Garrison Bay to Montague Harbour

The weather continues to steal the show on this trip. I hesitate to keep leading with it, but when every day delivers blue skies, calm seas, and barely a whisper of wind, it becomes impossible to ignore. We’ve honestly lost track of how many consecutive days we’ve enjoyed this stretch of postcard-perfect Pacific Northwest cruising weather.

the unmistakable turn point lighthouse

Today’s run from Garrison Bay to Montague Harbour was about as straightforward as passages come. Point the bow north, settle into an easy rhythm, and prepare for the usual ritual of clearing Canadian Customs.

Or so we thought.

Just after crossing the U.S./Canadian border and reaching for the phone to begin the customs check-in process, a United States Coast Guard patrol vessel eased alongside and hailed OceanFlyer.

Their intention was to board us, so we throttled back to a slow cruise and held our course while they came alongside.

As it turned out, this wasn’t exactly a first meeting.

Back in February we had been boarded by this very same crew — including one Canadian Customs officer — so what could have felt tense instead carried the tone of an unexpected reunion on the water. The officers were friendly, professional, and efficient, and before long they completed their inspection and returned to their vessel with a wave and a few smiles.

With that bit of excitement behind us, we finally completed our Canadian customs check-in by phone and continued north toward Montague.

The remainder of the passage delivered the usual organized chaos around Active Pass and Navy Channel. Traffic was particularly lively today. At one point we counted five ferries in view simultaneously, all threading through the channels with their usual sense of urgency. Add in a large Seaspan transporter and a scattering of sailboats, and there was plenty of entertainment as we worked our way into the lower reaches of Trincomali Channel.

Arriving at Montague Harbour, we found things still comfortably in shoulder-season mode. Mooring balls were occupied mostly by sailboats, along with a handful of fellow early-season cruisers clearly enjoying this rare run of settled weather as much as we were.

An early dinner at the Crane & Robin was, as always, one of those simple cruising pleasures that never disappoints. Afterwards, a stop into the little store revealed shelves freshly stocked with an impressively deep selection of actual books — paper books, no less.

tastey tacos at the Crane & Robbin

the corn chowder was the surprise hit

Perhaps this island has quietly become a refuge for the last generation of true page-turners.

pre-season sunset in Montague Harbour

we never get tired of the beauty of pacific northwest cruising