Wait Your Turn!

Day 17 started off sleeping in then for the first time in almost two weeks I was able to wash the boat!  It was so nice to get all the salt spray off and clean everything up.  We had to wait until 11:30 to leave so we could hit Dodd Narrows flowing south at about 2.5 knots.  This narrow passage stacks up with boats going north and south but only one boat can pass through safely at a time.  The boats line up waiting their turn to go through.  If your going north you can’t see boats coming south until its too late, but going south you have a pretty good view.  Best practice is to announce your passage on the VHF radio so other boaters know your intentions and location.  We did so just before entering the narrows and got a call back from a boat going north.  I told the boat to go ahead while I waited for him to come through.  I slowed down still headed for the narrows to allow time for him to pass.  All of which was announced on the radio.  Just then a large sailboat going full speed narrowly scoots by me to cut in front of us.  No wave, no sorry, no announcement on the radio.  The boat going north gets on the radio and thanks us for waiting.

Pirates Cove at the north end of the Gulf Islands was our destination tonight.  This is a place we have always wanted to go but never works with our schedule.  After a tricky entrance we were in the cove anchored and stern tied once again.  Lots of hiking and beaches here and the kids were excited to get out!  A long hike along the shore to a beach then back up through the Dark Woods trail was great fun.  Poor Ava tripped and fell 4 times on the hike.  Those new shoes (a little too big) probably didn’t help much.