Final Post

LOOKING BACK.

As a final entry to this trip log I wanted to summarize the trip and add some of my own reflections on the trip and the process.

THE FACTS, in no particular order:

>During our 48 days “at sea” we traveled 892 nautical miles; original plan estimated 900 to 950 depending onside trips.

>We had 13 layover days ( 10 for weather, 2 for engine repairs, 1 to visit my nieces). This gives a daily travel average of about 25 miles/day

>We motored for about 66% of the time. Unexpectedly the best sailing days were on the inside passage on the way up the island and when we entered Juan de Fuca straight on the way back. To be fair, on the west coast, the exploring is done in the sounds and inlets and there are not many days actually off-shore where there would be higher probability of wind and sailing.( unless you want to make it a short “let’s get back” type of trip.

>The “all in “ cost ( food, fuel, cafes,moorage) was an average of $20/day per person. This increased on the last leg because there was more moorage and only 2 crew. ( plus more eating out as we hit civilization!).

>Our garbage management scheme of using a “compost” container for wet garbage and ensuring we stored recyclables ( cans/jars/paper)meant we only had about 3 bags of actual garbage for the whole trip.

MISC:
I obviously did a good job in choosing a crew; we had no major disagreements or upsets. I am amazed that anyone could put up with me in a closed space of a sailboat for so long. Thanks Ralph and Stewart for being so understanding and tolerant.

For another trip, I would want to increase the amount of and variety of baking; it makes for good eating and helps with moral, especially when it is wet and cold.

The combination of having no fixed schedule other than a rough outline ensured that we were under no pressure to make questionable decisions regarding travel and the weather. The real pressure is in deciding on what to see and what to leave for “next time”; there is more to see than can be done on one trip unless of course it is limitless.
I was encouraged by our talks with Dave from “Die Flynn”; he has circumnavigated over 20 times and always finds something new to see.

Being cognizant of water usage and using saltwater for dishes, teeth, some cooking, etc helped to minimize our fresh water consumption considerably. We would have been able to go for at least 3 weeks with both tanks without refilling if necessary. Loosing ½ our fresh water at Bull Harbour certainly gave us the needed motivation to be careful with water!

REFLECTIONS:

My expectations of what I would see and experience were quite different in some respects from what happened. I thought we would be on/near sandy beaches a la Long Beach a lot of the time. Obviously, they exist but not anywhere where you can park your boat; you have to hike or dinghy to get to them. I did not know how rugged the landscape is; both the seacoast and the mountains and inlets.

I found most people to be very friendly and a bit philosophic about the changing conditions ( forestry and fishing down, towns were shrinking but trying to reinvent themselves, etc. No one seemed bitter or accusatory but had an attitude that they would get over it and move on. This is certainly more true north of Tofino.

The surroundings, the wildness and the people all seemed to contribute to getting into a space where I no longer needed to get a daily update on the latest crisis; it doesn’t mean that you don’t care, but it can be a habit – the need to catch the news 3 or 4 times a day on the radio and reading the Globe and Mail.

It is also hard to explain how you can get into a space where you can pass a day at anchor without a whole lot to tally up on a TODO list. Maybe we should promote an extended cruise as therapy and have it covered by Medicare!!

I expect to do this trip or at least portions of it another time. The areas north of Seymour narrows on the east side are more than worthy of further exploration. I would not hesitate to revisit the west coast via Juan de Fuca; although that could be an "uphill" ride, it would certainly be possilbe especially by carefully watching the weather for a good window.