Reality Check

With all this hot weather everywhere, it's always good to look back for a reality check! This picture was just one of many deep powder days we had at Mount Washington last winter.

Busy-ness

It seems such a short time ago we were busy with our business. Now, we're just busy with Busy-ness! During our time here a lot of folks (you know who you are) have suggested we modify the front of our home to give us additional outdoor living space. So last week we had Jim Wyatt and son Steve, our friendly carpenters formerly of Innisfail, Alberta, attack the front of our house. The result is new Garden Doors opening out to the front yard where we will insert a cement pad and, of course, more shrubs and flowers. The theory is that we'll be able to enjoy our ocean and mountain vistas from this vantage point.

Finally!

Yesterday, R-Vu took us to Comox where Helen finally had an appointment with an Ortho Surgeon regarding her hip. His diagnosis was that she definitely needs hip-replacement surgery, but before that can happen he requires another series of x-ray pictures that he is ordering done at St. Joseph's Hospital in Comox. The x-ray appointment is being arranged. Once he has the x-rays the doctor will be better able to prioritize the surgery and a date will be set. At least we now know what we're dealing with and can get on with it.


Lucien and Lorraine were visiting Dean and his family at Parksville and drove up to meet us for lunch. We had a great visit during lunch at the Black Fin Pub overlooking Comox harbor. Good food and lots of laughs. After lunch we stopped at world famous Portuguese Joe's fish shop where Lucien and Lorraine bought fresh oysters to take back for Dean and Claudia. This stop presented a photo op.

The Smooth Jazz Chronicles - Chapter 1.

Our journey to Genoa Bay began shortly after noon on Wednesday, June 7th. Ken & Pat happened along just as we were about to leave and were just in time to give us a push away from the dock. Our GPS track took us down Malaspina Strait along the east shore of Texada Island. Once we rounded the southern tip of Texada we passed Lasqueti Is. entering the open waters of Georgia Strait toward Nanaimo. There was very little wind and the water was very smooth. We reached Nanaimo and anchored for the night in the bay of Newcastle Provincial Marine Park at about 7:30 PM.
We had a short day on the 8th and left Nanaimo so we could time our passage through Dodd Narrows with the slack tide. This is a very narrow passage between 2 islands and the water runs through very fast when the tide is flooding or ebbing. More about Dodd Narrows on the return trip.

After successfully navigating the narrows we made our way to a quiet, secluded cove at Wallace Is. Prov. Marine Park where we again set our anchor. And then the rain came! For the next 15 - 20 hrs. we had a downpour. Luckily, we were snug as bugs inside Smooth Jazz even though the rain did its best to get into the boat in a few places where we had to place some pans very strategically to catch rain water.
The next morning it was still pouring so there was no need to get up early. Helen was busy in the Galley throughout the trip down...great times are made much better with great food!

After it quit raining Friday morning we got underway to Genoa Bay and arrived there at about 3 or so that afternoon.

About 25 Chris Craft boats were gathered for the annual Rendezvous. There were activities and get togethers on Friday evening and Saturday. We met great people, saw awesome boats and had a great time. Howard's wife, Eileiah, came by car Friday afternoon and stayed until Sunday morning when she and Helen left to catch the 3:15 PM ferry from Comox to Powell River, leaving Howard and I to fend for ourselves! So, we left Genoa Bay and headed back to Nanaimo.

Again, we had to pass through Dodd Narrows entering the Narrows a little ahead of the full slack. Needless to say the current pushed us through at a good clip! We anchored at Newcastle Is. for the night.
On Monday the 12th Howard and I made for home. We had a leisurely trip through bright warm sunshine and calm waters. We are looking forward to our next adventure aboard Smooth Jazz. ...to be continued

A Bloomin Good Time - June 12, 2006

Here's the latest update on our flower garden.