Pacific Odyssey - Leg 7

We are tied to the dock in North Cove on Thetis Island. Chris Wickam, a
former bosun on the Swift, now the Managing Director of Pioneer Pacific
Camp, invited the Grace to tie up at the camp dock in order to do rigging
and bright-work before our entry into Victoria Inner Harbor.  Both the
´Pacific Swift´ and the ´Pacific Grace´ visit the camp regularly during the
spring and fall season with school groups.  The camp is situated on a
beautiful piece of property right on the water at the north end of Thetis
Island; there is a large field for playing wide games on.  We feel fortunat=
e
to be here; now we need the weather to warm up so we can do some painting
and oiling.   We will have our leg end dinner here as well as our talent
show. Chris has allowed us to use the small boats as well as the shower
facilities; we are being well looked after.  Today has been a good day; the
hours seem to fly by.  We had breakfast an hour later, 0900 hrs.  I
overheard Skipper and Jordan discussing that they find they sleep easier an=
d
deeper now that the huge sense of responsibility is mostly over.   We left
just before noon heading out of Bedwell Harbor, towards the southeast corne=
r
of Saturna Island.  The weather has been cold and wet today and this evenin=
g
the wind picked up. We have put up the tarps over the hold hatch and the
wheel box trying to keep some of the damp away from down below.  =B3Where is
the warm weather?=B2 we keep asking each other.  We went ashore on Saturna,
enjoying the lushness and greenness of the vegetation, and the familiar
smells of the Gulf Islands.  Further north we stopped near to where the
´Robertson II´ rests. We lowered the zodiac and took groups to her to have =
a
close look.  It isn´t very nice to look at.  Skipper and I were married on
the Robertson and spent the first year of our married life living on her.
The ´Robbie´ is where we were both watch officers together, running the
coastal program.   Seeing her stirred up many good memories.  Skipper peere=
d
down the hatches, looking for anything worth retrieving, but everything
worth anything seems to have been removed.  I´m surprised how derelict she
looks; I´m amazed that 10 months ago she could sail, or at least move from
point A to point B. We left the wreck site at about 1530hrs and motored for
the rest of the day to Thetis.   Only those on watch were on deck, everyone
else was below, playing cards, reading, sleeping, studying, chatting etc.
In the after cabin Jose, Sarah B, and I started a game of Scrabble while th=
e
Anderson boys played Yahtzee.  I also finally finished the hat I´ve been
working on this leg.  Katie made a tremendous supper of baked chicken
breasts, brown rice, salad, and broccoli with cheese sauce.  Maddie made
oatmeal cookies, passing them around after dishes.  Several Intermediates
had a re-test after supper.   Chris and a friend of his were on the dock to
welcome us.  Skipper and the crew enjoyed chatting with him and catching up
on some news; we will see Chris and his family again tomorrow.  The crew
gathered to prepare for tomorrow´s workday, while trainees hung out in the
hold for a bit.  Many retired to their bed.   Tomorrow night Caley´s mom ha=
s
invited the entire boat crew of 37 to her cabin on the island, for a
barbecue.  We are looking forward to it; it is a very generous invitation.
Pray for sunshine, I´m sure you want it just as much as we do.  Until
tomorrow, good-night, Bonice.