Somehow we are already two weeks into our adventure and the time has been going slowly and quickly all at once. After having some friends visit us, our hearts were full, feeling the support and enthusiasm people have for us. It is still hard to turn away and leave, but we know we’ll be back with a new energy for life at home.
The transition to life on the boat full-time has been slow and somewhat strange. It still feels like a holiday and that we should be turning around soon and plugging back into real life. I don’t think I feel like we’re actually “gone” yet. I haven’t quite shaken off the school and work routine yet and sunken into full-time travel mode. It’s a strange place to be in, sort of a foot on two sides of a bridge. Matt has been out of the work scene for a little longer than me, as he quit taking on new work in April, to prep the boat for this trip (it was a more-than-full-time job, but not for “the man”). All this to say that things are good, but this still doesn’t feel like real life. The boat quickly felt like home, but the transition of pace is just weird.
We have a bit of a routine, day-to-day, and we are still working on it. We’ve let the kids feel the summer-vacation vibe and not impose any school work or stuff like that. Just some chores and trying to find the right balance of tech time before their eyeballs pop out of their heads. Most days start with some kind of breakfast, which Digory is usually in charge of washing up. Then we might get underway, and Matt will get the watermaker started (to run for an hour or two or three), I might run a load of laundry and usually try and get some dough going for bread later in the day. Kids can usually veg for a bit, or do other chores like vacuuming, making beds, sweeping out the cockpit etc. It’s just like life at home, but your home just moves and you have a different view most days. I know once “school” starts, we might have a bit more of a strict routine, with more work to get done, but we can roll like this for a while still.
We’ve been enjoying Desolation Sound, and all the little bays it offers as diverse anchorages. We’ve been spoiled with good weather and glassy calm overnights at anchor, but it’s a really nice way to start. We had a few good catch up days in Roscoe Bay, where Matt got some jobs done, and we all could swim in the refreshing lake nearby (highlight was paddling through the anchorage with four of us on the paddle board, trying to keep it above water. We were a sight to behold). Then on to Refuge Cove for a wee bit of civilization (and more coffee cream!) and a really nice spot to stand on solid ground.
After we explored Teakerne arm and the beautiful waterfall there, and a lovely hike up and over the falls to a stunning and oh-so-refreshing lake. The water temperature has been above 24 degrees. I am not sure we’ll see that again until Mexico and the magic was not lost on us. We have been in and out of the water most days.
The rain and cooler weather didn’t come until after we all had a great little visit with some friends from town, with a son and daughter that line up with our kids, and they rafted up for the night in Tenedos bay for the last hot day in Unwin lake.
As usual, a change in weather brings on a change in everyone’s mood, but it was a needed change. We dug out a sweater each and found some socks and remembered how to close the hatches at night, but the rain washes away the salty build up and truly refreshes things. It’s been a nice change (except the water is only 17 degrees now!), and we’re ready to cool down a little (but I really hope that wasn’t it for summer weather!).After leaving Walsh Cove for Frances Bay (how neat is that!), we are charting our own course towards Vancouver island, just slow and meandering with no big goals in mind, just playing it safe and easy.
