July 11 - Ladysmith

Hank received an email from David Bowman, inviting us to come up to Ladysmith. Our plans were to go to Maple Bay Yacht Club, but what the hell... we're on vacation! so we booked into Ladysmith.

This would be our first visit there...

first impression: Very clean, the marina staff were extremely helpful and very friendly.
They placed us right in front of there new facilities... it looked like we had the best slip in the house.

Free coffee, Free ice water,  Free showers! (a first), lounge with fireplace, coffee shop that served great food. moorage cost $ 41.00 with power.

ring side seat - in front the their marina lodge

Shortly after our arrival, Dave and Muriel Bowman greeted us! They took Hank and Caroline to one of their favorite pubs for dinner and drinks... they highly recommend the place.

Dave and Muriel Bowman

Caroline and Hank - note Hank's lilly white legs... you can even see his bugs bites!!

After dinner, they went back to the marina to take a tour of the facilities. Lots of stuff to see... Maritime museum, long boats, and the wildlife.

Below are a few photographs of their restored ships.

one of the restored boats

typical nesting boxes... seemed to be a lot of baby martins in the nesting boxes

There were numerous BC purple martin flying around, singing their songs mid-flight. the little birds just loved sitting on my wind vane, happily they did not break it. :)

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These little birds purple Martins, are the largest swallows in North America and feed only on flying insects. Needless to say, if the climate changes slightly, they made have a major problem.

dragon boat tours

In the evening, some of the local talent arrived and gave a great entertainment for the evening; a typical Thursday night event.

you just can't beat local talent eh! played old sailing songs to modern rock and roll songs.

there is me... Tarka... sitting right in front! :)

wide angle shot

We departed early next day... off to Port Sydney - 31 nm away... going through Samsun Narrows.

We left around 8:30 am hitting the Narrows around 11:00am and arriving at Port Sydney at 3:30 pm

It was a fairly long day... motoring most of the way (no wind), until we got through the Narrows. After the Narrows, the winds were perfect... 10 knots, and zero waves, but we were fighting a 2 knot current all the way to Port Sydney.

Next entry to come... Tarka out!