Tuesday Aug 23^rd – After spending the last few days at a docks, we decided to head out of Friday Harbor for some anchor time.  Our first destination was Indian Cove on Shaw Island.  Having never been there before we scouted the area for a good anchorage.  There was only one other boat anchored in the bay so we had our pick.

After getting settled in we all jumped in the dinghy for exploration and beach time.  We made a narrow shallow passage in the dinghy not fit for a big boat.  It was fun, the water was running fast, whisking us through the channel.   After exploring the outskirts of the island we made our way to the beach.  The kids played in the sand while Julie and I relaxed.

We had an amazing quiet night anchored in beautiful bay with only one other boat.

The next day we set off for another anchorage at Spencer Spit.  The wind started whipping up some be we were able to get snugged in on the lee side of the spit.  We decided to spend the evening on the beach as the sun went down.  Ava made a fantastic work of art out of a bunch of sticks she found on the beach.  It took her a long time and she was so proud of her creation.  As the sun went down into a beautiful sunset we made our back to the boat for another relaxing night at anchor.

Sunday August 21^st – After a fun and relaxing 2 nights at Tod Inlet we pulled anchor and headed to Port Sidney for a night on the docks.  We can’t ever go to Sidney (or even get near it) without Ava begging to go to the aquarium.  It’s a tiny little aquarium but for some reason she loves it!  Julie and I took Zach and Ava while Todd and Tami took Skylar into town.  The kids had a lot of fun and even got to see the octopus that rarely ever comes out of his den.

We all had a great dinner off the boat that night, then fired up the engine to make way for a boarder crossing the next morning.  After crossing the imaginary line cutting Haro Strait in half we were back in the USA!  We saw a few signs of whales in Haro Strait but couldn’t track them down so we pointed our bow toward Friday Harbor to clear customs and dock the boat for the night.

Todd and Tami arrived way before we did and got a slip assignment.  We didn’t have reservations and had to wait at the customs dock for a while for a slip to open up.

Our friends and owners of American Tugs, Kurt and Kristin, were already in Friday Harbor on their new to them sailboat.  This was their first big trip on their sailboat and we were lucky to be able to catch them on the tail end of their trip.  We made plans to meet up with them and we all hung out together that evening, having a wonderful dinner on Todd’s boat.

The next morning, we decided to make a dinghy run over to Turn Island, 2 miles away.  Todd and Tami were missing their dinghy because a few days earlier, while docked in Victoria, some scum of the earth folks decided they should have it.  In the middle of the night they cut the line tying the dingy up and stole the boat.  May the wrath of God fall upon you, you dirty thieves!

So all 8 of us piled in our dinghy.  Riding a little low in the water it was slow but got the job done.  Kurt, Kristen and their daughter Grace came along in their dinghy for the trek over to Turn Island.  All went as planned except a couple hundred yards before the beach at Turn Island, Kurt’s engine suddenly just quit.  After a few minutes trying to restart, we just pulled him to the beach and left the dead motor while we hiked the island hoping it would start upon our return.

We all had a great time making our way around the tiny little island.  The trails on the island are fantastic and the views are awesome.  The kids ran most of it, stopping for every little thing they thought was cool.

When we got back Kurt’s engine still wouldn’t start so we prepared for a tow all the way back.  8 people in our boat towing another dinghy with 3 people against the rushing tide was slow going!  But, it was a fun adventure, and we all had a great time!

After saying our goodbyes (Kurt and Kristen had to head home as did Todd and Tami) we left Friday Harbor for a new anchorage Kurt recommended on Shaw Island called Indian Cove.

Friday August 19^th we left Victoria headed for some warmer waters.  In all the years of boating in this area we have never been to Butchart Gardens.  By car Butchart is just a short distance from Victoria but by boat you have to go up north around the Saanich Peninsula then south again.

Our destination anchorage was Tod Inlet where we were told the water actually gets fairly warm.  From Tod Inlet you can dinghy to a dock that provides a secret back entrance to Butchart Gardens.

As we entered the inlet the water turned a beautiful green color.  Todd anchored his boat and we rafted to him in the largest part of the narrow inlet.  It was a packed but beautiful anchorage not unlike many of the anchorages we experience further north in Desolation Sound.

Best of all the water was plenty warm enough to swim!  Right after we got tied up we all jumped in the water to cool off and play on the toys.  Skylar and I both stood on the paddle board and rocked it until one of us lost our balance and fell off.  He usually got me.  The kids swam and played in the water until they were exhausted.  We had a quiet night on the hook exited to see the gardens and fireworks display the next day.

On Saturday we made our way through the back entrance for lunch at the Butchart restaurant.  They got our reservations screwed up but fortunately they gave us a great outside table for all 8 of us overlooking the gardens.  We had a great meal!  Most of us got their tea which includes a bunch of delicious food samplings.  The kids really loved it.  Mid lunch the kids took our blankets out to the fireworks viewing area and laid them out to claim our spot for the evening fireworks show.  We wandered through the incredible gardens after lunch then back to the boat.

More swimming and we set a couple shrimp pots before we headed back to Butchart for the fireworks show.  The show was incredible! Much bigger and longer than we expected, we all had a lot of fun.

That evening the inlet got a little rowdy.  A few drunk boats yelling at each other kept it interesting.  Then a very drunk guy was trying to get his dog to shore on a very small blow up raft without oars.  It was very dark and he couldn’t quite figure out.  Him and his dog were trying to find anyplace the dog could get off and pee and high tide made it very difficult.  He gave the whole inlet a loud play by play encounter of all his difficulties finding a beach suitable for the dog.  Very entertaining!