Thursday, September 5, 2013

Thursday, 26July2012: Secret Cove to Egmont/Bathgate

Weather:  Sunny and warm.  Winds:  Initially S, light to calm.  Seas:  Flat.

A relaxed start, not too early, not too late!  Woke to a sunny day and unlike Captain's Mast, no raccoon tracks on the boat!  The plan was to head north, go through Agamemnon Channel and rendevous at Egmont.

In an effort to sail, headed out into Malaspina Strait, keeping the wind on a broad reach.  Missed the turn point into Agamemnon Channel while down below pumping the holding tank (legal in open Canadian waters).  Subsequently, ended up way behind Captain's Mast.  Not normally significant, but this is an area of limited communications, it became significant.

As noted, the plan was to rendevous at Egmont.  Last we had seen of C-Mast was off Francis Peninsula, looking like RT was headed into Pender Harbour.  A bit unusual, but thought maybe he was just checking it out as the trip to Egmont was not a long one.

We entered Agamemnon Channel with the current and were spell bound by the cliffs on each side.  Tried to sail, but the winds proved finicky, so we motored in vicinity of a couple other sailboats and made our way to Egmont, arriving around 1100.

At Egmont, found a spot to anchor, just east of the marina and settled down to wait for C-Mast.  The day grew hot and we waited.  No RT.  WTF?  Maybe he had a boat problem and went into a marina in Pender Harbour.  No cell service here.  Went ashore and tried the pay phone.  No luck his cell.  Called Merry Margret, had she heard from him?  No answer.  Went back to Strider and waited.

Late afternoon, still no RT.  Went back ashore and repeated the above.  Got a hold of MM and she had not heard from RT.  There was concern, "He never deviates from the plan."  Since she was arriving in Princess Louisa Inlet in two days, reassured her we, at least, would be there.

Spoke to some of the locals who stated there were no good anchorages there and they recommended the municipal pier.  Municipal pier?  The guide book makes no mention....  They pointed it out, the long one with no one on it.  We moved.  I think it was 50cents/foot.  Cheap.  Local harbor master came down to ensure we had paid.  Spoke to a couple with two kids from California owning their grandmother's cabin on the east side of marina.  The gentleman had been coming here for the summer since he was a kid.  Got a couple fishing tips from him along with a hint of a double waterfall in the area....

Had a pleasant evening after it cooled off and quit worrying about RT.

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