Summer Sailing Over

Jazz by the beach

Wed Aug 31st

Fierce guard dog keeps watch from deck

There is a definite autumnal air first thing in the morning and at my normal waking time of 0530 - 0600, it is dark.  The autumn equinox is only 21 days away, and it feels like it.  Daytime it is still warm, in fact this week we have a mini heat-wave (29 degrees yesterday) returning to normal over the long weekend.  It’s Labor Day on Monday - a public holiday, but no rain is forecast!  The long range forecast is for a wet autumn, though not as bad as last year when roads and rail lines were washed out, cutting BC off from the rest of Canada.

 
Warning of Black Bears going into their hyperphagia phase - eating as much as they can before going into hibernation in Oct/Nov, means they are more likely to be around potential household food sources.  There have been reports of bears entering houses and unlocked cars in search of food.  The cars haven’t fared too well (you should see the size of their claws), nor have the food sources inside the houses.  We are making sure cars and the house are kept locked.

Black tailed deer have been much in evidence, often around the house and it is rare to drive out without seeing mothers and/or fawns also stocking up on their ‘vegetables’. They seem very unconcerned by people or cars until you get within a few feet and then they only saunter off.

In Sunday’s sailing race we came sixth out of eight boats.  We had light winds which do not suit the boat.  The crew were kind enough not to suggest it was because I was helming. In the lighter winds the boats started off closer together, so I had a few heart-stopping moments as we were jockeying for position on the start line and over the first leg of the course.   The owner of the boat, also a Mike (so I am Cronky to avoid confusion), announced he wanted to sell the boat plus buy a motor boat, so we are now looking to form a syndicate to get something a little smaller and faster. Same crew but shared ownership.  He will effectively release capital for the second boat.

Getting the boat ready to leave GIbsons Marina

The Bluff above Gibsons Marina

The summer series of races is now over and we have a two week break until the autumn series starts.  We came 6th overall in the series, 5th in class.   There are now a core of four of us that race regularly and a pool of others we can call on to make up the numbers.  We need 5-6 if we are flying the spinnaker which can be a handful.  We usually repair to the cafe/pub above the public market in Gibsons to compare notes and catch up with the other crews.  It is a great way to spend Sunday.

I spent part of the week installing security cameras that have been sitting in a box since we moved from Smith Road.  The challenge was running the power cables, so that they are inaccessible from outside.

Job done we were alerted to our first intruder on the drive last night.  It was huge, or very close to the lens!

Although the wild blackberry season is coming to an end, we have discovered a source of wild water-cress.  Ocean Beach Esplanade, which runs along Bonniebrook beach has a number of creeks and small streams that run into the sea.  Several have large crops of watercress that we have been harvesting on our morning dog walks.  I’d looked at the ‘weeds’ several times then a local walker, Lucy from Leeds (though she has been here 30 years the Yorkshire lilt remains) was clutching a bunch on her way home, confirming my suspicion.  Tasty and very peppery!

Fred is currently making watercress soup and roasted cherry tomatoes and garlic (all home grown) atop some sourdough for our lunch.

The ferries to and from Horseshoe Bay continue to frustrate Coast residents.  I am not sure what the nautical equivalent is of a ‘train wreck’ is but as soon as one ferry goes tech, the replacement seems to develop problems.  The two boats serving the Coast, the Queen of Surrey and Queen of Coquitlam are now 42 years old.  There is not going to be a quick fix.

The Sunday we returned from Whistler, some friends down on Bonniebrook beach were hosting a jazz concert in their garden. It's a lovely house overlooking the Salish Sea and it made an ideal concert venue. Apparently a local chap organises half a dozen a year and at $20 a head it's a bargain. All money goes to the musicians.

Jazz by the Salish Sea

The Kitsilano team are currently in the UK.  Visiting friends before heading to Italy for a wedding at the weekend.  Just the beginning of Seb's adventures I think!

Everything has a street address - even the start of trails