of all the participants, most of whom did not know each other but only a few days prior and now everyone is just one big happy family of Ranger Tug and Cutwater owners anxious to get out into the waters of Desolation Sound to explore.

Funny story… when we took possession of our Ranger Tug, in 2011, in Kent, WA, the first place we went was to Gig Harbor for an MTOA Rendezvous. During our stay there we met a couple who owned a C-Dory named C-Gnome, we had tours of each other’s boats as were both curious about the differences. So, the funny part of the story is that on the second day in Ganges we again met Cindy and Gerry, apparently after seeing our boat they decided they had to have one, Celtic Sun, a red one just like ours.

We just can’t say enough great things about how well-organized the run from Ganges to Gorge was. We marveled at how Jeff Messmer, Ranger Tugs Sales Manager, (shown below with his wife Kristie and two of his three children) made everyone feel welcomed and informed of activities. We think the reason this event goes so smoothly is that Jeff, Andrew, and Kenny are all having so much fun doing what they do, you can tell, there isn’t anywhere else they’d rather be but on the water in their Ranger Tugs helping other boaters boat.

We enjoyed meeting and talking with Mac, on Passage Weaver (above-left), during the happy hour and we spent time in Ganges getting to know Bill and Nicole, on Blue Merle (above-right). Bruce and Herb (below right) and I discussed some boat-related subjects while we waited for dinner.

We had initially talked about spending two nights in Gorge, but we couldn’t wait to get started with our trip into Desolation Sound. I spent some time going over the charts again, trying to narrow down a few choices for our first day out.

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We Sought Local Knowledge Before and During Our Cruise in Desolation Sound.

With that in mind, I made it a mission to gain as much local knowledge as I could before and during our Ranger Tugs 2013 Desolation Sound trip so we could maximize our experience during our one month in British Columbia. The first part of our plan was to poll as many Canadian Ranger Tug owners in Ganges during our two-day stay, ones that know the harbors, marinas, and anchorages in order to find out the “must-see” places, what to avoid, when to go, where to anchor, what hazards might lie in wait and which marinas are worth visiting. Of special concern to us on this trip was where we could get fresh water and where could leave off garbage during long periods of anchoring out.

The second part of our polling takes place out on the water, often when we’re in an anchorage with other boaters. We’ll take a dinghy ride around the anchorage before or after dinner to see whom we can meet. Of course, our main objective is to socialize a little and meet other boaters who like us must love to boat and share information; the chances are very good that this is their known cruising ground. We love to see where people came from on their boats, where they are going, and why. This method of gaining information is invaluable to us as cruisers.

During our trip we definitely don’t want to miss anything of value; we want to make sure to make the most of our time by having a list and a rough plan. With that in mind, I made it a mission to gain as much local knowledge as I could before and during our trip, so we could maximize our cruising experience while in the waters of British Columbia. One thing we learned right off the bat, after talking with boaters experienced in the area, was that taking time to go up to the Broughtons, also on our rough list, might be taking on too much of an area to explore. Wishful thinking on our part that we might get that far I guess

The first part of our search for information began shortly after we met Tracy and John, on Sea Change (above), when we arrived at Ganges. We found out they live on Nelson Island in Quarry Bay, by Pender Harbor located at the mouth of Jervis Inlet, which leads to Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls (our cruising destination when we begin our trek south after leaving Desolation Sound). So they are very familiar with not only the Desolation Sound area but Jervis Inlet as well. John and Tracy offered to go over charts with us and in doing so pointed out a few spots they felt we shouldn’t miss.

We had met Charles and Sheri, on Danca (above), when we arrived in Comox, the second day of our group cruise up to Desolation Sound. They told us they live on Quadra Island, across from Campbell River, they were just that day joining the procession of Ranger Tugs from Comox to Gorge. When we finally made it to Gorge, the spot where everyone later dispersed and headed out on their own, we remembered Charles and Sheri knew these waters quite well, so while there I asked Charles if he’d come to our boat to go over charts, he was very generous with his insights on Desolation Sound. Charles’ input paid high dividends on our first days out with scenic anchorages, hiking trails, and his scoop on some freshwater lakes we could hike to while out on the hook.

We took copious notes from any meetings with Canadian boaters both during the Ranger Tug cruise and from others we met en route, we made markers on our GPS chart plotter, marking anchorages and harbors they talked about so we would remember their suggestions.

The second part of our quest for information began our first night out from Gorge, soon after we got settled into the anchorage at Grace Harbor (a suggestion of Charles). At twilight, just before a late dinner, we took a dinghy ride around the anchorage to see whom we could meet. There must have been 20 boats in the anchorage with plenty of room for privacy and to swing free. Our method of meeting folks is simple, we’ll coast by any boat we see people sitting or working on outside, often a smile or a wave is all the invitation we need to glide up a little closer. The rest is easy; we exchange pertinent information about our boats, where we live, how long we’ve been boating, and such. We try to glean a lot of cruising information from those qualified to contribute. This particular night we talked with people on three different boats. The boat closest to us was a Kadey Krogan 44, Maria Elena (above top), the owners, Dennis and Marilyn are from Garden Bay, BC, we exchanged boat cards and general information about places we’ve both cruised. Next, we stopped and chatted with a friendly family on an old trawler, Civetta (above-bottom).

Art and Christina, on Lucky Puppy (above), were the most helpful, they had stopped over earlier in the day, while out in their dinghy, to inquire about our boat; they had promised us a boat card, so we headed over to their boat to talk some more.

We’ve run into Mac, on Passage Weaver (below), a few times since we met him in Ganges, BC. Every time we talk with him we learn more about his experience and acumen as a boater, the kind that comes naturally to someone born to be on the water. The last time we ran into him was when we were both at anchor in Squirrel Cove. After he saw us take two large trash bags to the town dock, he dinghied over to chat and we soon learned a few things about garbage management when at anchor or remote marinas for extended periods of time. Of course, we were already separating garbage to recycle when we got to a garbage drop-off, but Mac suggested we also dry out all paper and plastic, to eliminate the offensive aroma, before putting it in its designated bag. And when in a camping area, where campfires are allowed, you could burn your discarded paper products. Not sure why we never thought of this, but it makes sense to collect and take any compostable matter for a dinghy ride to shore for drop-off in the woods.

We have to say that we learned a lot this trip, not only about the local cruising knowledge we sought and received but how to exist on the hook for long periods of time. If you are receptive, there are always boaters out there who have a wealth of local knowledge to share.

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Leaving Nanaimo, we decided not to cruise with the pod on our way to Comox. It was an easy run with calm seas and sunny skies.

Once settled in at the dock, there were more Ranger Tug owners to meet and hot showers to take.

Happy hour consisted of another Captain’s briefing on the outer dock. Jeff reviewed the events of the day and covered what would happen the next day. Cruising runs like we’ve done the last two days takes a lot out of you.

Not much lingering on the dock in Comox after happy hour tonight.

After reviewing our supplies, a trip to the grocery store seemed in order, so we asked Don and Brenda, on Kenji Maru to walk up with us. Comox has a full-sized grocery store not more than a few blocks from the marina. This being our first time in this area, we’re not sure where the last big grocery store will be.

When we got back to the boat with our supplies renewed, we started to hear from the other boaters about a big shrimp boat coming into the marina to sell its fresh catch. We immediately got in line with about 20 other people to buy a bag. Fresh shrimp for dinner.

Jim spent a good amount of time shelling the shrimp on the dock and said it was quite a conversation starter among the people walking down from town to see all the Ranger Tugs that had come in. Kenny, Ranger Tug Customer Service Representative, stopped by to chat and we invited him to share dinner with us. We enjoyed the one-on-one time with him as we think he is a very outstanding young man.

We found Willie on the dock, Willie’s Tug (above), while we were taking our evening stroll.

This skull came into the harbor full speed ahead, right at our boat (which was side to in the fairway), apparently, we were docked where they usually tie up. It was funny to watch them back all the way out of the channel, laughing as they went.

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From Ganges to Nanaimo, we could choose to join one of the pods or cruise on our own.

After two days of socializing with other Ranger Tug owners at Ganges, the time came to organize the three-day cruise to our mutual destination of Gorge, BC. After that point, we will all be on our own to explore Desolation Sound and the surrounding areas. But first, we had to get our “gaggle” organized. This is the third year Ranger Tugs has organized this Desolation Sound Cruise for their owners, we think they have all their ducks all in a row.

Our first Captain’s Meeting was held during the second night at Ganges, on the dock just before happy hour. Jeff, V.P of Sales and Marketing at Ranger Tugs and the ringleader, had organized, along with key experienced boaters, a system for leaving the dock to leave for Nanaimo (Na-ni-mo) in the morning, which comprised of groups with a “lead boat” and a “sweeper boat,” especially helpful for the more novice boaters in attendance. You could choose to join one of the pods or cruise on your own. We decided to join one of the pods to see how it worked.

For cruising navigational purposes, three pods of boats were available to join, based on a predetermined pod speed. We joined 14 boats in the  “Circle T” group, the second group to leave late morning cruising at 10 knots (Jeff’s group left earlier that morning to catch the first slack tide). We signed up to be the relay boat (for communication purposes when radio signals didn’t quite reach the whole group, since we were in the middle we could hear most of the communications and relay them forward or backward) in the middle of the “Circle-T” group. From Ganges to Nanaimo is approximately 34NM (nautical miles) but the trick in this leg of the trip is that one needs to catch slack tide at the famously temperamental Dodd Narrows 30NM into the cruise, so timing is crucial. Trying to organize 14 boats to cruise in a single file, at a set speed can be likened to herding cats, however Tym, on Circle T, our leader did a great job. We departed Ganges at 11 a.m., giving our group enough time to get organized and idle out of the two-mile-long harbor so that we could all arrive at Dodd Narrows within a half hour of slack tide. At the Captain’s Meeting, we were instructed to keep about a football field’s length between boats. A faster cruising pod of 15 left after us but caught up to us so we could all transit Dodd Narrows single file as one group. We learned later that, Patrick, one of the organizers of the event, was able to have commercial traffic held at bay during our transit through the narrows, due to his connections in the area.

Two miles into our departure from the marina, one of our pod member’s engines started to overheat. Andrew and Kenny, Ranger Tugs Customer Service Reps were piloting a boat in the last pod when they heard, over the VHF, about the engine problem they sped up to be of assistance with the stranded tug. We heard later they found a nearby dock to tow them to and once secure Andrew dove under the boat to find something had clogged the sea strainer. With the debris removed and water flowing freely in the cooling system they were off and running. That’s what I’d call great customer service AND both boats made the slack water at Dodd Narrows passage on time.

In Nanaimo, we were joined by a group of Cutwater owners, also made by Fluid Motion, the parent company of Ranger Tugs. By this time we had a group of 68 boats, Cutwaters, and Ranger Tugs tied up at the Nanaimo Harbor Marina, prompting many to have to raft off so we could all fit in. The benefit of the rafting and mixing it up each night at a new marina is that we were all making new acquaintances, in Nanaimo, we rafted next to a very nice young family comprised of Todd, Connie, and their son Xavier, on Connie Marie (below).

The roof of the Port Authority building overlooks the harbor and provided the setting for the crew of 68 boats for an evening barbeque provided by the marina to celebrate our arrival. Two kinds of seasoned grilled salmon and barbeque chicken, along with a table full of side dishes whipped up in the galley of each boat along with two huge cakes to mark the occasion. What more could we ask for?

It will take two more days of hop-scotching up the coast of Vancouver Island, a total of about 130 miles from Ganges to get to our mutual destination of Gorge, BC. From there we will all go our separate ways to explore Desolation Sound and adjoining areas.

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Ganges Harbor, on Saltspring Island, is a short 10-mile run from Montague Harbor and the gathering point for the boaters participating in the Ranger Tugs 2013 Desolation Sound Cruise. We left early for Ganges, with yet another blue-skied day with just a light breeze and fairly calm waters.

We looked forward to meeting up with about 45 Ranger Tugs and their owners for five days of socializing, pot lucks, and finally taking three days to cruise together up to Desolation Sound, and this was just the Ranger Tug boats, we would meet up with a group of Cutwater’s (about another ten or fifteen) in Nanaimo for the cruise to Comox.

We met folks from Illinois, Georgia, Texas, California, Utah, Nevada, and Oregon with most being from Washington and Canada’s British Columbia, even Ganges.

We wanted to arrive early so we could get our boat washed up and looking pretty, but much to my surprise and dismay I found out the town had a shortage of water and there was a ban on washing boats in the marina. The good news was that by skipping the boat cleaning process we could move right on to meeting other Ranger Tug owners as they trickled into the marina. On the first evening, a happy hour was held on the dock with everyone contributing snacks. We had two full days in Ganges, plenty of time to walk around town to do some last-minute provisioning (vegetables, wine, and fish), we even found two small wood chairs for the cockpit of Kismet at the local hardware store.

The first thing we did when we arrived in the harbor was to fuel up. We wanted to be full-up and ready to go when we vacated the docks on Sunday.

We were surprised that the majority of the Ranger Tugs in attendance sport the classic dark blue hull with the second most popular color being the new dark grey with one or two dark green, two yellow, and three variations of red.

Low tide at Ganges is quite a drop down from shore (below).

We met Vickie and Bruce, on Moondance, at the 2011 Ranger Tug Rendezvous in Bremerton, WA., they recently went from a Ranger Tug R25 to an R29. Bruce and Vickie are very instrumental in a lot of the Ranger Tug cruises and rendezvous.

On our second day in Ganges we took Andrew Ranger Tugs Customer Service Manager extraordinaire and his wife Carlene (above) to lunch at Calvin’s, overlooking the harbor. Andrew and Kenny (also in Customer Service) and Jeff, Ranger Tugs Sales Manager are kept so busy during these gatherings (more later) we felt it might be nice to get Andrew and Carlene away from the docks for a brief spell. The benefit for us was that we really got to them as a couple, hear about their recent wedding and talk about their interests outside of work.

There were lots of these float planes buzzing overhead as they landed in the harbor (above).

The town of Ganges has a very popular Farmer’s Market on the weekend. It really had more arts and crafts with a lot of fresh baked goods, but we found a little produce section and managed to score some nice swiss chard to go with the fish we had bought in town for dinner that night. We really enjoyed the participation by the youngsters at the market, it was interesting to see what they were selling, some very creative, future marketers.

The piano (above) is available for impromptu performances (apparently it gets moved all over town), bring your music or play from heart, we thought it was a very unique item and added even more character to this bustling Canadian town.

Leon and Karen, on ScottFree (below), stopped by to ask a few questions about doing the Great Loop boat trip in a Ranger Tug. The biggest benefit of having two days to gather together in Ganges was that we could take time to meet some of the other Ranger Tug owners, we enjoyed having time to sit and talk with some as we did during those two days before we skipped up the coast to Desolation Sound.

The second night was another happy hour followed by our first captain’s meeting where we discussed our departure schedule (carefully timed and coordinated to get so many boats out of the marina in an organized fashion), the distance being cruised, and the particulars of transiting Dodd Narrows. With 11-foot tides and a very narrow channel, Dodd Narrows is a rapids with up to 7 MPH currents at full force and therefore is safest and best advised to traverse at slack tide. With that said the timing of 50 boats leaving Ganges had to be orchestrated so everyone arrived by slack tide.

After the main captain’s meeting boaters broke up into three groups to receive more specific instructions for our group, having chosen the time of departure and speed each wanted to travel and determined the group they would join. Predetermined, experienced lead boaters headed each group along with sweeper boats previously assigned. One group went at 6 A.M. at a fast speed to catch the morning slack, while the other two groups, ourselves included, signed up to go late morning, so we’d arrive for the early afternoon slack.

There is a kind of electric buzz around the marina tonight as everyone is ready to go and we all kind of know, the excitement is just about to begin.

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