A relaxing evening...

After the long soak in the hot tub, we were both... relaxed.  We came back to the boat and settled in.  Oh, for those who were wondering: yes, we are at Poet's Cove in Bedwell Harbour (South Pender Island, BC).

The wind that had been kicking all afternoon slacked off as evening approached.  A look at the resort as the sun got low on the horizon...

More on that large boat to the right side of the image in a moment.  Little Izzy got to go for a walk on the docks...

Due to the number of people and dogs on the docks at Friday Harbor, she didn't venture out much.  This place could not have been more quiet, so it was a good opportunity to get her used to her leash again.  It seems that she has spent so much time IN the boat that she didn't remember what the outside looked like... as we walked back towards Wild Blue, she seemed determined to head towards a 30' Nonsuch.  Maybe she was thinking about trading up and becoming a sailing cat?  Yeah, probably not.

It was a treat to watch the sun slip away as the water got calm...

Now, about that other boat.  Joan and I were playing some cards (I won for a change) and enjoying a view out the dinette window; that other boat moved off the Customs dock and came around to the marina.  It slowly moved towards a slip, then pulled back out.  Then back towards the slip, then back out.  As I looked at the boat, I could see that there was no easy way for someone to get from the deck to these low docks - I walked over to see if they needed a hand with lines... and the boat pulled back out again.

I waited patiently, thinking: "They better make up their mind soon, 'cause it's going to get dark."

As the boat got close enough to talk, I asked the guy standing just outside the helm, "Are you just practicing or do you need a hand with lines?"

He said, "This guy just bought the boat.  He is practicing, but, YES, we could use a hand with the lines.  Thank you."

That guy was talking the owner through what to do... "A little port forward, starboard reverse.  A little!  Go to neutral..."  It was pretty clear that the guy at the helm was very new at this.  As the boat got close enough to the dock to do some damage on the corner, I reached out and grabbed a fender from the boat and stuck it between the hull and the corner... it would have made a nasty mark in the pretty paint.  Another guy came to the dock and helped with lines.  Before we had the boat settled into place, the guy at the helm came out to say, "Thank you!"  Fortunately, the wind was now calm, so we could control the boat with the lines.

The new guy at the helm had an accent.  He asked where I was from, and I replied, "Texas."  He said, "Yeah, mate, I'm from way south, too."

"Australia?" I asked.

"Don't insult me, mate - we just met.  New Zealand.  That would be like me asking if you were from New York!"  Well, he had a sense of humor.  Good thing - he just got here, bought this boat, and is going cruising.  By himself.  On a 50' old wood Grand Banks.  And he doesn't have much boat experience.  He got a late start out of Friday Harbor today.  Good thing he has an experience hand with him, but I don't know for how long.

Pretty boat, but that whole idea of having to climb down from the deck doesn't seem too appealing to me... especially single handing.  Oh well, you have to admire his spirit of adventure.

A look at the boat in the morning light...