Predictably (at least according to L) I was ready to weigh anchor after R Shack started their windlass. Arcturus had already left, followed by Ocean Grace and Intrepid. I was sure we shouldn’t be behind R Shack. Dave says Margaret takes forever to get ready and if they were ready, then well… What does that say about us? I gently applied delicate coaxing and persuasion to Dr. SlowPoke and started preparing. Luckily wily laV was ready for my need to not be left behind and sped up enough to pull out just behind R Shack Island. Phew!

Morning started at ten to eight and no 8am check in. So I made coffee and sat soaking in the morning. There was some confusion (on my part) whether we were going to Pierre’s Bay or Echo Bay as the stated destination was Pierre’s at Echo Bay. Turns out Pierre moved to Echo Bay in 2008 and the book was just out of date. Problem solved.

L played follow the leader as we wove the twisted path of islands and rocks while I looked for morning dolphin. No such luck, but the morning seal was pretty friendly and generous with her smiles. I’ll take that and be happy.

Single Guy caught up with us in Raven Magic’s tender and stated his intention to head for Echo Bay and fuel. We said we’d keep an eye out and give him a tow if he ran out short of the destination. About 4 minutes short of Echo Bay, Bill (Single Guy) tried hailing Raven Magic with his handheld but got no response. I offered to relay and hailed Raven Magic and told them their dinghy was safe and sound in a Echo Bay. They responded by saying that their itinerary had changed and they would pick Bill up in three days. Just a little cruiser humour.

Right around Echo Bay, R Shack peeled off to the marina and we, espying the rising 6-knot winds, carried on to the passage in anticipation of some good sailing.

So the winds died.

We motored to Pierre’s old bay, did a few turns around and morosely putted back, sails between our legs. We grabbed a starboard tie, bow in on finger #3. Another fine dock at an empty slip. Pierre himself met us to take our lines and we were arrived.

[flexiblemap src=”http://macblaze.ca/kmz/Day17.kml”]
2h06m 9.0nm

Up at the store we registered our boat and chatted up the girl there. She had a slight French accent so we talked québécois for a bit and then headed back to the boat.

There is a famous museum and museum keeper here — Billy Proctor’s Museum — that is a must see. There is one trail from the docks that is fairly steep or a gentler one over by the public dock if you care to dinghy over. So we readied SD and I rowed across the small bay. We tied up to the old, worn public dock and hiked past the now-closed elementary school in the woods. Through a small patch of dense forest and up a small hill and we were there.

Dave and Margaret were there; Billy, unfortunately, was not. Back at 2, the sign said. Still we browsed through his museum and small gift shop. It was similar to the one in Sointula, although Billy was a bottle aficionado and had an amazing collection of old bottles. We found out later that Billy was more than half the fun, so I’m sorry we missed him.

Lots of old books, pictures and artifacts from the long history of the Broughtons, even a whale tooth or two. We chatted with D & M for a bit longer and headed back.

Back at the boat I headed off for a shower and L killed some time relaxing. Then I made meatballs for tonight’s appies and settled in at R Shack Island with Dave (and eventually Larry) for some ‘man’ time. We didn’t just talk about sailing, but it was close. I think we hit on the topic of girls too for a moment.

I scooted off just before 5 to fry up my meatballs only to find Leslie in my galley. Gallant and reasonable, I allowed her to stay and finish cooking, and tried not to hover anxiously. Twenty or thirty minutes later we stuck toothpicks in the meatballs and headed up to the ‘party’ room. Only John was there from Simply Irresistible although Sandy, his wife, showed up momentarily. Gradually the rest of the crews showed up and soon it was a party.

Richard from Raven Magic announced he wanted to string up Single Guy for absconding with his dinghy and dereliction of duty, but Laurence pronounced that if the Yellow Eye Bill caught was tasty enough the sentence would be commuted. 30 minutes later when Andrea showed up with the tasty fish, Bill was safe.

Leslie is now playing Echo Beach about 100 feet away from the beach in Echo Bay. It makes her happy. And you know … Echo Beach. Far away, in time.

We visited for a bit then abandoned the social for the coziness of our boat. L headed for a shower and I did dishes. Then I caught up on some writing and watched the rain fall on a now-crowded harbour.

Maybe a little hot chocolate and Chips Ahoy before bed…