Trip #13 Vancouver, BC - Ganges, BC

Length of Trip: 12 days

Nautical Miles Traveled: 230

Hours of Cruising: 15 hours

Longest Cruising Day:  Vancouver, BC - Poet’s Cove, BC 60 nm 

Pleasant Surprise: Ganges, BC

Biggest Disappointment: Poets Cove - My father told me it was one of his favorites, we thought so-so

Favorite Destination(s):  Victoria BC, Rosario WA, Ganges BC

Favorite Activity(ies):  Hanging out on the boat puzzling, gaming, relaxing. Tea at Empress

Favorite Meal:  Il Terazzo, Victoria, BC

It was a “first light” departure so we could make the 50 mile trip back to the boathouse in Port Moody, MC.  Weather and seas were perfect although we did notice some interesting currents and eddies in some of the narrow passages between the islands.  We arrive at 11:00 and safely tucked the Innamorata back in her Canadian home until we return in a little less than a month for our final trip of the year.  We were off the the airport an hour later to catch our 2:30 flight back to San Jose.  

Our day began with breakfast as ”Chef Jeff” christened the galley by prepared eggs and toast as our first official meal on board.  Then it was off to Ganges, BC, a 40 mile run from Rosario which also required a stop back in Poets Cove to clear customs back into Canada.  I didn’t have big expectations for Ganges but it turned out to be a real gem of a town.  Because it was Saturday, there was a Farmers Market on going so the girls did some shopping in town, while I began to cross the last view projects off my list.  Dinner was in a small house aptly named House Piccolo.

Departure day for our guests began with kayaking around Ganges Harbor and around the small islands which line the entry.  We had just enough time for lunch at the Treehouse restaurant before it was time for Don, Debbie, Chloe, Emily and Jeff and Leann to hop in a cab for the short ride to the ferry that would take them all back to Vancouver in time for work the next day.  No guests made for a very quiet evening for Timi and me the highlight of which was dinner at what is considered the best restaurant on Ganges, Hastings House.

Perfect weather again greeted us for our short 11 mile cruise to Rosario, WA located on Orcas Island.  Rosario Resort & Spa immediately became one of our favorite destinations with a quant historic resort with a lovely pool area and several restaurants.  I have had no pool time and given the lovely weather that was long overdue so I (along with most of our group) spent the entire afternoon lounging at the pool and enjoying the poolside beverage service.  Upon our return Timi, Chloe and Emily set off to hike to Cascade Lake a few miles away from the harbor for some nature time and a swim.  Upon their return the cocktail hour was upon us prior to walking to one of the the resort’s two restaurants, The Mansion.  Following dinner the group worked to complete a puzzle of national park images that Debbie and purchased in Friday Harbor.

Place blog text Our 30 mile cruise to Friday Harbor, WA, on San Juan Island marked our entry into the United States which required my first customs clearance.  While I thought I understood all the requirements as I checked in, the fact I had an Italian national required special paperwork.  Fortunately Paolo had everything needed or the customs agent reminded me as captain I am responsible for these matters not my crew or guests.  

We also decided given the large protected harbor it would be fun to lower and try out the Williams jet tender and so I could half the group out on two separate cruises around the harbor.  Almost 40 mpg on a small 10’ RIB provided plenty of thrills for the passengers.  Before we knew it, dinner was calling and we enjoyed appetizers at the Downrigger restaurant located at the foot of the marina while waiting for our table at the Cash & Schooner a British pub style restaurant across the street.  

We had a leisurely morning and after lunch and some shopping in town, we decided to “Meanwhile Jeff had found a cool antique store and purchased several items requiring him to pack and take to a nearby shipper on his own.  That occupied his afternoon and I “unpack” the portable electric bikes or GoCycles I had purchased so Chloe and Emily could ride to a nearby beach for a swim.  Dinner that night was at the Back Door restaurant where we ate al fresco at one of our favorite dining spots so far in the trip.

Again lovely weather greeted us for the next leg of our journey, a 30 mile cruise from Poet’s Cove to Victoria, BC.  We tied up at a fantastic slip at the Causeway Floats with a beautiful view of the Empress Hotel and the Legislative Assembly as Victoria is the capital of British Columbia.  Chloe and her friend Emily had arrived in Victoria the night before so they were at the boat within minutes of our arrival.  Jeff and Leann were also scheduled to arrive today but not until the late afternoon and so we decided to take a guided bike tour of the historic city.  The bike ride was less a historic tour and more a full-fledged two hour workout and so we arrive back at the boat ready for some R&R.  Jeff and Leann arrived just before we needed to head out for dinner via a short walk to Il Terrazzo, a wonder brick Italian restaurant in the historic downtown.  

We had a busy day scheduled in Victoria, with our first activity being the must see Buchart Gardens, a former limestone quarry turned floral garden which receives over 1,000,000 visitors each year.  The gardens are spectacular even for those who are big into flowers and because many of the gardens and lakes are sunken into the landscape due to the former quarry operations, there are spectacular vistas where one can take in large sections of the gardens.  After two and half hours at the gardens, it was back to the boat so the ladies could change for afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel, a popular tradition where daily over 400 guests enjoy tea, tea sandwiches, scones and preserves in the lobby of the historic Empress Hotel constructed initially in 1908.  Our activity filled day concluded with dinner at the 10 Acre Kitchen, just down the street from the Empress and the boat.

The weather was perfect for our first extended cruise on the Innamorata running 60 miles from Vancouver to Poet’s Cove Resort & Spa on Pender Island,  BC, one of the Salt Spring Islands located in Canada.  Poet’s Cove is a picturesque, resort featuring a small spa and two small pools.  We had only one real choice for food at the destination which was Syrens Restaurant where we would have both lunch and dinner that day.   Timi and Debbie spent a few hours during the afternoon Kayaking followed by a spa treatment, where John and Don did a few boat projects followed by some lounge time on the flybridge.  

Our 24 year old Italian deckhand Paulo and I made the short 25 minute cruise from the boathouse in Port Moody, BC to Coal Harbour in Vancouver, BC arriving about 10:30.  Timi was suppose to arrive about that time to meet us, however, was denied boarding in San Jose because she arrived just an hour ahead of departure.  While I had done the same thing just the day before and got through, she was not so lucky.  Consequently she was forced to wait for the next flight and arrived at the boat around 2:30.  

We spent the afternoon getting everything organized (or sorted as the Canadian like to say) in anticipation of our guest’s arrive tomorrow.  We were tired by the end of the day and thus an early dinner and bedtime was in order.  Thus rather than venture into the big city, we opted for dinner at Cardero’s a very nice restaurant with a large deck overlooking the marina and located right at the end of the dock.

The next day, Saturday, while we left bit later than scheduled, Timi and I began our day with a lovely walk through Stanley Park, a 1,000 acre public park bordering downtown Vancouver and is almost entirely surrounded by waters of Vancouver Harbour and English Bay.  Don & Debbie Lombardi actually arrived at the boat prior to our return but Paulo was able to greet them and they were nearly unpacked by the time we arrived.  

We decided to spend the afternoon at Granville Island a shopping and entertainment district located on peninsula which was once an industrial manufacturing area.  Within the district is a large public market where we enjoyed lunch at one of the vendors who sold only pot pies - one of my favorites.  I was expecting more from the island and we generally found it crowded and touristy - a Fisherman’s Wharf-like experience.  

After about two and a half hours we could take no more so spent the balance of the afternoon shopping, obtaining various needed supplies items from Bed Bath & Beyond, Stevenson Marine and Whole Foods.  After cocktails on the flybridge it was off to dinner at the Italian Kitchen.