Up at 0645 and drifted off at 0700 hrs. Had breakfast underway. Low cloud cover with patches of sun hitting the sides of the mountains. Surprisingly, there was no dew on the boat at all although it was very warm and it felt very humid. Amazing!

Drifting down that early in the morning I could hear all the various sounds of the forest. Birds, loons, woodpeckers (or lumberjacks getting up very early and in super shape because that chopping was mighty fast). I had planned to sail through as far as the Hardy Islands but then, the weather didn't look all that promising and that little bay on the port side, as one leaves the Head, looked mighty appealing. The double-ender 'Selema', a 36' cutter, was already anchored there so I dropped the hook and I expect to stay here at least till tomorrow and admire the head of the sound from another angle.

Looking toward the head, I see on starboard the other arm of the sound. A couple of houseboats are located there and an aquaculture plant at the very end. I talked briefly to the skipper of 'Selema'. He said that very few people dropped the hook here although the anchorage protects from most prominent winds! And he has been coming here for five years. Although he's got a heck of a nice boat himself he remarked on how nice Y-Knot looked under sail. He had seen me make the run for the head, two days ago. Boy, if only I had brought the staysail with me. To think that it was already in the boat, with the hauling line set up. Oh well, can't be everything!

By the looks of things, I might very well never make it to Desolation Sound on this trip. Everywhere I go, It's so nice, I just want to stay there, wherever 'there' happens to be. But I will return this summer, after I have taken Georgette to Louisa Inlet.

On the way to head of Hotham Sound
So dark... can't see the head's landing!

To think that just three miles from here, boats are packed like sardines in the Harmony Islands. The skipper of Selema told me that Desolation Sound was even more beautiful and, ... much warmer! It's hard to believe. I just went into the water up to the waist and it was warm. Sometimes, have the urge to draw the hook and just go, go, go. But why? I will make it yet to the Sound. And this summer too. But in the meantime, I just enjoy where I am. I hope to be able to take a photo of Y-Knot the way it is anchored just now. What a set-up. Already, I can see white caps running by, just at the point but here, all is calm. It is going to be a change from being anchored at the head and receiving those waves head on. But then, that's fun too. Well... sort of!

This morning I took a shower and dressed up all in whites. The skipper of Selema remarked that I looked just like a Navy officer. When I told him that these were my old 'whites' and that all I had to add for a complete uniform were the shoulder badges, he laughed. No wonder. Now, I went back to shorts and barefoot. Why dirty the whites? I am presently doing a wash while the pancakes are cooking. It's a hard life .... but somebody has to do It! I have been on the go now for fifteen days and yet, it looks like I had left just a few days ago. How time passes when one enjoys oneself.

As I am spread out against cushions inside the cabin and listening to Anita Kerr's tape, I get to wonder how a tape can sound just so so in certain circumstances and sound so beautiful in others. Maybe It's the sound of rain falling on the boom tent coupled with the swoosh of the flooding tide. I don't know but It's a nice feeling. The rain? Good. Taken the right way, rain can be beautiful. And in any case, Georgette needs the rain for her garden. I never thought I could ever spend so many days in one small area but I'm learning to be really retired. And the best place to learn is on the water.

2100 Unbelievable. There I was, thinking it was about six o'clock and, to my surprise, it was nine o'clock! Just to show that, on a boat, time does fly if one keeps busy and doesn't keep looking at his watch. Although it has been raining for most of the day, I don't find it depressing at all. An anchorage around here is as good as another and, it has to rain sometimes. Besides, there isn't a darn thing I can do about it so, why complain? The forecast on AM radio calls for more of the same for a while so, as it is my policy not to leave for a new anchorage when there is a chance to be caught by the rain while underway, it would appear that I will get to know this part of Hotham Sound quite well.

But I don't mind as it is quite a beautiful spot and safe to boot. The bed set-up, as I have It, doesn't prove to be all that comfortable after all. Perhaps it is because the cushions are too thin and not like those on the V-berth. But in any case, a boat should have a table where one can sit, read and look outside comfortably. So tomorrow, as it will rain anyway, I will re install the table and for tomorrow night, I will sleep on the quarter berth. if this works out, I will still have quick access to the VHF. Sometimes, I miss the comfort of the motorhome and wished it could float. Now... that would be comfort!