Phoenix Hunter: And we're off!

We have been busy getting the boat to more to how we want it. New inverter/charger, new batteries and a few other items to upgrade the boat. Plus we replaced the old blue chairs and bought Jim a new Ikea chair. Lots of work with cleaning - replacing windows etc. Jim has been working hard. The boat went up "on the hard" for two weeks in May.

We went to Calgary for a visit with Jessica and Tim and the kids after the boat went back in the water and then spent two weeks cleaning, packing and finishing up small tasks. We were having trouble getting the newly installed AIS to transmit properly so that held us up quite a bit.

I have not posted much on this blog. Although I have done a little bit of a journal on my iPad of previous trips we have done since we bought the boat.

We are now in to our third summer with Phoenix Hunter. This summer we plan to head north of Cape Caution and up to the Central Coast - Bella Bella and Shearwater area.

So I thought I would blog along the way. Add a photo or two and record our adventure of our first "big trip".

We left home port - June 11th ( Trites Marina in Steveston ) with a Gale warning forecast for South of Nanimo. We decided to deploy the Stabilizing poles in case the water was a bit sloppy. And it was - so we were happy to have the poles down and the "fish" in the water.

We made good time to Pender Harbour on the Sunshine Coast. We are bringing our cat - Lilly who is 11 months old and new to boating, and our dog Jenny who has been along on this journey since we got the boat. This year Jenny got a major fur cut - shave - and it has given her a new zest for life.

As you can see - Lilly is not sure she is impressed with this whole adventure yet!

We have been in Pender Harbour for a 3 nights. Weather and a small mechanical issue with the skiff has kept us here longer than we had planned. But that's boating for you! Gave Lilly a chance to recover from a long day at sea and some sea sickness.

Tomorrow morning we will head out for 2 nights in Prideaux Haven. We like that anchorage and haven't been there for a couple of years so it will be nice to go back.