Smugglers Cove

The sun is supposedly coming out - soon!

We're heading for Port Sidney Marina to spend Labour Day weekend with boating friends from the Crescent Beach Yacht Club and it would certainly be nice to finish off the boating season with summer weather. Right now it feels more like November and we're anchored in Smugglers Cove waiting for the wind to go down and the seas to calm enough to make the crossing to Nanaimo, then South to Sidney.

Smugglers Cove is a lovely little anchorage -but with a narrow and rather treacherous opening to navigate. We are totally protected from the wind and have a stern line tied to a boulder on shore, so all should be well for the night.

I'm waiting for the sun to show it's face so we can carry on toward Sidney!

Baby Seal

Last week a young seal died on the beach at Egmont.

Friends pointed him out to me, as he flippered his way up onto the warm rocks with his big black eyes glistening in the sun. We could see an infected gash on his shoulder and it was oozing. He obviously was very, very sick and lay dying in the warm afternoon sun.

We discussed the options and soon realized mother nature would take care of him. It's illegal to harm the seals, even if they are suffering - so we couldn't put him out of his misery. It wasn't realistic to try to help him in any way so we left him.

After he died, our friend had a closer look and discovered what appeared to be a bullet hole on the side opposite the gash. Yes, seal populations are increasing dramatically and they are a nuisance to the fishermen, but shooting a seal then leaving it to die a slow, painful death is extremely cruel.

We pushed his little body into the water, letting it drift away on the tide.

I have a new blog:

Boating in Beautiful British Columbia

Please drop on over to say hello!

6 Car Pile-Up in Deas Tunnel

Saturday evening Crystal was in a 6 car pile up in the Deas Tunnel and was rear ended - hard enough to push the car right into the back end of a pick up truck and to cause her and MY car damage. She was in shock for a couple of days, has a sore back, muscle relaxants, a police report, doctors appointments, ICBC appointments, a story to tell - and me... I have a car which had very low mileage, garage kept, was in perfect condition, one owner and destined to become a 'collector'. Now, I have a piece of s**t car... no, what am I talking about - actually I don't even have a car - it's in the wrecker's yard.



Do I sound bitter? Maybe just a tad - this car was my 50th birthday present from Kent - 5 1/2 years ago and I was proud of the fact it was still in nearly perfect condition - other than one insignificant 'rub' which perhaps happened in a parking lot. Crystal and I had just talked about the fact I didn't want mileage put on my car and it was safer sitting in the garage, but she REALLY, REALLy wanted to borrow it for a special date. It was Trevor's birthday and she was driving him downtown and they were going out with a group of friends. I knew my car would be sitting in a secure garage overnight and she doesn't drink and drive - so I let her take it. My mistake.

Sure enough, traffic came to a sudden stop in the tunnel, with the truck and car ahead rear-ending someone who stopped because someone else stopped ahead of him. Crystal was able to stop before rear-ending the truck in front, but the car behind was following too close, going too fast and slammed into the rear end of my car, slamming it into the truck in front. Lucky, it wasn't an 18 wheeler or a larger car following her as my car accordianed with the impact and the damage to Crystal and Trevor would have significantly increased - never mind the car.

Anyway, Crystal took photos for the insurance company - and me as she knew I would blog it. Every fire fighter, ambulance attendant, and policeman in their BDU Pants were out in full force as any accident in the tunnel is always major, usually causing serious injuries, traffic snarls for hours and headaches (and lots of work) for the tow trucks.

Spring Has Sprung

It's so nice to see the sunshine and to know the temperatures will be increasing and the weather will improve. The winter seemed to drag on forever, with dull grey skies and drizzle. I think Spring has finally sprung!

The early flowers are blooming, the trees are budding and even my roses are sending out new bright red shoots. My neighbours are pressure washing and the golf course is getting much busier. I even feel like walking the dyke occasionally with Hugo.

He found this golf ball and carried it all the way home. His Mommy doesn't like him chewing golf balls as they are small enough to choke him, but how could I take it away from him when he was so proud of his find, and carried it all the way home? I let his Mommy take it away... heh heh.