Back to the Land of the Maple Leaf

Monday, May 20, 2024

After a pleasant stay at the Prevost Harbor dock, we motored for about an hour on a lovely, sunny morning to the Canada Customs dock and offices in Bedwell Harbour. We moored safely and Walt walked up to the offices with everyone’s passports and Braesail’s official documents in hand. Admission to Canada involves using a phone app to reach a call center to obtain a “clearance number,” but the call center was not adequately staffed and after a long wait, Walt was JUST about to be assigned the necessary number when he was cut off and had to begin the process all over again!

The Canadian Customs dock in Bedwell Harbour

Ken, Lisa, and I had to remain on board Braesail while Walt worked through the entry process, so we enjoyed watching a couple with a toddler and a dog as they played on the shore near the water, and smiled at two families of Canada geese who were teaching their fluffy goslings to paddle through the little ripples near the dock, wade ashore, and return to the water.

Can you spot the geese and goslings at the water’s edge on the right?

The Customs staff in the office is not authorized to grant admission to the country, but can only board and inspect a vessel, so it took about 90 minutes to gain entry into Canada using the phone app. Braesail was not boarded or inspected, and so, once Walt had his clearance number, we left for the town of Ganges on Saltspring Island at about 12:30 pm without further delay.

After about two hours of motoring over “following seas” with the wind blowing directly over the stern and a favorable current speeding our travel, we arrived at the docks in Ganges’ busy harbor. Mooring in a stiffening breeze that was shoving the boat away from the dock was a challenge, but a helpful boater already at the dock, Ken, and I managed the lines while Walt ran the engine and bow thrusters, and we were soon tied safely to the dock. We spent the afternoon napping, reading, watching float planes taking off and landing, and being entertained by the comings and goings of all manner of watercraft and by a heron who sauntered down the dock looking for a snack of some sort.

After a great chicken dinner, we played the card game “Hearts,” munched popcorn, and generally had a grand time together. Tuesday’s weather was predicted to be windy and rainy, so we planned for a possibly uncomfortable start to the following day’s journey to the city of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island and hoped for a sound sleep.