The weather has been so dismal in the Pacific Northwest. Who would think that the longest day of the year has already past us by. Where is summer? We have delayed our trip to Ruxton everyday for the past 10 days. It finally looks like we'll be able to make the sojourn this Wednesday.
Last weekend (June 22nd), we left for Vancouver Island via ferry to take a load of lumber over on the boat trailer to Nanaimo. The lumber will eventually end up on Ruxton. It's 2 X 12 X 20 feet long. It was a great score (only $200) from Steve Willgoose but now the dilema is getting it to Ruxton. It is on the boat trailer in a friend of Glenn's driveway. Glenn is then going to help Owen launch the wood and tow it to the Island.
That's us on the lower deck of BC Ferries.
A mere $285 later, the lumber is in Nanaimo
and the truck back home.
and the truck back home.
The lumber excursion is getting even more complex. We now are going over on Wednesday. I will take the truck over on the 8:30 am from Langdale. A mere 40 minute crossing. I will then get in the line up for the Nanaimo ferry to Departure Bay (Nanaimo, Vancouver Island). It departs at 10:40 am and with luck, I'll be on it. Remember it's summer time and the ferry waits can be outrageous. This ferry crossing is 1 hour and 40 minutes. Time for a nice leisurely breakfast - ymmm ferry food. If there is a sailing wait, I will get the next one at 12:50. I will be toting my art journal and a good book. The ferry gets in at 2:30 pm. Next: I will pick up Owen at Nanaimo Harbour where he will have walked on the ferry from Gabriola.
Owen: He will leave the house at approximately the same time I do. 7 am (maybe even earlier). The weather man says it's suppose to be mostly sunny with light winds. He will leave Gibsons Marina in the Double Eagle (17') and cross the Gulf. Once he gets to Ruxton, he will use Glenn's floating dock, and Glenn's dinghy, row to the Island and pick up our dinghy and oars. He will then proceed to empty the boat that is now carrying the plumbing (pump, little tank, hoses, etc.) and some of our gear for the season. Bedding, clothes, new lights, signs, pillows, chair, and more... At this point, let's hope he will have sat down, had some lunch and a beverage - a wee rest. Now Owen will have to get some things together and down to the beach to prepare for the arrival of the wood later in the day and at the right tide (high) at 7:41 pm. Owen will then jump in the boat (did I say jump?) and head over to Degnan on Gabriola where he will moor the boat and make his way across the Island to the ferry. Here is when the hitch hiking will take place. OMG - is this doable? Hopefully he will be on the 1:50 pm or maybe even the 3:10 ferry. The trip is only 25 minutes. Maybe only 20.
This is where I pick him up. And there is more.
We then drive to Mike and Mary's in Nanoose Bay. I get dropped off and Owen and Mike go to meet Glenn at the boat trailer that is hauling the wood. They will drive it to Boat Harbour (south of Nanaimo) and the three of them will 'launch' the bundle of wood and tow it to Ruxton with Glenn's boat (bigger and more powerful than ours). This is all happening about 6 pm. Once at Ruxton, they will tie the lumber to a tree at Hawaii Beach, the tide will go out and it will sit for the night. Hopefully they will be done and home before dark. Home means Mike and Mary's for the night. All going well, Owen and I (and maybe Mike) will leave for Ruxton in the morning. Low tide is at 12:15 pm, so 2'ish should be a perfect time to get the lumber up off the beach. We can then take our time getting it to up to Mystic Manor.
I didn't mention the truck will be carrying the 'new to us' propane refrigerator and stove, provisions and many more other odds and sods. They will have to be loaded into the boat at Degnan Bay and we won't be able to get them out of the boat until the tide comes up again in the evening.
A full couple of days - I'm exhausted just writing about it and so when I speak of exhausted, I speak of Owen.
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