Campbell River Again

The picture, above, is of a heavily populated navigational marker at the edge of Wilby Shoals off of Cape Mudge on Quadra Island.   We were on the deep channel side of this marker, keeping it to our starboard (right).   There were humpback whales playing (or whatever they were doing) in the shoals.

This morning, we departed the wonderful Octopus Islands about 0945 (9:45am) when the tide was sufficiently high, that we could get out the south channel.   The south channel has a few twists, turns, rocks, and reefs.  We'd been in & out of this channel a number of years ago aboard our prior boat, Aurora.   But Aurora only drew 4.5'.    Now, with 6.5' of draft on Blue Redd, I had to be more careful.  Confession here - I'm a wimpy boater.   I don't take chances, and I leave a large margin for error.   I probably was never in any danger even at low tide, but why risk it?

I helped by pulling up the anchor while Karen was driving.  Once we were out of the south channel, I hopped onto a Teams meeting with a new prospective client.  Karen kept driving safely navigating us through Surge Narrows.

We passed this nice-looking house on Quadra Island in Hoskyn Channel.

We came down Hoskyn Channel and around Wilby Shoals (note my chartplotter displays showing the Wilby Shoals area).

Also note the fuzzy dice.   That is the family talisman that wards off evil rocks, shoals, and accidents.  This has been a long-standing tradition in my Kansas reared seafaring family for at least 2 generations...

As we rounded Wilby Shoals we motored past the Cape Mudge lighthouse.   For some reason, I am really thrilled with lighthouses (Hmmm).

About 1300 we approached Campbell River from the southeast.    The picture is from just outside the marina breakwater.   

Meghan, Taylor, Ross, James, and Pat, that might look familiar as you've all been here before in Aurora.

We happen to think very highly of Campbell River.  Just steps from the marina is a nice shopping area with a full marine store, grocery store, liquor store, a Canadian Tire store (like a Home Depot), some great restaurants, and lots of other stores.  Further into town and you've got all the stores, shopping, restaurants, etc. you could need.

Karen & I decided to try a new-to-us restaurant for lunch called Moxie's.   Probably a better dinner place, but we had absolutely excellent food and good service.   We shared three small plates: cashew chicken lettuce wraps, potstickers, and roasted tomato/whipped feta cheese crostini.   Scrumptious!

I might even be tempted to go back tomorrow and test my theory about their dinner suitability.

Well, that pretty much killed off our dinner appetite, so just a light arugula/sun-dried tomato salad and a 1/2 cup of red pepper/tomato soup.

Hasta Mañana.