Where In The World Is Lesley? (Day Eleven)

Itinerary: Sidney to Brentwood Bay, British Columbia (Vancouver Island)
Cruising Time: Beats me!
Weather: Awoke to fog and drizzle. 60 degrees. Rain on and off all day and night.

After a quick trip to the market and Tanner's Bookstore for my copies of Harry Potter (blog entry forthcoming), we got under way around noon. Other than the occasional Bayliner wake, cruising was smooth and uneventful. We had a marvelous lunch at Seahorses Cafe. Definitely worth a return visit someday!

We had hoped to take the shore boat out after dinner to see the fireworks display over at Butchart Gardens, but the rain wouldn't let up, so we wound up watching from the boat. Surprisingly, the view wasn't too bad! And we stayed dry.

Goodbye, Port Sidney

Shipshape Kayak

Binnacle (and hat)

So where exactly are we supposed to be?

Can't have too many beacons. Especially in foggy weather!

This is one house?! (Notice the conservatory in the back. Simply lovely.)

Narrow passage!

This isn't too difficult.
(Disregard the clenched hand on the wheel.)

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip,
That started from this tropic port
Aboard this tiny ship.

Hey, Rod! What do these handles do?

Marvelous little restaurant with fabulous crab cakes
and shrimp croissant sandwiches. Yum!

My new favorite brew!

Perfect after a long day at the helm. ;)

`Nice? It's the ONLY thing,' said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leant forward for his stroke. `Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,' he went on dreamily: `messing--about--in--boats; messing----'
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Don't worry about me. I'm fine.
However, I don't know why anyone thought I should go for a walk.
I was perfectly fine in my nice warm boat. People!

Kiss the Cook Goes to Sea!

Yah, yah, yah. I know. Another leaf in the water.

Click on photo for full-size view.

Where In the World Is Lesley? (Day Ten)

Itinerary: Sidney-by-the-Sea (Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada)
Cruising Time: In port
Weather: Cloudy with drizzles (morning temp of 66, rising to 80 by afternoon)

Lazy day aboard until 2:00 when the rain finally ceased!

There was a great difference in boats, of course.
For a long time I was on a boat that was so slow
we used to forget what year it was when we left port in.
~ Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

It's signs like these that remind you you're in a foreign country.

Just for Amy! ;)

High tide.
(The baskets are higher during low tide,
as the docks are floating rather than stationary)

Wonder if they need a personal chef?

So, Honey...just exactly how much do we have in our IRAs??

Our wonderful hosts!

Port Sidney
(International Marine Signal Flags)

I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand,
as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven
we must sail sometimes with the wind
and sometimes against it -
but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.
~ Oliver Wendel Holmes

Just one of the many gorgeous planters found all over Sidney.

Here's another.

Sidney's Summer Market

Got my land legs. Let's go shopping!

Even salty sailors tolerate an occasional shopping trip in town.
Especially if there's ice cream involved.

I am not afraid of storms,
for I am learning how to sail my ship.
~ Louisa May Alcott

Caught reading outside of Tanner's Books.

Hard to believe there's actually a car smaller than my MiniCooper!

Life's rough!

Click on photo for full-size view.

Where In the World Is Lesley? (Day Nine)

Itinerary: Roche Harbor to Sidney (Vancouver Island, British Columbia) via Haro Strait
Cruising Time: 2 hours
Weather: Foggy, overcast and 57 degrees (awoke at 4 a.m. to heavy rain)

It's been 14 years since my last visit to Sidney and it's still just as gorgeous as I remember. The marina is quite a bit more upscale than it was in 1993, and the town has grown into quite a touristy community, yet it hasn't lost its charm and appeal, especially to this landlocked Midwesterner.

We didn't see any of the swans that frequent the marina, but the familiar sight of hanging flower baskets at the end of each boat slip (over 300, I believe) brought back memories of that long ago trip. (I think I have almost identical photographs from both trips!)

Leaving Roche Harbor, heading toward Haro Strait
(Yep, our fog horn works!)

I love these red & white beacons.

Coming up on Port Sidney.
The fog is just beginning to lift.

Flags at the Customs tent.

Happy dock hand.

Some kind of nautical knot.

Lovely homes overlooking the marina.
Time to buy a lottery ticket!

The ubiquitous flower baskets.

Happy voyager!

Click on photograph for full-size view.