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Watch Out, No Brakes on these Barges! |
We left Howe Sound on an overcast day and rounded Merry Island Lighthouse with
calm seas (1ft or less) traveling up the Strait of Georgia along the B.C.
Coast.
The sun tried its best to peak
through the cloud layer and hopeful Sea Lions hauled themselves out on “White
Islet” in a huddled mass.
We entered
Welcome Passage, formed by North & South Thormanby Islands going against a
1-2 knot current.
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Tug towing barges through Welcome Passage |
As we approached the
north end of this narrow passage, we were faced with a Tug pulling three barges
heading toward us moving quickly with the current.
We hailed the Tug on the radio regarding his
intentions, hearing no response we quickly moved off to the side so as not to
interfere with his path; no explanation necessary, the unspoken rule is to make room for the big
boys!
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Entering Pender Harbour |
The rest of the journey was
uneventful; we arrived in Garden Bay in Pender Harbour at 4:30pm and set the
anchor.
Pender Harbour is a complex of
several inlets and coves, a pretty area that has built up over the years with
lovely new homes surrounding the Harbour; older, original homesteads still
remain and can be seen along the shoreline.
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Numerous Homes in Pender Harbour |
Inside the Harbour are sheltered anchorages and several marinas and
resorts, both rustic and upscale.
Public
docks provide easy access to pubs, cafes, shops, and a well-stocked IGA
Market.
The following day was warm and
sunny so we headed out with the dinghy to pick up some groceries and partake in
the legendary selection of ice cream at LaVerne’s diner, mainly popular because
hard ice cream is not always easy to find in more isolated areas.
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Gunnera Manicata Plant |
Behind one of the pubs we discovered Gunnera
Manicata growing along the pathway near a creek.
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Prickly Stocks on the Gunnera Manicata |
This unusual big-leaved perennial forms giant
clumps of prickly stalks with bottle-brush like flowering spikes.
The leaves can grow up to 6 feet across and
the stalks up to 10 feet tall.
These
Gunnera Manicata plants were quite a surprise as the plant is native to South
America.
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Java enjoying her Dinghy Ride |
We spent the rest of the afternoon
exploring the nooks and crannies of Pender Harbour by dinghy, Java rode along
enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun.
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