Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Woke up to water slapping alongside the boat, which means we have some wind going on. It was not too bad first thing in the morning, just 10-12mph. We called over to the marina around 8:30am to see if we could get into our slips early, but no luck until they called us back around 9:45 and said our slips were open. The winds were steadily increasing and now gusting up closer to 20mph. As we motored out into Discovery Passage, the waves started stacking up as we had current against wind, and boy did they stack up. They were 4’-6’ broadside and close together as we were trying to maneuver into the marina entrance. Normally we’d pause outside the marina to pull in the whaler and tie alongside but this time there was just no way. I braced myself on the transom with my lifejacket on and leaning into the staple railing for stability as John backed down on the engine so I could pull the whaler in closer, just 15’ behind the boat. Our plan was to get inside the harbor then tie it alongside. It was quite stressful! I was getting rocked on the transom but managed to get it tied off and get back in the cockpit. Once inside the marina we were still getting blown everywhere as now it was gusting over 20mph. There was not enough time to pull the whaler alongside so John just had me unhook and get in it and he proceeded to the dock with dock staff waiting to help with lines. Luckily we were assigned a linear dock space getting blown on the dock instead of off, but even so John said it was all his bow thruster could do to keep him off the dock enough so as not to burst the fenders. But as usual he aced his landing, albeit a bit of a hard landing thanks to the wind, but here we sit safely tied down – so thankful. Abells also made it into their space, we are all secure. Whew. Wind is gusting up to 30mph now as we sit here, our blow up fenders getting quite the workout. The boys set out on their errands of Home Depot and the Marine Store, OH, and the all so critical liquor store run! Restocking. Connie did laundry and I walked up to A&W and brought back lunch for us while we waited for her laundry to dry. Afterwards we walked downtown for pedicures as our nails were atrociously overdue. The salon’s name was Hang’s Nail Salon and both of us had one of the best pedi’s we’ve ever had so if you’re in Campbell River – go there! Dinner tonight was at Carve, a wonderful steakhouse that we’ve already visited once this season, well worth it. Service was a little slow tonight so we had a very late dinner which meant no time for cards and off to bed. As I was lying in bed and John was fast asleep a wicked windstorm once again rose up and shook the boat. Was very glad to be tied to a dock.
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