Up Johnstone Strait

With gales and near-gales blowing down Johnstone Strait almosy daily, we've had to pick our passage carefully. Essentially, leaving early in the morning, then getting off the Strait before the winds pick up in the afternoon. (For example, motoring up Johnstone Strait yesterday, we only had 10-15 knot Westerlies against us, with no seas. However, in the early afternoon, soon after we pulled into Chancellor Channel, then Wellbore, and anchored in Forward Harbour, Johnstone Strait winds picked up to 24 knots, gusting to 29.)

We are currently 3 nm from our exit of Johnstone Strait at Havannah Channel. Winds and seas are low. Looks like another successful Johnstone Strait passage.

Update: we got lucky with the current in Chatham Channel, and made it easily to Potts Lagoon for the night.

Finally, away for our Summer cruise

Just in time for the Summer solstice, we have finally completed our prepping of Pelagia, and have left our dock in Vancouver.

The PLAN is to cruise for 2 months, hopefully/possibly making it North of Cape Caution this year, spending time on the Central Coast of British Columbia.  (Of course, as experience shows, sailing "plans" are all written in the sand at low tide.... 😉)

Currently, we are in Pender Harbour. 

Weather resources for British Coumbia: post updated

The 2016 post providing information for marine- and land-based weather resources for British Columbia, with an emphasis on getting text-based band-limited forecasts, has been updated (broken/changed links fixed.)

See:
https://sailing-pelagia.blogspot.ca/2016/05/marine-weather-forecasts-for-british.html

Three weeks in Germany...

Heidelberg Castle and City

With temperatures warming up and skiing winding down, we have taken off for 3 weeks of biking, hiking, touring and socializing in Germany.

A "bike & boat" trip on the Rhine and Neckar rivers, and hiking with old friends in the Pfalz region then the Mosel. All major wine-producing regions... oh dear!

We have posted photos from this 2017 trip in Germany here on FLICKR

We're still here... skiing

Michelle at Whistler Peak, Easter Sunday: heading down Whistler Bowl

Blog went silent for months as all we've done is basically ski... well, mostly.

It has been a great season snow-wise here at Whistler. Tons of snow since opening day in November. As photo above shows (from yesterday, Easter Sunday), there is still is lots of snow left (indeed, more than there was in January/February).

For David, it has been a somewhat frustrating ski season: torn calf on Day 2 of season (3.5 weeks recovery), 8 days off for bad cold (both of us), and in February another 2 weeks off for a back and shoulder injury from a "hard" fall. In between injuries, much more "cautious" skiing. Lots of aches and pain... (must be getting old 😒). So, not quite as "gung ho" of a season as we would have liked.

Not to say we haven't had some great days skiing! 🎿🎿

On top of Spanky's Ladder (March 20, 2017)

Looking up at Ruby Bowl (Spanky's at top)

Still, we are still skiing and had a great day on the slopes in the sun on Easter Sunday.

Whistler Mountain closes April 23rd; Blackcomb Mountain stays open until May 22nd. There will be no shortage of snow.

Meanwhile, we are making plans for sailing this Summer, as well as a biking-boat trip in Germany in May.

Free 2017 Waggoner Cruising Guide (from publisher)

The Waggoner Cruising Guide is a very useful guide for cruising in Washington and British Columbia. 

Amazingly,  the publishers offer a free download.  (Many,  I expect,  would then purchase the paper copy after seeing the guide's usefulness.) 

Publisher's link for free download:
http://waggonerguide.com/free-download-of-the-2017-waggoner-cruising-guide/

Thank you to the publishers!

Season's Greetings!

Warm weather and beaches are so over-rated...!

Best wishes for the Holidays.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.

Happy New Year 2017.