A short break from the snow: Hua Hin, Thailand

We are taking a "sunny ways" break, spending two weeks in Thailand. Most of this trip we are in our favourite/usual beachside town of Hua Hin, an easy 3-hour bus from the Bangkok airport.

Good timing,  as after 46 days of skiing,  David finally came up limp with a minor (but painful)
case of bruised ribs,  keeping him off the mountain.  How?  He'll never tell,  but ask "Cannonball Shelley"  ;-)

Aren't you bored living up at Whistler?

View of the Black Tusk from Whistler Peak (December, 2015)

Nope!

It always surprises us, but it's a question we've been asked several times recently. Our answer is an emphatic "No!" With the snows of winter now well established here in Whistler, we have been (and are) more active than ever.

We typically go downhill skiing on Whistler and/or Blackcomb Mountains 3-4 times per week. Most times, we arrive back home in our condo (less than a 10 minute walk from the lifts, not including time for a stop at the liquor store...) at the end of the skiing day tired but happy.

Michelle heading down "Peak-to-Creek" (December, 2015)

At the Peak (January, 2016)

The other days of the week, we choose between

• long walks (usually on the plowed "Valley Trail" or the nearby golf course). We see lots of other people and their dogs (the dogs clearly love the snow), and often see wildlife 

Walk on the Whistler Golf Course (Dec 28, 2015)

View of Blackcomb Mt while walking on the Whistler Golf Course (Dec 28, 2015)

For some reason, bobcats seem more plentiful this Winter (today's sighting was the 3rd bobcat seen by Michelle) 

Bobcat seen during walk today on the Valley Trail (Jan 11, 2016)

 

Bobcat on Valley Trail (Jan 11, 2016)

• snowshoeing in the woods somewhere in the valley

1st snowshoe of the Winter (Green Lake Loop, December 2015)

Cheakamus River (Logger's Lake snowshoe, January 3, 2016)

Footbridge over Cheakamus River (Logger's Lake snowshoe, January 3, 2016)

Happy snowshoers...

Logger's Lake: our lunch goal on this snowshoe day (Jan 3, 2016)

Whiskey Jack (Canada Jay or Gray Jay) after our snacks at Logger's Lake

Whiskey Jack: Cute but persistent...

• X-country skiing (so far, on free tracks set nearby on the Valley Trail or on the golf course; in the next few weeks, we'll likely go to the extensive trail systems at Lost Lake Park or Whistler Olympic Park/Callaghan Valley -- both requiring trail passes).

New snow on the golf course (Dec, 2015)

1st XC ski of season (Whistler golf course, December 2015)

X-C skiing at Rainbow Park, Alta Lake and Blackcomb Mt. in background (Jan 10, 2016)

Of course, just sitting in our living room with a view to the ski hills and watching the snow come down, as we are doing right now, is also an enjoyable past time.

No, we are not bored living here at Whistler.

Seasons Greetings!

To all our friends, family, and blog readers (both regular and occasional), we wish you the best of the season and for the new year, wherever you may be.

2015: A very busy season for hurricanes in the Eastern Pacific and Mexico

According to NOAA, the 2015 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season was a record-setting season:

The eastern Pacific saw 18 named storms, including 13 hurricanes, nine of which became major.  This is the first year since reliable record keeping began in 1971 that the eastern Pacific saw nine major hurricanes. Hurricane Patricia was the strongest hurricane on record in the Western Hemisphere in terms of maximum wind speed at 200 miles per hour and lowest air pressure at 879 millibars. Hurricane Sandra, which formed at the tail end of the season, was the strongest hurricane in the eastern Pacific so late in the year, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 145 miles per hour.

The central Pacific shattered its records too, with 14 named storms, including eight hurricanes, five of which became major hurricanes, the most active season since reliable record-keeping began in 1971. Three major hurricanes (Ignacio, Kilo and Jimena) churned at the same time east of the International Dateline, the first time that was ever recorded.

2015 Tropical Storms/Hurricanes

Source: NOAA


Hurricanes approaching Baja California as early as early June (H. Blanca) and as late as late November (H. Sandra).

Something to think about when planning sailing to/from Baja California!

Cruising Desolation Sound in September

Entering Desolation Sound (Mt. Denman in centre)

Coming home from Mexico, we were hankering to get back up to Desolation Sound. Beautiful protected anchorages, warm swimming (ocean and lakes), wilderness areas and unpopulated islands. Nearby, also, are the "Discovery Islands" (Quadra & Cortes Islands). The problem, however, is that in July and August, Desolation Sound and nearby areas are teaming with boats (most from the USA) and anchorages are very crowded. In August 2012, we counted at least 80 boats anchored in Tenedos Bay.

Returning to Desolation this year, we decided to give September a try -- hopefully most boats will have gone home.

We had sailing friends from our days in the Sea of Cortez join us on this trip. Lance and Jennifer from SV Kylahi (currently in La Paz) drove from Edmonton to Okeover Inlet to join us on Pelagia for 7 days. Bob and Dee Dee sailed SV Sunshine -- which was shipped home on the MV Tiberborg together with Pelagia -- from Pender Island to join us in Desolation.

Our trip up the coast, started just before Labour Day, was a calm motor; no sailing but happily no northwest winds to bash against. It was immediately obvious that there was a constant parade of boats heading South. This was a good sign. Of course, part of the reason for their heading South was the cool, cloudy (and rainy) weather.

Dark clouds over Sechelt

Our first anchorage in Desolation Sound was back to Tenedos Bay. Much to our pleasure, there were only a couple boats anchored when we arrived. After initial failed attempts to anchor without stern tying, we ended up stern-tied with perhaps 6 boats. A far cry from 80 boats!

Leaving the Tenedos Bay NW anchorage: so few boats in September!

However, the water ocean temperature was only about 17 degrees C, a far cry from 21-23 degrees in August. No swimming here this time.

We then moved over to Isabel Bay, a tiny protected anchorage off of Lancelot Inlet. The 1-2 boat small northern nook is one of our favourite anchorages -- in July/August we have often turned away as it is occupied. This September, we were the only boat.

Pelagia in Isabel Bay

Isabel Bay

After Isabel Bay, we picked up Lance and Jennifer at the dock at Okeover Landing, then motored over to the outer part of Grace harbour, behind Jean island, where we rafted-up with Bob and Dee Dee on SV Sunshine. A great reunion of La Paz cruisers ensued.

La Paz Cruisers' party time on Pelagia (in Desolation Sound)

A highlight for us was an over-1-hour show by a rambunctious family of  five orcas, off of Mink Island in Desolation Sound:

Lance and Jennifer watching Orca show

We shut down the motor and drifted as the orcas swam past us close by

 
Subsequent anchorages in the Desolation Sound area where we overnighted:

Laura Cove: Perhaps 6 boats anchored. Good oysters and clams outside of cove in Homfray Channel.

Roscoe Bay: On our 2nd night here, there were only 3 boats. Black Lake was still warm for swimming -- all six of us went for a swim. Roscoe Bay itself was 19 degrees C -- David went for a swim (changing a shaft zinc). Four of us hiked up Mt. Llanover, requiring about 1.5 hours to reach the top (as usual).

At the top of Mt Llanover

The view from Mt. Llanover (looking southeast over Desolation Sound (Black Lake below)

Squirrel Cove: The most "crowded" anchorage (perhaps 20 boats). Some were swimming -- we found it too cold.

Small Islets (Lancelot/Theodosia Inlets): A new anchorage to us. Lots of odd current.

Grace Harbour (inner harbour): Headed here after dropping off Lance and Jennifer back at Okeover Landing. Usually far too crowded, but not in September!

Cortes Bay: Some love this bay; other hate it. We generally like it due to its position (a good place to arrive from/leave to the south) and to the hiking nearby. However, to our disappointment, the best anchoring area (south of the public dock) is now taken up by a permanently moored dock (with 2 boats) and other moorings. We anchored in the north end -- alone -- which worked out well as there were no winds and only a couple transient boats anchored.

We headed back south from Cortes Bay -- unfortunately getting caught in a southeasterly resulted in about 2 hours of bashing in Malaspina Strait (not too bad, could of been worse). A last night anchored off of Camp Artaban in Howe Sound -- an old favourite of ours -- before returning home to the Vancouver Rowing Club.

All-in-all, a great trip! We were away about 2 weeks, and had six nights of socializing, with 6 of us for dinners on Pelagia. Anchorages this September were either empty or uncrowded. Weather in Desolation Sound this September was variable, including clouds, a little rain, and several sunny days. Every night was dead calm (no wind and no waves -- such a change from the Sea of Cortez). Unfortunately, ocean temperatures were mostly too cold for swimming.

Desolation Sound's hot days and warm ocean temperatures in July/August can make for a great time. However, the huge crowds of the Summer are too much for us. Desolation Sound in September works better for the crew of Pelagia.

Pelagia in Desolation Sound, September 2015

A new (ski) season begins...

2015 opening day at Whistler: November 19th!

How November has changed for us!

Last year at this time, we were in Mazatlan, preparing to sail Pelagia across the Sea of Cortez back up to La Paz.  Two years ago (November, 2013), we were sailing Pelagia down the west coast of the Baja California peninsula.

This year, we are home living in Whistler, excited to spend this Winter skiing (with a sail or two or three in between). 

Ski season began early today.  We joined many other exuberant "opening day" skiers/riders and had a nice day skiing under sunny blue skies. 

Meanwhile, down in the valley not all bears were hibernating....

Nov 20: bear chowing down on Whistler Golf Course

A few weeks in Greece...

 Day 1: A very rainy day at the Acropolis

It's the in-between time at home in Whistler,  as we wait for snow.  And the weather is also less conducive for sailing (though we do plan to sail some this Winter).

So, we have taken off to Greece for a few weeks,  with plans to visit places in the Peloponnese as well as Crete.

We'll be posting photos to a "Greece 2015" album on our FLICKR account:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/sv-pelagia/99xjPv



UPDATE November 13, 2015: We're back home in Whistler. Trip to Greece was great (despite all the smokers and smoking).