The Gulf Islands are Canadian, a part of British Columbia. They are comprised of the group of islands which run up the east side of Vancouver Island, which is the mass on the left side of the chart.
One of the big male orcas, identifiable by the tall dorsal fin, traveling down the border between Canada and the U.S. Stuart Island is in the background.
Our favourite anchorage in the lower Gulf Islands is Annette Inlet, on Prevost Island. The inner section is protected from any winds, but the outer part has far nicer views. Ganges, on Saltspring Island, is handy for supplies and ice cream.
We never tire of sitting on the boat watching the sun go down. Annette Inlet provides excellent vistas for this pastime.
Part of the fun is watching the different cooking techniques. This one is known as the "forest fire method".
The arbutus, known as a madrona in the US, is found only on the west coast. The tree loses its paperlike red bark instead of its leaves. The yellowish wood underneath is very smooth and hard.
Looking into the inside anchorage at Annette.
Saltspring Island, in the distance, from the outer anchorage in Annette Inlet. Having a dinghy with a small motor makes wider exploration possible.
Only an hour from our dock, Portland Island is a favourite lunch and overnight stop for many boaters from the Sidney region.
An extremely rare sight: one boat in Princess Bay. A warm Wednesday afternoon in October.
These large jellyfish were in evidence everywhere we went in the fall of 2002, the result of a population explosion which we had never encountered before. The largest is over a foot across.
Driftwood
A spectacular double rainbow seen from Princess Bay.
With the cabin heater going and a glass of Grand Marnier in hand, the passing rainstorm was interesting rather than dampening.
Telegraph Harbour, between Thetis and Kuper Islands, is safe in any winds. Two marinas, one of which has a pub, and ample mooring space with a sticky mud bottom, make this a favourite destination for many boats. A narrow dredged channel to Clam Bay allows boat traffic at high water, but is normally best explored by dinghy.
Telegraph Harbour on a late September dawn.
Waking up in the foggy foggy dew.
You can tell how protected Telegraph Harbour is by the way the tide creeps back up the rocks on shore.
Looking into Telegraph Harbour from the top of a mast at the C&C Rendezvous in 2002.
Montague Harbour is another safe refuge and offers shelter for those waiting for slack in Active Pass.
The mooring field at Montague Harbour, on Galliano Island. There can be hundreds of boats here on long summer weekends.
Looking towards the south end of Montague Harbour. Mooring buoys make it possible for many boats to share the space, considering the depth of forty to sixty feet throughout.
The entry into Montague Harbour. Parker Island is on the right.
Another excuse to sit on the boat and watch the sun go down.
Glassy calm off Galiano, looking west over Saltspring .
The Galiano cliffs on the west side have numerous small caves in which the cormorants set up home. This rookery holds thousands of birds. We try and stay upwind of seabird colonies whenever possible.
The Dall Porpoise is a close relative of the Orca. They are usually seen furrowing the sea ahead of a boat; this is one of a group of at least ten, which swam around and under our bow for miles. We come across porpoises frequently off Pender Island, in Boundary Channel. They will play with a co-operative boat for hours.
Winter Cove, on Saturna Island, is another popular spot in the summer. The world famous Saturna Lamb Barbecue is held here.
The tidal rips running in and out of Boat Pass keep thrill-seekers and spectators amused for hours.
Looking northeast to the mainland from Winter Cove on a calm October evening.
We ran into this pod off the south shore of Saturna Island, as they were making their way from Haro Strait around East Point. It's amazing how little a thirty-foot whale disturbs the water.
The young orcas were having a lot of fun chasing each other and jumping out of the water. We were privileged to be there when they felt so relaxed.
Huge colonies of Purple Stars live in the rich intertidal zone. This beach, on the Georgia Strait side of Saturna Island, is vibrant with colour.
Purple Stars
The San Juans
The Sunshine Coast
Princess Louisa Inlet
Desolation Sound
Totems
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