May 31 Heading North

It was an early morning for us, as we pulled away from the dock at Thetis Island by 5:30.
Thanks to our boating/yacht club buddy Jerry Noeske who gave us a quick refresher on Canadian tide and current tables last night. Based on that information we set out to get to Dodd Narrows (just south of Nanaimo) during favorable current comnditions. Maximum flood current today was scheduled to be 7.7 knots...as it was we had a 4 knot current against us when we went through but obviously we did great. My first time at the helm in this very narrow passage and I was not too nervous until I saw a 37 ft Nordic Tug coming towards us sideways. He did straighten it out before they got to me but it demonstrated to me very visually the importance of Gary's words of instruction which included "just make sure you don't get it crossed up!" Good lesson and practice for what is ahead of us.
We had planned to stop in Nanaimo but the water and weather conditions have been so ideal that we are "pushing" on through and will be relaxing in Campbell River tonight...arriving about 12 hours after we shoved off this morning.
If you see this post on the blog you will know we arrived safely and I found a phone to transmit it on.
Thanks to all who have sent e-mail...remember to use our new traveling email address:
oldbro@pocketmail.com
Gary & Linda


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