Now that's what I'm talkin about!
AirCooled: Ten days and prepositioning.... now we are getting somewhere. Start at Anacortes, that is for certain. I did not realize you were planning for summer, good idea. With ten days yo can easily spend 4 days on each side of the border with two left over for travel. I have already covered my experience with the San Juans so now bit about the Gulf Islands. First of all you are crossing customs there and back, they are particular about what foods and drinks you are carrying, be sure you know what you cannot take across. Most of the Gulf Islands have limited water supply, do not expect any to be readily available. Sydney or any other Vancouver Island ports can supply plenty of water. Saltspring Island is an exception, they have water, they also have Ganges Harbour for re-provisioning, a very short walk from the dinghy dock is Thrifty's Market where you can fulfill most of your needs. They have two marinas to choose from or you can anchor but marinas come with showers and laundry facilities. Saltspring marina at the harbour end has a nice pub/restaurant, and there is plenty to see and do once you arrive at the dinghy dock, stores, shops, restaurants, galleries, to name a few. Prevost Island has plenty of anchorages and Otter Bay on Pender Island has a nice pool and facilities. Poets Cove is mostly for the rich and famous but they provide free acess to their pool and showers if you are slipped there, they have a nice reastaurant too. They will give you water to drink but none to carry away. Montague on Galiano is a very nice spot with a marine park for the children and good anchorage. If you happen to cruise the channel on the west side of Saltspring, Maple bay on Vancouver Island has the cleanest facilities around. It is likely that 4 days will keep you in the Southern portion of the islands so the furthest North you may go would be Thetis Island, Telegraph Harbour has two marinas and anchorage. There is plenty further north but that is getting a bit ambitious, you may be better off maintaining your cruise in the southern portion. Since you will likely be comming from the San Juan Channel, keep your cruising within the islands, no sense in going east of them, you will end up in the Georgia Strait where the water is bigger and rougher with more commercial traffic. Your two main ports of call for provisioning are Ganges in Canada and Friday Harbour in USA. The walk to Kings Market (Friday) for groceries is a bit ambitious so be sure you have a backpack to carry your stores with. Friday Harbour is also populated with shops, galleries, stores and sightseeing. Forgot, one more stop; Princess Margaret Marine Park, Portland Island, nice stop for the children to get there ya ya's out.
It stays light till 9:00 pm that time of yeay so you will have plenty of daylight for cruisin around. one more thing dont leave your big sails at home as we are usually prayin for wind around here that time of year... Fly your new SBO Bergee and dont be suprized if one of us dosent raft up to you and share a cold one..
