Betty and John Go Cruising
May 18 - June 2, 2010


Well it's spring again and time to visit Bateau. Fortunately and unfortunately Pete has too much work with the landscaping company to leave Calgary at this time. Mum has just survived another winter in Campbell River, the first on her own. We decided to spend some time together on Bateau, just the two of us. We have a couple of  firm plans: a rendezvous with the Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club in Genoa Bay and the Ladysmith Maritime Society Festival. Other than that we are free to do what we will.

I flew into Naniamo airport and Mum picked me up. She had already done some provisioning. We spent the first night at the Ladysmith docks. The next day we motored to Conover Cove. Mum had never been there before even though Graham and her had been by many times. Graham always thought it was too busy a place to go. This picture was taken on May 18th. There was only one other boat at the dock.
May 19th

We're now the only ones at the dock. Time to explore a bit of the island. Pete and I have been here dozens of times and are very familiar with it but it's Mum's first time. All is new to her. In this picture she is standing by Bateau just after a rain shower.
Mum is checking out one of the abandoned cabins.
A picture of us. Mum appears very happy.
This is the famous plaque shack.
So here  we are at Conover Cove on the famous Wallace Island. I read the book "Once Upon and Island" by David Conover many years ago before John & Rob were even born. Never at that time would have I believed that I would arrive in this very place on my son's boat. It's true that Graham & I passed by the entrance many times, but never entered the cove as it always seemed too busy. I think maybe Graham was also a bit nervous but wouldn't admit it. Zephyrus didn't turn on a dime like Bateau does.

I certainly was nervous when I saw the small size of the cove, but John navigated in and around and sidled up to the dock as if he had been doing it all his life.
Some people go to great lengths. These people have a new plaque etched and add it to this rock every time they visit. A great place to spend a dreary afternoon. The creativity is amazing.

It's strange that even though Graham & I sailed the Gulf Islands together for 23 years, I never saw a plaque for a boat that I recognized, despite the fact that Wallace Island was a favorite haunt for most of our boating friends.

I found the shack a bit eerie inside, as if there were presences there still, watching and listening.
This beautiful climbing rose bush is growing outside the original Conover cabin, untended and yet still flourishing.
Up close and personal. A rose by any other name could not be any more lovely than this. Later that day we hiked to a small cove noted for its abundance of clams. We got a bucket full of about 70 clams after a fair amount of digging, went back to Bateau to get the dinghy, and then motored outside the bay to get clean water for the clams, in which to clean themselves.
Because we had to wait till the next day to cook the clams, John decided to make chicken cordon blue for dinner. This is John on the dock pounding the chicken!
And voila! Just a little something he whipped up in the galley.
A meal fit for a prince and princess.
We regretfully left Wallace Island to sail to the SNSYC Rendezvous at Genoa Bay. On the way there, we passed by the mouth of Ganges Harbor. Betty had brought Graham's urn on the trip just in case the time seemed right to scatter his ashes to mingle with those of his mum and dad, whose ashes we had scattered years earlier.

The time seemed right and so with heavy hearts, we went ahead.
No words needed.
Lesson #1 - When scattering ashes from a boat, don't let the stern turn into the wind. A part of Graham will be with Bateau forever!

Actually Mum, the stern was out of the wind but there was some sort of back eddie that we couldn'y have anticipated. I think Graham wanted to be with Batau.
By now we were both sobbing so much it was difficult for Johnny to continue taking pictures. Three yellow carnations, Graham's favorite flower, signifying just over three decades of togetherness.
And my farewell poem.

On our way to Genoa Bay we were hit by a vicious squall. However our brave and able captain handled the entire episode like a trooper. We had to gear back for about 40 minutes and take refuge behind the dodger, while "Auto" did his thing. The squall ended as suddenly as it started, and so on to Genoa Bay, which had really changed since Betty last saw it (for the better).
Just in time for happy hour.
Betty at the trough.
Hey John! Leave some for the rest of us.
Some of the many sailboats at the rendezvous. The"stink potters" were mostly lined up on another dock. I hesitate to use this term any more because we met so many friendly power boat owners who didn't hesitate to invite us aboard for appys and drinks.

The fellow on the sailboat in front of us had purchased a LED masthead light and asked John to hoist him up the mast so he could install it. He showed us better and safer way of hoisting someone. It worked so well. They reciprocated by hoisting John up the mast on Bateau so he could install a new light also.
On Saturday people had a choice of hiking the mountain or taking their dinghies over to Cowichan Bay to have lunch at the Rock Cod Cafe. This is us at the cafe.
Along with many others who were not ambitious enough to hike the mountain after the previous night's frivolities.

After lunch we strolled along the main street and came upon, of all things, a store which specialized in pirate costumes and gear. I found the perfect accessory to add to my hat for the upcoming LMS festival - a parrot!
Getting ready for High Tea. It seems like we just go from one event to another. Much fun!
Jerri Jacques (far right), the then commodore of the SNSYC, and her two ladies-in-waiting.
A pensive moment. I wonder who I'm thinking of.

The very eclectic Genoa Bay Restaurant can be seen in the background. It is difficult for me to believe how this place has changed since Graham & I came here years ago. The place used to be a dump, full of derelict boats and rotting docks, but now it is beautiful. Of course, there is a price to pay. Moorage is very expensive. It cost close to $180 for three nights.
And a "not so pensive moment."
Sunday evening at the Genoa Bay Restaurant. The meal was good, but expensive. They served the best potato dish I have ever eaten., with layers of thinly sliced potatoes alternating with a delicate tasting sauce. Everyone was commenting on it but try as I did to find the recipe on the internet, it was not to be found. Must be a signature secret.
The end of the rendezvous. Goodbye Genoa Bay!
As Cathy Harris, SNSYC Staff Captain stated, it was time to go home and hang our livers out to dry!
Next stop was Burgoyne Bay. John encouraged me to hike to the top of  the mountain with him but I just could not make it and felt very guilty because I know John wanted me to enjoy the view.

On the way back, we stopped at this clearing, the former site of a church camp. When Graham & I used to anchor in the bay, we would hear the people from the camp singing in the morning and evening. It was very moving.
These are some beautiful irises which were probably part of the former camp.
I think this is a hedgehog dogtail but am not sure. Wouldn't it lovely in a flower arrangement!
A peaceful view of the bay with two doggies frolicking in the foreground.
And a beautiful stream which empties into the bay.
Everything is so green and lush. Those are flowering fruit trees in the background.
And so back to Ladysmith Marina for the Sea Festival.
One of two Navy ships which attended the festival. They were open on Saturday to the public. The kids, both large and small, loved setting in the steering station.

We were amazed at the cramped sleeping quarters for the crew. Even the captain's cabin was about half the size of a small den with one very narrow bed.
A woman my age should know better than to dress up like this, ready to volunteer for a few hours, monitoring the walkway so there were not too many people on it at one time. I purchased some gold foil wrapped chocolate coins to give the kids (pieces of eight).

Some kids liked the idea, and some just stared at me and wouldn't take the coin. I guess they really have it drummed into them to not take candy from strangers. How sad for the little ones!
And Long John Silver directed traffic and parking in the upper lot.
A buxom beauty with her tiny pirate son.
This is Captain Jack Sparrow with two of his shipmates. Captain Jack, although really a woman, had the role down to a "T" and appears at every festival.
A seafood extravaganza - fresh crab from Burgoyne Bay and mussels.
This picture is out of sequence and was taken when we stopped in Chemainus on the way back to Ladysmith. Harmon, who I remembered from Semiahmoo days, is the wharfinger at Chemainus and assigned us a slip near the main dock. John, for some reason, decided he was going to back all the way into the slip, which I was sure he would never manage. Nevertheless, he did so on the first try.

John's ability to maneuver Bateau is amazing.

We toured around the town looking at the murals and went for lunch. This is the latest mural on the side of the theatre, depicting some of the art of Emily Carr. The three-dimensional aspect of the mural is truly fascinating and this picture does not do it justice.