Blind Channel Resort

Blind Channel never fails to delight. Karen and I often find ourselves fondly reminiscing about our numerous visits. Whenever we are in the vicinity it's practically mandatory for us to make a stop. With the second and third generation of the Richter family at the helm, the family enterprise continues to impress.

A View of Blind channel docks with the resort in the backgroud, fuel dock on the left

As is the case with so many places these days, staffing remains a significant challenge. During our recent visit, they were still short of about half of their staff, but we were informed that they were due to arrive the following week. The only noticeable impact was the closure of the outdoor lunch kitchen. The the dock staff, although relatively new, displayed great enthusiasm and politeness. They were receptive to advice on improving their communication with arriving boaters, and we appreciated their willingness to learn.

The Blind Channel docks possess a unique characteristic—they are nestled in a back eddy off the main channel. As you approach the docks, the current initially guides you in one direction, only to switch direction to the opposite flow within a boat's length of the docks. It's best to time your arrival around slack tide, but it's always prudent to inquire about the current direction when requesting your slip assignment. Remember, the Bull Kelp is the telltale sign of the direction of the current.

The dock staff will help with your lines often assisted by fellow boaters who appreciate the challenge as they too have been surprised by the unique, but manageable docking experience. It’s not difficult but be prepared and willing to back off and try again if you don’t like the picture. The third time is always a charm as you develop a feel for the conditions.

At zero Tide there is lots of room for boats with less draft

One of the main highlights at Blind Channel is the opportunity to enjoy wilderness fine dining at the Cedar Post Inn. If lingcod happens to grace the menu, I highly recommend it. Don't miss indulging in dessert, crafted by their dedicated pastry chef. I've adopted a personal rule of ordering items I don't typically prepare on the boat—it's an easy justification to savor someone else's cooking!

THe Cedar Post Inn is not to be missed

Lincod Served over mushroom risotto

Lastly, in July and August it's crucial to make reservations for both moorage and the restaurant, as Blind Channel boasts a loyal following and fills up rapidly. Secure your spot ahead of time to ensure you don't miss out.

Handfield Bay

Happy Fourth of July! What a festive week it has been, starting with Canada Day on the 1st and now July 4th. However, due to our wilderness location and the extended drought conditions, there will be no fireworks to mark the holidays.

Today, our destination is Cameleon Harbour off Nadales Channel, with the option of tucking into Handfield Bay if space is available. available. And guess what? There's plenty of room! Surprisingly, the bay is empty. It's been quite a while since we last visited Handfield Bay in 2005 when we chartered the M/V Best of Times, a 4788 Bayliner.

Cameleon Harbour lower right, Handfield Bay Center Top

Handfield Bay is a charming, secluded bay surrounded by shallow areas near the shore. Typically, you'll find about 5 or 6 boats with a shore-tie, as we're alone, we decided to drop our Ultra 45kg — 99 lbs — anchor in the center, giving us ample swinging room.

oceanflyer enjoying handfield bay

View of handfield bay Chart showing where we anchored

Once we settled into our spot, a small single-handed sailboat anchored to our northeast. From my observations, I believe there's space for another anchored boat or even 4 stern-tie vessels. So, while Handfield Bay is small, it does offer room for the careful and creative mariner.

Yesterday, boats anchored in Cameleon Bay complained about the northwest winds and the fetch. However, even if the winds pick up this afternoon, we will be sheltered from most of the gusts and all of the fetch.

In fact, we enjoyed a steady breeze of 5-10 knots, which kept the temperatures on the boat reasonably comfortable as the air outside rose to around 80F. However, the sky is hazy with smoke from forest fires to the east.

Our plan for the afternoon was to explore Cameleon Harbour by dinghy to look at the two sailboats anchored at the head. Then we intended to proceed around the corner to Thurston’s Bay Anchorage Lagoon to scout it as a potential anchorage for the future.

The ride down to the head of Cameleon Bay was pleasant, but as we turned around to head back, the winds and fetch increased a lot. It became a slow ride against the weather, and we abandoned our plan to visit Anchorage Lagoon.

While the generator was running for meal preparation, we decided to test the portable backup air conditioner in the aft berth. Within an hour, it lowered the temperature from 77 to 67 degrees. That took the edge off. When we went to bed, we opened the aft hatch and let the now cool evening air in, ensuring a restful night.

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

Texada Boat Club, Sturt Bay

This little marina remains a favorite of ours. When going north we often do not want to stop at the overally popular Pender Habour. The Texada Boat Club transiant docks are first come first serve, but we have always found a spot. It’s one dollar [CAD] per foot. The manager comes by in the afternoon to collet the moorage fee in cash only.

transiant Docks are on the outer tee

BusY haulout opposite the TExada Boat Club

If the docks are full, the anchorage in the bay is fine but subject to swells in SE winds.

Great views out of the bay to the East, But also the source of fetch

From previous visits we can recommend a walk to the little town of Van Anda. You’ll find a very nice grocery, an interesting historial museum, the Texada Museum and Archive featuring the history of Quadra Island and a delightful lunch spot called Mary Mary Café .

Sunset over the anchorage

Ladysmith

When traveling north into Canada, Nanaimo is a mandatory stop for provisioning. The town has grown significantly and now offers a wide range of big box stores, grocery stores, and even a couple of chandleries.

During our layovers, we discovered a few special stores that are worth a visit. McLean's Specialty Foods is a gem, with an unmatched variety of imported cheese and other unique food items. We're particularly fond of their bacon. Additionally, we found an outstanding butcher shop called Nesvog Meats. With a simple email order and a designated pickup date, we can quickly stock up on protein for three months in just a 5-minute stop.

However, our fondness for the Port of Nanaimo Marina has diminished over the years. Their commitment to service is lacking, and the staff seems disinterested in anything nautical, resembling municipal workers.

Upon sharing our dissatisfaction with the Port of Nanaimo with friends, they suggested we try Ladysmith instead. Specifically, they recommended The Ladysmith Community Marina run by the Ladysmith Maritime Society (LMS). You can feel like a local by hailing them using the LMS moniker.

Not only is the staff at Ladysmith Community Marina courteous, professional, and friendly, but every boater we encountered on the docks was warm and welcoming. In fact, when I inquired as to the best taxi service to get to the airport, a staff member offered to give us a ride. When was the last time that happened to you? Karen and I agreed that this marina might be one of the friendliest we've had the pleasure of visiting. The marina is conveniently located just 10 minutes away from Nanaimo Airport, where we rented a car for provisioning duties in Nanaimo proper.

As a bonus, we stumbled upon a remarkable restaurant serving Spanish tapas cuisine. We received a recommendation from a fellow boater while doing laundry in Sidney. It seems the laundry network is an invaluable resource in boating.

If you want to feel Like a local, take a photo of the specials before the hostess recemmends you do so

Maya Norte serves memorable food and should be a top priority on your next visit to Ladysmith. You can find more information about them at https://mayanorte.com/.

Corn, Chorizo and Chedder Fritters are highly recommended

However, despite our happiness with Ladysmith Community Marina, there is a dark cloud hanging over it. We learned that the town is demanding that the Ladysmith Maritime Society, a non-profit corporation, vacate and remove all structures, including docks, buildings, and pilings by the end of 2023. This is despite LMS having a contract in place until 2029. In our opinion, LMS has done a magnificent job managing the docks for 37 years. We urge you to follow this story and offer help to prevent this overreach by the Town of Ladysmith and the Stz'uminus First Nation's Coast Salish Development Corporation.

Sunrise at the LAdysmith Docks