Once out of Bedwell Harbour, the wind and waves calmed down - it was a beautiful morning...
There is a difference in the topography of the Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands. Besides the dramatic rock and cliffs, we marveled at some of the homes along the ridges...
Not a lot of boats as we made our way around North Pender Island, heading towards Ganges on Salt Spring Island. The BC Ferries are a bit more festive looking that the Washington State Ferries...
When we would come up this way on the whale watch boat, guests would often ask if those were cruise ships.
No shortage of navigation help: Joan has two different charts on her lap and the iPad with a chartplotter app in front of her...
I had to get by with the Raymarine E-80 chartplotter and the Droid Bionic with the Navionics app. And in related nav news: we discovered that the GPS chip in the iPad is turned off when you put it on airplane mode (something that I was not aware of).
Only 7 more "official days of summer"... we are starting to see some changes in the foliage, so Mother Nature is getting ready...
As we got close to Ganges, we called the marina on the VHF to get our slip assignment, but first stopped to get some of that expensive Canadian fuel (without ethanol)... it worked out to $5.71 per gallon, figuring their price per liter, imperial gallons to US gallons, and not including the fact that the US dollar is below par with the Canadian dollar.
The wind was way less at Ganges, but with another boat close behind us at the fuel dock, we rotated off the dock with a spring line and made our way to our assigned spot. Oh, they don't care "how long the manufacturer says the boat is, how long is it tip to tip?" We wound up on a side tie, so it isn't like we're going to stick out, anyway. They put the new girl on the cash register, checking people in... good thinking - we were patient while she learned to run a credit card... I told her, "Everyone has a first day." Yes, it was her first day.
The docks here at Ganges Marina are a bit rustic compared to most (I'm being generous); I took a hammer to the dock where we are located to make sure nothing stuck out to gouge us. We took the last 30 amp plug in on our side of the dock and got the boat ready for a couple nights down. This was our view out the front window...
It's OK, we like sea planes. Doesn't really matter, because they put a big sailboat in front of us and a big trawler on the other side of us - we can kinda look between them for a view. ;-)
Off to town for a late lunch. Only $42 Can for a couple cheeseburgers for lunch... hey, we did split some fries and had one soda each. Two guys at a table across from us about crapped when they got their bill: "Did you really charge me $7.50 for a beer?"
"Yes. Welcome to Salt Spring Island."
It makes Friday Harbor look reasonably priced. ;-) We have been here before, so we reminisced as we walked around town. I had to take a photo of the palm trees - obviously a much hardier breed than what we have in the Tropical Tip; but still, it made me a little homesick (only a little)...
We visited some of the shop and stopped in the local grocery store before heading back to the boat. Besides the Saturday Market tomorrow, there is a Fall Fair going on, making for a lot of people in town. We kept our shopping light today, in anticipation of the Saturday Market.
The flowers smelled nice along the way...
On our way back to the boat, we came across a couple things too good to not comment: this image is kinda busy, but how would you like to have this party barge in the slip next to you?
Look close - it even comes equipped with an alligator on the front. Party on, Dude! And, a little ways away, this RV parked at the waters edge...
Well, a bit beyond the edge. Again, it is hard to see, but there is a hose running from the RV down to the water. No need to extend the rear stabilizers, 'cause they'd be hanging out in thin air.
And, Wild Blue in the distance...
OK, closer view...
We're having fun, eh?
2 comments:
$7.50 for a beer? $42 for lunch for two? Man, get outta there!
Ganges is an interesting place. We're looking forward to the Saturday Market (like a farmers market plus). After a summer working, we're OK with treating ourselves. Ganges has a bit of an "island groove" going on. OK, it IS on an island, but you hear tropical music playing, see people with dreads... it seems a bit out of place up north. ;-) BIG boats in this marina... as usual, ours is one of the smallest. Doesn't change our fun level.
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