December storms have left marks in the memories of everyone in their path. One event in particular, the great Winter Solstice Storm of 2018, has taken it’s rightful place as the most destructive storm on record for the BC west coast. It was epic.
50 mph wind, at the marina. Note the life vest.
Luckily, the only damage we sustained was to the captain’s nerves (and the subsequent consumption of a bottle of vodka). Odyssey fared well and I’m certain the crew enjoyed the whole affair, but unfortunately, the marina docks were severely damaged. Word is that repairs will start soon. A new bottle of vodka has already been acquired by the quartermaster.
With 2018 now a memory, we are looking ahead to the coming season and the new discoveries to be made. Each year on the water teaches us so much about what works and what needs to be changed. We are reminded of the challenges of exploring a very big world in a fairly small boat. To that end, cruising guides have been ordered, fix-it lists are started, and candidates for a wish list are being discussed.
This year we will extend our range up through Desolation Sound to the distant Broughton Archipelago, a remote area near the North end of Vancouver Island. With fair tides and favorable winds the trip up should take about a week. Of course, that’s without any sightseeing along the way. We had such a great time last year that I’m thinking we’ll need an extra week just to anchor and play as we pass through Desolation Sound.
With 2018 now a memory, we are looking ahead to the coming season and the new discoveries to be made. Each year on the water teaches us so much about what works and what needs to be changed. We are reminded of the challenges of exploring a very big world in a fairly small boat. To that end, cruising guides have been ordered, fix-it lists are started, and candidates for a wish list are being discussed.
This year we will extend our range up through Desolation Sound to the distant Broughton Archipelago, a remote area near the North end of Vancouver Island. With fair tides and favorable winds the trip up should take about a week. Of course, that’s without any sightseeing along the way. We had such a great time last year that I’m thinking we’ll need an extra week just to anchor and play as we pass through Desolation Sound.
The Broughtons, like Desolation Sound, are considered one of the world’s finest boating areas. But, unlike the Sound, heading further North to explore the Archipelago presents a challenge for any part time captain.
The extra distance is a hurdle for many. It turns a two week vacation into a month long adventure, and that’s a long time away from home. For others there are the fabled ‘gateways’ of the inside passage, a series of rapids that must be transited correctly to avoid a serious calamity. Then finally, with all obstacles out of the way, you enter a very remote area. There are fewer services, little connection to the outside world, and few places to go ashore.
On the bright side, for the well equipped explorer, the islands promise an abundance of beautiful vistas, amazing wildlife, and friendly people. Sarah and I are certainly explorers, and we have the time. We’re confident Odyssey will be well prepared when we head North.
So here we are, dodging the worst of the BC winter in Otter Bay and starting to plan the long trip north. We are looking forward to the challenge of the passage and, once there, discovering all that the Broughton Archipelago has to offer.
The extra distance is a hurdle for many. It turns a two week vacation into a month long adventure, and that’s a long time away from home. For others there are the fabled ‘gateways’ of the inside passage, a series of rapids that must be transited correctly to avoid a serious calamity. Then finally, with all obstacles out of the way, you enter a very remote area. There are fewer services, little connection to the outside world, and few places to go ashore.
On the bright side, for the well equipped explorer, the islands promise an abundance of beautiful vistas, amazing wildlife, and friendly people. Sarah and I are certainly explorers, and we have the time. We’re confident Odyssey will be well prepared when we head North.
So here we are, dodging the worst of the BC winter in Otter Bay and starting to plan the long trip north. We are looking forward to the challenge of the passage and, once there, discovering all that the Broughton Archipelago has to offer.
Can we go now?
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