McTavish Island July 10, 2016

When cruising you leave a simple life and take pleasures in small things. Today, for example, I took pleasure with both a new bar of soap and a new razor blade – both on the same day. Wow! And, even more. I ordered a new, really powerful bug zapper from Amazon. Apparently you don't even have to touch the bug - just get near it and they are really zapped. 

On the way to get ice I stopped by a red Nordic Tug called Gypsy II. I spoke to her owner, Wayne for quite a while. His boat is a 1992 tug. He said he had been thinking of getting a newer one. He lives in Nevada and is working on completing the Great Loop. But he has been in the North Channel for 4 years because he loves it so much. Why would I go anywhere else, he asks?

I then met a young couple on a 21’ Ranger Tug. They lived nearby and he was on a 2 week cruise. He had just installed solar panels and was working on a windlass installation. She was joining him for the weekend.

Marianna surprised us with two still warm cinnamon buns. We buttered them up and were ready to eat when Wayne and his girl friend, Diane, stopped over to see Annie. They said they really liked the changes made to the tug. He thought it was a 37’ at first. 

Marianna had bumped into Roy Eaton on the way to the bakery. He suggested two possible anchorages, McTavish and Matheson Islands. We decided to check out McTavish. It turned out to be quite nice, so we anchored for the night. We left Little Current at 10:20 and were anchored at noon, 11.9 miles away. Our speed was 7.1 knots. We have gone 450 NM to date. It is very pretty here - trees on one side and granite rocks on the other side of the anchorage. It is pleasantly warm too. We were the first two boats here, but three others have joined us.

We did a kayak ride once anchored, while Peter and Marianna explored in their dingy. Bud Light Lime-a-ritas and a bag of popcorn on the upper deck were a perfect reward for 30 minutes of paddling. We finally properly strung our solar Christmas lights and look forward to seeing how they look tonight. Kerry took the time to write an email to the VYC Trustees about some contentious issues occurring while we are gone.  We have good cell phone service here, so Kerry has been catching up on the news with friends and family.

Marianna has invited us to Brillig for salmon patties at 7:00 and Peter has offered to pick us up. I am preparing two cigars in a makeshift humidor for us to smoke tonight. Our time with the Orros is nearing its end. We will miss cruising with them.

It's 5 bells and I think it is time for another kayak ride, although it will be solo because Kerry is snoozing. Not sure of our plans for tomorrow.

Our Uber dingy driver Peter picked us up right on time. Marianna had prepared a fabulous meal for us. Organic gourmet salmon patties with choice of 3 sauces, cabbage salad, corn, freshly baked cornbread and chocolate chip cookies, and more. It was delicious. Liquors and cigars finished off a delightful evening.

View from Peter's boat at dinner

View of sunset from Brillig

Peter raced us home as the usual mosquito attack said dinner was over. We could hear them buzzing around outside as we fell asleep. No one other than Peter had an anchor light on, which is pretty unusual. I suspect that the skipper's have made the connection between lights and Mayflies.