June 24th - Silva Bay, Gabriola Island

Rain once again started the morning. Fortunately, it is more showery than the steady down pour that we saw when we were in Bottleneck Inlet up north. It did let up as we were retrieving the stern line and the anchor.

Crossing the Strait of Georgia was very unpleasant. The weather forecast called for light to moderate winds but they were certainly at the moderate level where we were. The seas were 3-foot chop. It is like hitting 3-foot piles of water every 4 or 5 seconds. The first one you plow through. The next one you've slowed down enough that your bow rises over the crest. By the third wave (the big ones seem to come in sets of three), you're bow is crashing down on the back side of the trough with wind spraying salt water across the boat.

Fortunately, the seas eased as we got in the lee of Vancouver Island. We arrived at Silva Bay (June 24) around 10:15 AM.

Silva Bay is on Gabriola Island. Access to Gabriola Island is via ferry from Nanaimo, boat or air plane. About 5,000 people live year round on the island.

The marina seems pleasant and has the requisite restaurant, showers, Laundromat and liquor store. The marina office is actually in the liquor store.

Tomorrow we're targeting the early morning slack (about 7:30 AM) at Gabriola Passage about 15 minutes from here. We'll anchor out somewhere in the Canadian Gulf Island but we're not sure where at this point.