Wednesday, July 27, 2016  

We were all ready for an early start to the day but as Chris and Justin started the engine the hose for the fresh water system sprung another leak.  Justin shut everything down, had a short pow-wow and decided to continue with Plan A – anchor in Montegue Harbour which is a Provincial Marine Park.  We filled every container with shore water and cast off by 8:30.  

This time Chris backed the boat away from the dock for the first time since there was not room to go forward.

While underway J decided he needed a shave

just in time for a family portrait.

More beautiful scenery

We arrived in Montegue Harbour by 11:30 and were lucky enough to get one of the few remaining mooring bouys (out of 35 available). 

Another 1st.  Great teamwork.

Once secure we loaded up the dingy

and headed for shore – our destination:  The Hummingbird Pub, of course.  We read about a shuttle bus to the pub but once ashore we learned it doesn’t start running until 5pm.  After talking to the park ranger who said it was about a 30 minute walk up a very steep hill we set off on foot. 

Here’s a great view of the harbour.

Along the way we saw a great idea for what to do with some of those extra bikes sitting around at home.

After more than an hour of walking up and over the steep hill we arrived

and had a great lunch and ok beer.  Then we killed a couple of hours waiting for the bus ride back.

Inside the pub

Outside the pub

Nearby market

where they sold this sacred water.

More waiting for the bus fun.

Finally, as we boarded the bus

the driver instructed everyone to grab an instrument.  As we settled in

on came the blaring 60’s and 70’s rock and roll music and we shook, rattled and rolled our noise makers.  Next stop more people got on so the bus was full of people standing everywhere.  The driver announced “No standing on the bus” so everyone squeezed into seats with everyone else.  

Off we went flying around curves and down the hill with the driver who looked like Marty from Back to the Future with his neon gloves and blue glowing drumstick playing the instruments above him.

We were back to the harbour in 15 minutes.

Now it’s time for a swim.

No, not in the mud Huckleberry!

We hiked across the spit to the “sandy” beach.

and took a quick dip.  Refreshed after our swim.

And some intense rock stacking.

Back on the boat it was time for gin and tonics all around

while Chris made his famous Japanese salad

and the Berry pooped out.

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As the sun was setting around 9ish

a couple of kayaks paddled around our boat admiring it.  We couldn’t see the people because of the sunsetting right in our eyes.  But once they paddled on around to the other side Justin muttered “Hey he looks like a Mud Bay Juggler.  I think that’s Doug…HEY DOUG!”

In the double kayak were Doug and Marcela, the parents of Amiel, Justin’s good from Options elementary school in Olympia, WA.  Is that crazy or what?  With them were Ruby and Kurt

who had just run into Doug and Marcela a few hours before when both were headed for the same mooring buoy.  Ruby taught school at Options when Justin was there.  This was a happenstance upon another happenstance.  We invited them aboard and had a great reunion reminiscing about the good ol’ days and talking old boats and engines and Buckhorn and cookbooks.

What an amazing day.