Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Since I last wrote, we've had some lovely days and some spent at anchor waiting out rain and wind.

Our time is getting short and more rain is predicted so we spent just one night anchored at South Benjamin. What a beautiful place. We went for a short hike over a spit of pink rock surrounded by water of such clarity that I took picture after picture trying to capture the view of rocks and greenery below the surface. I would love to have lingered there. We realize, now, that a month is too little time to even scratch the surface of this cruising mecca - especially this August when we have given up so many days to wait out weather.

The sun shone the day we left S. Benjamin so we elected to go north to Spanish River to get a pump out and to top up our diesel and water (while the going was good). The cruise took us into completely different surroundings where  the surrounding mainland and islands rose higher above the water with craggy granite showing through a thick cover of cedar and pine. We passed through Little Detroit – a narrow rock cut with underwater hazards where ranges indicate the path through. As one does with such cuts, we called ahead to signal that we were entering the cut: no room here for more than one boat and no visibility to see one approaching. By early afternoon, we had doubled back and traveled to an anchorage at Hotham Island. There are two cottages on the bay and the owners in one of them sometimes invite boaters to come to their deck for drinks and appetizers ("boat rules" - bring your own) – so before dinner we spent an enjoyable time getting to know the hosting couple, their neighbours and the people on the two other boats anchored in the bay.

Anchored at Hotham Island

Yesterday we left Hotham intending to go to Croker. It was raining lightly but began to pour seriously so rather than pick our way into an unknown spot while visibility was poor, we turned into the more familiar South Benjamin. So there we sat  while it poured rain all day - sometimes not so much and sometimes falling "in sheets". The wind rose and fell  while our boat danced one way and then another. We were comfortable though and busy enough reading, planning, cooking and doing chores. Today we've made the move to Croker - only 5 miles away and again the landscape has changed. Every spot seems to offer up something new. The rain has let up for now and we've invited the couple from the sailboat anchored next to us for drinks before dinner. 

 

Misty This Morning at Croker Island