I’ve been an island girl most of my life, but spending 24 hours on board a Tanzer 7.5, sailing and motoring from Schooner Cover Marina in Nanoose Bay to the Thetis Island Marina and Pub with stops at Gabriola Island’s Silva Bay Marina has deepened my appreciation and awe of this beautiful place we call home.
There’s Lots to Experience in a Quick Escape
Pulling into Telegraph Harbour just after 7pm on a Sunday evening, meeting Tucker the Dock Dog who catches your line and helps you tie up, and then wandering up to the pub, hoping to catch the kitchen before it closed was only the beginning of what was never meant to be more than a quick escape. This “quick escape” while only 24 hours in length, was a complete recharge and reset that opened a window to a new perspective of life on Vancouver Island.
When the Journey is this Enjoyable, the Destination becomes a Bonus
Getting to Thetis Island was a trial and error tacking process that took us through Dodd’s Narrow’s, past Round Island and into Telegraph Bay.
I realized that perhaps more acutely than any other mode of transportation, sailing is all about the journey. The bonus is that in the beautiful Pacific North West, the destination only enhances that journey.
The food and service at the Thetis Island Pub was top shelf; quality, home-cooked Canadian pub fare, served with competence and a friendly smile.
Island Hopping from a New Perspective, and Unexpected Taste Test
The next morning, after a change in plans that took deadlines out of the day’s equation, we motored passed Yellow Point Lodge, through Ruxton Pass, into Degnan Bay, through Gabriola Pass, running at maximum flood tide towards Silva Bay at the East end of Gabriola Island.
Stopping at Silva Bay for a quick look-see, we wandered in to the Liquor Store and got way more than just a couple of cold ciders. Mirko Morhac of Tatra Sprits was hired to renovate the Liquor Store late last year and was more than happy to pour some Tatra Spirit samples to expand our knowledge of summer bevvies. Tea-based liqueur is something I’ll be trying again in the future for sure.
Off into the Sunset
With an extra little glow enhancing our sun-kissed skin, we motored out of Silva Bay, past Tugboat, Rowboat, Acorn and Saturna Islands, into the Salish Sea. Once past Entrance Island, with a little wind at our backs, the sails went up and out came the pizza we had ordered as take-out at Thetis Island Marina and Pub the night before.
With all this in less than 24 hours, and lots of conversation of where we could go if only we had more time, places like Salt Spring Island, Sidney by the Sea or Victoria to name only a few, I think this island girl’s horizons have been expanded by more than a few dozen shore lines.
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