Montague Harbour to Telegraph Harbour

The weather finally remembered we were cruising the Pacific Northwest.

After an almost suspicious run of blue skies and sunshine, the clouds returned this morning as we pointed OceanFlyer north toward Telegraph Harbour. Not threatening weather by any means, just that familiar soft grey ceiling that somehow makes the Gulf Islands feel even more like themselves.

It has been a very long time since our last visit to Telegraph Harbour Marina, and arriving felt a bit like reconnecting with an old cruising friend. For us, it serves as the perfect staging point for tomorrow’s early run through Dodd Narrows at slack water — one of those passages that tends to shape the entire next day’s schedule.

Telegraph Harbour itself remains every bit as charming as we remembered. The marina has that classic Gulf Islands feel: relaxed, welcoming, and built around the simple pleasures of cruising life. Shoreside there is a small store, a coffee snack shop, light fare, and plenty of inviting spots to simply sit and watch the harbor activity drift by. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and families will appreciate the playground areas scattered about the property.

Ownership changed hands a few years ago, but the investment in improvements is easy to see. This season they are upgrading dock power service and overhauling the marina WiFi — two projects every cruiser can appreciate.

One of the hidden pleasures here is just a short walk from the marina. About three-tenths of a mile up the road sits the seasonal Howling Wolf Farm Market. Small, self-serve, and unmistakably local, it offers fresh vegetables, baked goods both sweet and savory, and the sort of treats that somehow never make it back to the boat without being sampled along the way.

Tomorrow: Dodd Narrows. Which means tonight we set the alarms for an early departure.