Day 3, 4, 5 - Smuggler Cove to Pender Harbour (Garden Bay)

We woke to sunshine in Smuggler’s Cove on Shannon’s birthday!  Although we loved the serene, warm waters of the protected cove, we had a decent day’s journey at sea ahead of us.  Plus, we were looking forward to showers and pub food at Pender Harbour.  So shortly after breakfast we hoisted the anchor and set off!

As we were negotiating the hairpin curve necessary to leave the cove, our port-side engine sputtered and died.  Although Shawn jumped down into the engine room and dutifully pumped the fuel primer (which had always worked to fix this problem in the past), the engine would not co-operate.  Most unfortunate timing.  And so Cap’n Adam was tested by fate again to dig deep into his Viking nautical heritage and complete that winding exit on one motor.  Yarr, ‘twas no match for Thor!

And so began our issues with the port side engine.  We stopped to pick up the prawn trap we had dropped the night before and were thrilled to find 56 prawns inside, mostly big-fat-delicious-but-really-hard –to-peel spot prawns.  We continued on our way up Malaspina Strait (between the BC Coastal Mainland and Texada & Lasqueti Islands) for about 4 hours up to Pender Harbour.  And we did this whole journey on our starboard side engine alone.  Little trooper.  

Arriving at Garden Bay, we fired up the 2^nd motor again and it thankfully ran just long enough to get us on the dock.  Showers, ice, floaty chairs, Cap’n Adam doing diesel motor maintenance, secret birthday cake baking, real whip cream whipping, candle blow-out and dock happy birthday sing-a-long, birthday Bai Jiu all the way from Nanjing, and dinner at the pub.  Good times.

The plan was to start heading up Jervis Strait the next day, but since the port-side engine refused to co-operate again as we tried to untie from the dock we spent another day tied up.  We had breakfast at LaVerne’s Grill at Garden Bay, got some groceries and beers at John Henry’s Marina, and wandered around the little village.  A special spot on BC’s Sunshine Coast that we’ve been to before and adored, and this visit to Garden Bay did not disappoint.

Day 2 - Plumper Cove to Smuggler Cove

 

In the early morning of our second day we were woken by a regular and heaving wake in the anchorage at Plumper Cove.  We never did determine from where it originated; we thought it must be ferry wake but we were not in the path of such a source.  Fishermen racing out for the morning catch, perhaps?

Up early anyway, we hoisted the anchor and set out.  The day’s destination was about 4 hours against the wind and wave to Smuggler Cove on the Sunshine Coast.  The crew rode the rise and fall of the oncoming waves, and did their best to avoid the much appreciated but burning rays of the sun.

Once in the calmer waters of Smuggler Cove, we joined the throngs of weekend boaters and stern –tied to shore.  These salty waters were calm, warm, and inviting, and the entire crew enjoyed some playtime before dinner.

Just before bedtime, part of the crew headed out to drop the prawn trap just outside the Cove entrance.  Hopefully we’ll gather some sea-protein for the next part of our journey!