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For the last several years the marina where we moor Bateau du
Vent hosts the Maritime Festival at the end of May or the beginning of
June. It requires a lot of volunteer time and because of our B&B
business and the Landscape design and Construction, we are never out to
attend or volunteer. Well this year, 2008, I made plans to be there to
help while my honey toiled away back here in Calgary. I flew into
Nanaimo on the 11th with plenty of time to help with what needed to be
done. The festival was on the 14th. We had also made arrangements for
my long time friend Steve to come out for a few days. He would arrive
on the 16th.
I arrived and Heather picked me up at the airport. Spent the first
afternoon getting Bateau ready for the stay, turning on her systems,
putting up the dodger, getting groceries and of course wine and beer.
This is a picture of the marina as seen from the entrance. The two big
blue buildings are quite new. One houses our historical restored boats
and the other is an award winning maritime museum.
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This is Marv. He was the warfinger at the time. It looks like
he is pushing a lawn mower but it is a dock cleaner. High pressure
water is pumped into the unit which has some spinning pressure washer
nozzles where the lawn mower blade would be. One pass and the old dock
wood looks brand new. Had to make everything look pretty for the
festival you know.
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Just to the North of our
marina is a cove the residents of the area have named "Dog Patch". It
is named this because a whole lot of bums have anchored their derelict
boats here and either live on them or just let them rot. The place
looks like a garbage dump. Every once in a while a boat breaks loose
and washes up on shore. The owners won't admit ownership or
responsibility so the city has to hire someone to come and clean up the
mess. The city is close to obtaining water rites to the area which
would allow them to regulate who and what is allowed to anchor there.
It would be nice as at this time Dog Patch is associated to our marina
by some people. This gives our marina a bad name and gives the city
cause to remove our marina, which would be bad for us.
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This is LMS president Betty on festival day. The Ladysmith
Maritime Society (LMS) members are encouraged to dress as pirates to
add spectacle to the festival.
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Marv as a pirate about to make the kill!
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Another pirate. It's quite festive. See all the tents in the
parking lot? They are exhibitors and artisans and food services and
musicians. It's very fun. The 2nd parking lot at the top of the hill is
also dressed up.
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Our neighbours even dressed up.
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This is a picture of the inside of LMS's award winning
maritime museum.
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LMS created a looking pool for the kids. A bunch of sea life
was brought in to populate the attraction. The kids and even the adults
really enjoyed the display of the colourful, slimy creatures.
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A fishing derby of sorts was set up. People could catch
Bullheads off the dock and weigh them. They never weighed more than a
couple of ounces and aren't even good for eating but the person who
caught the biggest one won a prize at the end of the day.
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This is another one of our neighbours, Vern. He is enjoying
iced cream and doughnuts from one of the vendors. He is a really nice
guy. He is also a scuba diver and has offered to clean our boat's
bottom for us.
The festival was a great success. The weather was great, everyone
enjoyed themselves and the music was great. Who could ask for anything
more. There was a dinner and dance for the volunteers that evening.
Everyone got a little pickled. I was even able to get Betty to like me.
She was not sure until that night that Calgarians were nice people.
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The next day (the 15th) Steve arrived at the Nanaimo airport.
Heather lent me her car so I could go get him. We picked up a few
supplies and were off to Pirates Cove. The morning of the 16th had a
nice low tide so We went to the South cove on DeCourcy Island and Steve
learned how to hunt clams. Pete and I clam there often so we know where
to look.
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The bucket was full in no time. YUM! Clam chowder time! |
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After that we went for a little walk. Pete and I have never
been here this time of year so have never seen the Lupins in bloom.
They grow wild like weeds. This one is almost as tall as Steve.
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The cove was quite busy so we had to anchor and stern tie.
This was still quiet compared to what it will be in a month when boats
are stacked in here like cord wood.
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We're leaving Pirates Cove. It looks like the wind is just
right for sailing.
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What a perfect day for sailing! The wind was warm and from
just the right direction. This is one of my favourite pictures. Steve
is getting the hang of the helm and is looking up at the wind vein to
keep us at an optimum angle to the wind.
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We were smokin' along. Not enough wind to even cause white
caps but just right for Bateau at full sail. We were heading south
towards Conover Cove. We managed to sail all the way there with only
one tack in the wrong direction.
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Everyone on the dock that night was really nice. We had a
small pot
luck dinner and drank lots of beer and wine. There was an odd couple on
a boat behind us the thought I was an idiot for not being concerned
that the tide would have us touch bottom early in the morning. We have
done so many times in this cove. They wouldn't talk to me for the rest
of the night. The rest of us had fun without them.
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Another Conover Cove sun set. Steve couldn't believe how calm
the water
was. He had always believed there would be gnarly waves all the time.
There can be but not tonight. |
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The next day we hiked to the far North end of the island,
Chivers Point. The wind was quite strong from the Southeast. This boat
was just hauling ass Northward under spinnaker.
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Steve reading a little history about the island.
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A snake sunning himself on the trail. It was nice and warm in
the sun.
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Steve exploring Chivers Point.
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That afternoon we took off back to Ladysmith. The Southeast
was still blowing so we went wing on wing almost all the way.
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The last night on the boat we had many clams. We also had to
make sure there was no alcohol left on board so it wouldn't go bad over
the summer. At around 4am I looked out the port and saw the sky getting
light. "Time to go to bed," I exclaimed, as we had to put Bateau to bed
and catch the plane home that afternoon.
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