A Midweek Break - Exploring the South Shores of Gambier Island

My work schedule this past week offered me up a couple of midweek days off and with a good weather forecast I decided to slip in a mini cruise near my home port of Gibsons Landing BC. 



Gibsons Landing Marina



After working until midnight the previous night I caught to 0720 hrs ferry to Langdale which is just down the road from Gibsons Landing where we have a cottage (my wife's blog is http://cottagerswife.wordpress.com/) and I store Bluster on a trailer.  By 1000 hrs I had packed, launched and tied to the wharf at Gibsons Marina.  A gorgeous but cool fall day and quiet at the launch ramp which makes things so much easier when working alone.  The rough plan was to spend the day exploring the bays and shoreline along the south shore of Gambier Island and then end up a Plumper Cove Marine Park (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/plumper/) on Keats Island where I would grab a mooring buoy for the night. 

 

Shoal Channel



Motored past the breakwater and into Shoal Channel where I set to mainsail and enjoyed a lovely broad reach with a little help from the Honda on occasion.  Upon reaching the head of West Bay I planned to anchor and prepare a hot lunch but a convenient float was just too convenient so I tied up. 

After lunch and some time tidying and organizing Bluster I then set off to sail, motor and motor sail around the corner to Centre Bay and Grace Islands.  Later, West Bay and the free float were calling me back so I skipped my plans for Plumpers Cove and returned there to spend the night.

Once the sun slipped behind the nearby hill the temperature dropping quickly and considering lack of sleep the previous night I was cozily tucked into my sleeping bag enjoying the warm light of a candle lantern by 2000 hrs.      

 



View from bed

 

Still air and mirror flat water greeted me the next morning.  By 0730 hrs I was motoring back to Gibsons and by 1000 hrs Bluster was back on her trailer and tucked into a stall in the dry land storage area of the marina.  I like to time my recovery with high tides to improve the odds of getting my 2wd car and trailer back up the ramp!



Return to Gibsons Landing

      

An excellent little cruise and a good opportunity for me to evaluate the Chebacco's potential for solo multiday trips.   Until now I had never been on an overnight cruise alone in Bluster and I must say I certainly enjoyed the luxury of the extra space!