Nanaimo and Newcastle Marine Park

Another bumpy night. But the good news is the wind kept the mooring ball from bumping C-Traveler! Departed Nanoose Harbour at 7:30am, following the three navy ships out. They were going back to the WG military restricted area on the Strait of Georgia. Later, I listened to Winchelsea Island Control and Security boats, and even a helicopter, on scene, have to constantly request a civilian boat, the Linda K, to change course to leave the restricted zone. The skipper must have been pretty dense. Warnings are broadcast frequently on VHF ch. 16 that the warning area is active and all civilians must remain clear due to dangers present. Various times this clown said he didn’t understand or he wasn’t hearing the transmission. At one point he said he was having issues with his auto pilot. Finally one of the security guys suggested he shut his autopilot off and manually steer. I thought the military was being overly polite with this guy. They should have just gone and boarded his boat or fired a torpedo at it. Lol. In any case, it was somewhat entertaining to listen to…. The winds were still blowing pretty good and I put up with 3 foot quartering following seas again, off the port stern. A lot of rolling action in the boat. I thought I would be more protected once I turned into Departure Bay and its channel to Nanaimo. Didn’t have the waves, but the winds were howling through there! I docked at the Nanaimo Port Authority for a couple hours and walked the water front and area, checking out some gift shops and spending the rest of my Canadian coins on some Tiger Tiger Ice Cream. Had my lunch back at the boat, and then headed across the bay to Newcastle Island Marine Park, more officially known as Saysutshun Park. The winds were blowing perpendicular to the docks. My bow caught a gust of wind just as I was set up to let the winds blow me into the dock. That sent the bow hard into the dock. Hard enough to get the folks on the sailboat on the other side of the dock to come out and check if I was ok. No damage, other than to my ego. I think that was the second hardest “landing” I’ve had in my boating career. Later they helped me move C-Traveler over to the inside of the dock ahead. More protection from the wind driven chop. It’ll be nice sleeping tonight without the constant rocking and rolling! Spent some time meeting and talking with the couple, and learned that she grew up in Kodiak, during the time I was stationed in the USCG there flying C-130’s. They have been here a couple days, waiting for the winds to die down as they are looking to go south to their home in Everett, Wa. They said there are at least five or six boats here waiting for the winds to die down, and it’s looking like tomorrow they’ll all be able to leave. Some going south, some going north. (There has been a gale warning south of here for a few days, and strong wind warning north of here.) These boats, sail and power, are larger than my boat. I must be crazy to be out on the water in these winds. But the C-Dorys can handle it. It’s just not the most comfortable ride! I’ve been here to Newcastle before, but didn’t have or take time to really visit the island. I walked around briefly this afternoon, checking in with the park office to pay my dock fee, and check out the local view. I didn’t realize they have a nice concession here with nice meals. I’ll check out the trails tomorrow. Also looks like Mike and Bill will be here tomorrow afternoon, so we’ll be back together for a few days before I head back to Blaine a week from tomorrow. (June 27th).Read more