Ray - Posts

Today was a dry, low-wind day in Lund, so I was able to put on our boat Vestri's three piece cover. With just a bit more tweaking and tightening, it will be ready for the winter.

Prepping Boat Engine & other Systems for Winter Storage
This video details my steps to winterize our 1976 CHB trawler Ford Lehman diesel engine and various other equipment onboard. https://youtu.be/czjMfAH-b8U

Well, with the first storm of the fall season on the horizon, we decided to get Vestri pulled out of the water and safe and sound on dry land. All went smoothly, and we are now moving stuff back into the RV and organizing our storage room. Once that is done, I will winterize the boat and put the cover on. Soon, we will be heading south in the RV for our desert boondocking adventures!
https://youtu.be/91OY1RXuB9E

Boating season is over, and Vestri is up on the hard Jack's Boat Yard. The fall weather was getting a bit stormy, so we decided to head in, but it was a great boating season. Now, we will move all our stuff into the Cougar, winterize the boat, and prepare to head south in the RV!

It's late in the British Columbia boating season, and we have the popular Walsh Cove Provincial Park anchorage all to ourselves. Here is a panorama of the view after a late summer rain storm passed. The ocean was calm, casting pretty reflections.

I got footage of loons fishing in the rain near our boat yesterday. They looked like a mother and two young ones. It took them some time to swallow the small, flat-bodied bottom fish, which may have been a sole or flounder. https://youtu.be/wdytLhkYOH4

Our boating season winds down with a late summer trip into beautiful Desolation Sound. The summer crowds have thinned dramatically, and anchorages have emptied. This is my favorite time of year! Crisp, clear mornings, warm afternoons, and peaceful evenings.

In this video, some footage of the famous mountain views at the entrance to Homfray Channel is followed by highlights from time spent in Walsh Cove Provincial Park at the north end of Waddington Channel.
https://youtu.be/G5jobU0iQH8

While exploring the shores in our dinghy, I finally got quite close to a Black Oystercatcher. Neat bird!

It's mid-September, and boating season on the BC coast is winding down. Most tourists have left, so the anchorages are much less crowded. This is our favorite time of year to explore Desolation Sound Marine Park.

This time, we decided to check out a new anchorage called Galley Bay. This video shows the area's surroundings and footage of the scenery we enjoyed before and after a rain storm swept through. Oh, and we also took a dip in the chilly 18C-degree ocean. It was likely to be our last swim of the summer.

https://youtu.be/CuzHl2qZJ7c

We pulled up the anchor today and moved deeper into Desolation Sound. The clouds lifted, and a sunny afternoon took hold. Here are a few shots of the epic mountain views on many boater's bucket lists. We are so lucky to have this as our boating backyard.
#britishcolumbia #BoatingLife

Since the day was mostly gray and drizzley, Mother Nature was kind enough to throw us a bone. A beautiful splash of color out towards the mountains!

Maybe the last swim of the summer yesterday as the ocean temp was down to 18C (64.4F) Took a little while to get in but not bad after that and great views!

Different zoom-ins of the view of Desolation Sound last evening from our latest anchorage in Galley Bay.

Anne's grizzled old First Mate

Bluetti AC240 – 3 Month Review Update Video
This video provides an update on how the Bluetti AC240 portable power station has performed during the last three months. I’ve been using it to help power our boating off-grid. Since they claim it is weatherproof, I’ve tested it. It’s been running 24/7, exposed to all weather conditions, up on the flybridge of our ocean-going cruiser boat. I’m happy to report it has passed the testing so far with flying colors! The only negative thing I have to say is that it is heavy to move around, and the capacity percentage reading can sometimes get inaccurate unless it gets fully charged to reset it. https://youtu.be/nJ0GMoSnMwc

Lund Marina and entering Desolation Sound, BC

New video upload - Shoal Bay Overnight & Trip Through Dent & Yuculta Rapids - Summer Boating the Spectacular BC Coast https://youtu.be/DMW21zTm4y0

Highlights of the wildlife and nature beauty from our recent stay in Charles Bay along Blind Channel, BC. Last summer, in late August, we anchored for over a week in a lovely little bay across from the Blind Channel Marina. We loved the scenery, abundant wildlife, and clear waters.

So this year, a return visit was high on our list. After several long boating days south from the Broughtons, the little bay was a welcome place to hang out, relax, and recharge our batteries. The first day was breezy and rainy, but after that, the weather warmed up, and we once again thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. This video contains a collection of nature/wildlife highlights from our stay. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/_HvhL9qFFg8

Today, we left Shoal Bay at 9:30am to time our passage through Dent and Yuculta Rapids. A picture-perfect summer day on the BC coast, with low wind and temps up to 25C. Anne and I have never seen this part of the coast. WOW! The scenery is gorgeous. The richie rich folk know about it, though, as the shores are dotted with huge estates and fancy lodges/resorts, and look at that yacht!. I took lots of video footage of our transit through Dent and Yaculta Rapids and Gillard Passage, so I will have a video out soon after I edit the footage from Charles Bay. Falling behind. :)

We left Charles Bay after another enjoyable visit and crossed over to the Blind Channel Marina to refuel and fill up on fresh water. Tied up tonight at the government dock at Shoal Bay. What a gorgeous view down Philips Arm. Tomorrow morning, we will transit tricky Dent and Yaculta rapids areas known for strong currents and deep whirlpools. We have to time the tides just right! I have faith in Captain Anne. :)