Nanaimo

On July 8, we sailed north to Nanaimo, passing through Dodd Narrows on the way. This was our first experience with a narrow passage where tidal currents are a factor. We had to time our passage for slack water because the speed of the current through the narrow gap makes it impassible at other times. We also had to use the radio to coordinate our passage with other boats. The Narrows are narrow enough that boats need to go through one at a time. Two tug boats hauling a huge log boom waited on the north side until we passed.

Nanaimo is a beautiful city, with a good protected harbor.

We discovered we had arrived just in time for the annual Dragon Boat festival.


In Nanaimo we parted ways with Elliot, who had to return to California. He took a shuttle bus down to Sidney where we left our car, and then headed south on his own. Claudia and I stocked up on provisions and got ready to head north again, across the Strait of Georgia.