Sechelt Inlet Cruise July 2009

What a trip!! Big Bubbles got there first (no surprise there!) and Boy N Sea, Rainbow, Almost Paradise and Lucky Day drifted in with the tide as the day went on. Gibson's was our first stop and the line up at Smitty's oyster bar was horrendous. So, inch by inch and Dave Burrell's magical charm, we took over the table outside and enjoyed a fabulous meal together with laughs and jokes and new friends made in the line up. Saturday was another great day and we were joined by Memory Maker, Cheers, Minstrel and Buck N Boat. The girls went uptown and the boys went to the pub. Lawrence made the trek over in the morning to come for a visit and later in the afternoon, the crew of Bull Durham came over from Keats to say hello too. Sunday morning brought HIGH SEAS!!! The Bubble was out of the marina before the seagulls were up, and headed north to Pender Harbour. As they were passing the Thormanby Islands inside Welcome Passage, they came upon 5 teens in an aluminum car-topper floating with no power!!! The boys had been at a beach party in Buccaneer Bay the previous night and had run out of gas on their way back to Secret Cove! So Dave, Grace, Mav and Martin, leashed up the hung-over gang and proceeded to tow them to Secret Cove. Next thing they know a boat is coming their way and a Dad of one of the boys has discovered that they were missing and was out looking for them. He kindly asked Grace to cover her ears while he discussed the irresponsible behaviour with the crew in the car-topper. At least it was a happy ending in that no one got hurt. Cheers, Rainbow and Buck N Boat went off to other adventures that day and the rest of us left Gibsons later in the morning where we got caught in the “Nasties” north of Gower Point. Took a while, but we all got to Pender Harbour safe and sound. Merlin joined us from Snug Cove and Seahorse had already been there a few days (her skipper apparently hard at work). People often ask me, “Don't you get bored out there?” I say “who's got time to be bored!!” Case in Point, Golf, or more precisely…putting. 1100hrs on Monday kicked of the PMPSS Putt Challenge, on the dock, with cherry tomatoes. Yup (see photos). We started with a practice shot, then given three legal shots. Grace (Big Bubbles), Julie (Minstrel) & Steve (Lucky Day) each got one in. But our favourite seadog from Minstrel, Dave, got 2 in and won!! (man of many talents, obviously!). That afternoon, Dave (Minstrel) graciously toured everyone around the extensive harbour, pointing out the sights of his old stomping grounds. Dave (Bubbles) and Dave (Minstrel) had set out the crab traps earlier in the day and Dave (Bubbles) pulled up the hugest crab I've seen in a long time! Tuesday saw the fleet (minus Seahorse) heading north once more, this time to Egmont and the Backeddy Marina & Pub. Yum, Halibut and Yam fries. Fun in the dinghys to check out the mighty Skookumchuck (which literally means “fast salt water” in the local first nations dialect) and then enjoyed a beautiful sunset. CANADA DAY!! Yaaaay!! We had toasts to our fair nation on the dock while boats were being decorated and we all got tattooed courtesy of Chris (Merlin). Once we were all dolled up we proceeded through the mighty Skookumchuck narrows on the morning slack heading for the Lighthouse Pub & Marina at the head of the Sechelt Inlet. Once we were all tied up at the marina, we promptly made our presence known when we took over a corner of the pub and encouraged the crowd there to join us in singing the national anthem. Arlene (Boy N Sea) presented each boat with a custom made commemorative shopping/supplies bag embroidered with the PMPSS Burgee and boat name! Absolutely gorgeous! Arlene is a talented fabric artist to say the least. We continued our Canada Day celebrations on the decks of Merlin until sunset. We needed a rest. So, while Merlin went on to meet up with Sonador, Caliente and Seahorse who were making their way to Princess Louisa Inlet, and Minstrel made its way back to Pender Harbour, the rest of us decided to explore Salmon Inlet and in particular, Misery Bay, where we were joined by the Paula Rae. In the shallow bay where we anchored, the water was lovely and warm. We spent two days having fun with this year's new floaty toy, the 5 seater….party island!!! Day one Boys. Day two Girls. There is also a lovely beach at the north end of this inlet where we had a picnic lunch on one of two great days of hanging out and being lazy. Saturday morning, we headed back through the narrows and to Garden Bay once more. The gang from Princess Louisa joined us there where Steve (Lucky Day) had organized an afternoon birthday bash to celebrate the fact that I (Yvonne) had actually made it to 50! We finished of the day and the end of our cruise up in the pub (what else is new!!) The next morning under sunny skies, we all headed home. Fabulous fun, fabulous people….can't wait till August !!!! Enter this address - www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtlR4LppZF0 for some footage by Dave Reed of the MV Paula Rae. - Yvonne McCoach

Photos Courtesy of: Yvonne McCoach, Sukru Yigit & Tony Gojevic