Rebecca Spit

Canada Day! We celebrated in style with a favorite breakfast indulgence: Bob's "Better-than-Box-Pancakes" topped with juicy blueberries.

It's amazing to think that this recipe has been a staple since our early days cruising the Pacific Northwest back in 2003. I found it in Cooks Illustrated and have never felt the need to tweak it. It continues to bring us delight every time.

Last night, the winds picked up, but our spot in the southwest corner of Drew Harbour has excellent holding so we rested well. This morning, we were greeted by picture-perfect weather, just in time for the Canadian holiday.

Rebecca Spit, Notice the unusual three-masted sailing vessel

Perfect Weather to celebrate Canada Day

I had promised Karen a trip to the beach and a leisurely walk along Rebecca Spit, and we certainly made good on that promise. As we strolled along, we couldn't help but pause and take in the breathtaking scenery. The light winds created ripples on the water, while the sky was dotted with scattered clouds that added a touch of drama. The temperature was just right, and occasionally, we caught sight of passing vessels including the ferry from Whaletown to Heriot Bay. All in all, a delightful morning.

The ferry from Whaletown approaching Rebecca spit

Nice trails along rebecca spit

Conversation among the boaters on the beach centered around the winds that had come up the previous night and the forecast is calling for even stronger gusts today. It seems that the bay's emptiness on Canada Day can be attributed to the fresh Northwest winds.

After our beach excursion, during which we indulged in some rock collecting (for Karen to paint in the future), we made our way to Heriot Bay docks, half-expecting the Inn to be closed for the holiday. To our pleasant surprise, it was open, and we seized the opportunity to enjoy a delicious lunch on the deck. If you have a chance to try to fish and chips or cod tacos, do it!

Heriot Bay MArina Docks. The government docks are in the background

Welcome sign on the docks

Picturesque Heriot Inn

a mug of dark matter and good pub food at the heriot bay inn

Sitting on the Heriot Inn’s covered porch, I faced away from the water, but Karen kept a watchful eye as the wind intensified. In no time, it reached a steady 15 knots with occasional gusts up to 30 knots. Hmm. The dinghy ride back could be interesting. The choppy waves grew steeper and more frequent as we navigated back to OceanFlyer. We both ended up drenched in salty seawater before we could adjust our course downwind and set a course straight for "home." Still, we were laughing all the way.

The wind is up

As we approached OceanFlyer, she held her ground, bridle tugging against the fresh breeze. Once back on board, Karen and I freshened ourselves and the dinghy up with a well-deserved freshwater bath before settling in for the evening. We spent the time reviewing weather forecasts and studying the currents, preparing for tomorrow's adventure to the Octopus Islands.

Rebecca spit sunset