Rebecca Spit to Gorge Harbour

An hour after leaving Rebecca Spit, we found ourselves back at Gorge Harbour.

We stopped here early in the season on our way north, when the docks were nearly empty and the resort had yet to shift into its summer rhythm. This time, we arrived to a very different Gorge Harbour. The docks were busy, the resort's summer activities were in full swing, and we were going to get a chance to experience another side of a place we thought we already knew.

busy docks at gorge harbour

the anchorage in gorge harbour is also busy

The dock staff greeted us with plenty of smiles and enthusiasm, along with just a touch of uncertainty about exactly where they wanted to put OceanFlyer. The marina was expected to be full that night, and every foot of dock space mattered. There was some measuring, reconsidering and repositioning before the final verdict was delivered and our lines went ashore.

shoreside view of the docks

gorge is a large, well protected natural harbour with a dramatic entrance

Once settled, we turned our attention to what Gorge Harbour Resort had to offer. Beyond the practical attractions of the store, fresh water and fuel, the resort has a fireside patio overlooking the marina, with live entertainment scheduled throughout the summer. After weeks when our evening entertainment often consisted of watching the light fade over an empty anchorage, this promised a pleasant change of pace.

The next morning brought the local farmers and craft market, held on the resort grounds. At least, "farmers and craft market" was how it had been advertised. As it turned out, the farmers apparently had other plans, leaving the craftspeople to carry the day.

there is even more activity on the shore side of the gorge harbour marina and rv park

The more memorable event came later, when members of the local Indigenous community gathered to share traditional songs and stories. Their presentation quickly drew a crowd from both the marina and the campground and gave us an unexpected opportunity to learn a little more about the people and traditions of Cortes Island.

By evening, the fireside patio was again alive with music. Rather than join the crowd, we claimed our own private balcony on the flybridge. Dinner came from the resort's food truck, while the music drifted across the marina and over to us.

Not a bad way to spend an evening.

Gorge Harbour delivered on quite a few fronts, but perhaps the most interesting part of this return visit was how different it felt from the place we had stopped earlier in the summer. Same harbour, same docks, but an entirely different experience.

It is also becoming clear that our cruising is beginning to change. The quiet anchorages and wilderness stops that defined much of our summer are gradually giving way to busier harbours, marinas, restaurants and communities as we work our way south.

It is a different style of cruising, but not necessarily a lesser one.

Sometimes the trick is simply recognizing when the scenery has changed, adjusting your perspective, and enjoying what the next harbour has to offer.