Monday, July 23, 2007

Thoughts

Dad is fine tuning his thoughts (and he's got a lot of them right now!) and will post in about 2 weeks...

Saturday, July 21, 2007

From the Waggoner Magazine article



As I was chatting with Scott Davis, a SeaDoo, laden with baggage, came in. “Cruising the coast on a motorcycle,” Scott Davis suggested. A little later I met the motorcyclist. He was Jack Dekens, age 53, manager of a probation office in Vancouver. He had been out only 16 days and was returning home, having turned around at Skagway, Alaska. The SeaDoo had a 130-horsepower 4-stroke engine, carried 65 liters of gasoline in the main tank and another 50 liters in a second tank strapped to the back. Top speed was 50 mph; cruise in good conditions was 30 mph. Jack slept most nights in B&Bs, hotels and hostels he hustled up along the way. One night he slept under shelter at Bishop Bay Hot Springs. He has been offered sleeping space on boats, but so far hadn’t needed it.....Now we’ve met, much too briefly, Scot, Scott and Jack. All of them are intelligent, interesting and creative people, the kind who could entertain a dinner party far into the evening.

Last Leg of the Journey

Dad's summary below:

"Tooth Ferry"(Waggoner Magazine authors) left 2 breakfasts on my seat--thanks! Gods pocket--went to get something and came back to my wine being chilled and a glass(narrow for white) awaiting me. Had a room but only one left one being built-i fine with that as it was dry and warm and what a view. Bear at cape scott park--lots of black bears. I threw my sunglasses into water here just trying to get rid of something that felt a little irritating on my neck, oh well didn't need them much anyway--ie not much sun in winter harbour. Hot Springs cove has a new improved boardwalk and change rooms!! but same old hot springs--ah feels so good. No picture of the following but I put the jetski into keel grass that resulterd in overheating and no power... my own fault not watching--finally got to shore in harbour @ 2 mph. Hired a kid to help me turn boat on side and took out grass--just happy no real damage. Made it to port alberni visiting mother in law and brother in law and staying with brother and sisiter in law

Gift on seat from the Waggoneer authors





Mother-in-law and brother-in-law
Pushing a wheelbarrow of stuff from the harbour up to mother-in-laws place.

Anan Bay

No bear at the Anan Bay Bear sanctuary but saw grizzly in adjoining bay--lots of rain



Butedale area

Dad's commentary for this section...try to follow:)

Further south towards rivers inlet meeting my friends on the Kynok seiner--invited me on board( they waiting for opening next day) and before i could sit down breakfast which i didnt even ask for- so hospitable--spent couple of hours chatting/sharing--they from Bella Bella their boat was sooo clean could eat off floor--captain wished me calm waters in my journey which he enjoyed hearing--but he didn't offer me a job--going through some pretty narrow passages and usually making it/ rivers inlet stayed in old goose bay cannery which is now purchased and being rebuilt by 30 van firefighters who each have a share and will eventually start some sort of adventure resort--lots of bear wolf ... and 8 fishing lodges some with satellite connections for their clients in area--another Finton power production process--somerone was thinking--very interesting/nice chicken dinner with perogies made by my new friend Rick the caretaker of the cannery and local satellite installer/heading south--old canneries closing towns and now mills shutting down taking towns with them








Myers Chuck To Hotsprings

(Dad writing)
Spending time at bishop bay hot springs nice place and brought chocolate and tetra pack of wine --does it get better!! outhouse has no door







Friday, July 20, 2007

More pictures...no commentary for now

Dad sent me 10 million pictures so I'm just adding a few of them and he can write about them later. They are in no particular order as there are too many to keep track of.















Middle of the Trip Pics
















Shearwater















St. John's Fishing Lodge


Pictures from the first few days...

Dad at the boat launch in Horseshoe Bay where Fred dropped him off














At Doug's cabin on Nelson Island




























Lousy weather up to Campbell river but the Starbucks coffee made it well worth it.














Most useful items on the trip: goggles and dry suit.














Loving the lighthouses...um, they kind of look the same to me, are they?



























View for the first 12 days....good ole rain on the windshield alongside the trusty GPS

Home Sweet Home


Last night, we picked dad up from Stewart Farm at Crescent Beach. He was suntanned, smelly, and happy to be home. He had spent the previous night in Port Alberni visiting with family. He went 8 hours from Port Alberni all the way to Crescent Beach. He says his dream is to compete in a seadoo race around Vancouver Island as he feels one with his machine and thinks he would do really well. Problem is, no such race exists. Welcome home dad!

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Latest sighting

Dad spent the night in Port Alberni and last I heard he was in Victoria. He was going to stay at Victoria, Saltspring, or come home?! Apparently its pretty foggy....we will see! Then, we will have to post a bunch of his photos!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Hot Springs Cove


He made it from Port Hardy to Hot Springs Cove which was a very long day but he said the weather was good. He had another close encounter with a "jumping " something, maybe Orca, very close to him! He is roughing it at hot springs cove ( no comfy resort) about 1 hr north of Tofino. No rain today which was very good...lots of mosquitoes which is not so good. He will head towards Port Alberni tomorrow.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Port Hardy


This is the magazine of the guy that talked to/interviewed my dad.
Dad is back on Vancouver Island. Sounds like a good day. Ran into the guy from the magazine again so he gave him an update. Tonight he's staying at God's Pocket Resort...I know, really roughing it! He was talking to me as a family was pulling their 40
foot boat out of the water. They got a log in their prop so their motor was destroyed. The plan is to head out on the west side of Vancouver Island tomorrow.