REFLECTIONS

Two Weeks In

I had spent the first ten days concentrating on two main items. First, turning a boat into a home, and second, exploring the area around me.

A home requires, and indeed expects, to have running water and working toilets at all times. This home doesn’t…maybe because it’s a boat! The last time I experienced similar problems was back in 1975-1976 when I worked in Cuba for a Canadian wholesale travel company, Unitours. We had taken over a number of large villas that at one point were owned by the Americans or wealthy Cubans prior to the revolution. Since that time they had been used only occasionally by Party workers and Cubans who had been awarded vacations for work well done. The average Cuban family was not as demanding as the average Canadian tourist, who wanted the toilet fixed and the water flowing, today, not manana por la manana (tomorrow morning). Some well traveled Canucks understood, many didn’t!

I am taking the approach that one day everything will work…let’s rephrase that. That one week everything had worked just fine. Today the water pump, which wouldn’t start, now won’t stop, unless I switch it off at the circuit breaker panel.What the heck, let’s look at what does work. The propane 2 burner stovetop is great, the toilet works, I have connection for T.V. and also an internet connection, and I am in a very friendly marina where everyone has been most helpful and welcoming.

Boaters are not hikers. I cannot find anyone to join me on a hike, and around here it is advisable to have company on the trails, as one could encounter a bear, and although they are harmless, that is not a guarantee! So, what to do? Well I put an ad in the local weekly paper called appropriately “The Local”. The ad, under the category of “Health & Fitness” read

“Hiking: Newly arrived in Pender Harbour. I am a keen hiker seeking companions to introduce me to the trails of P.H. & surrounding areas. Semi retired, fit, moderate to fast walker.
Peter 604-865-0552.”

It went in on Friday, will appear again next Friday and cost all of $9.45. It is now Sunday and no calls yet. This is fun, will the phone ring, will Spalding walk alone forever, will he meet some wonderful like minded people? Only time will tell.

After ten days I felt I should turn my home into a boat. Unhooking the cables for the internet, then the electric shore power is of course something one cannot forget! The flat screen TV is attached to the bulkhead, but not well, so I unhook that. The lap top is carefully placed on the cushions in the v berth The galley items that can roll around or the half full wine bottle, are tucked away in containers, and the fridge door latch is fastened. I then jump into the bilge, (the engine room), check the dip stick for oil, start up the bilge pump which takes out these nasty fumes that, should they exist, could blow myself to kingdom come, if I didn’t take the appropriate measures.

Once the fuel and water are checked, we are set to go. Helmut, an Alberta farmer via Germany, is a regular live-a-board at this marina and volunteered to take me out into the Harbour and beyond. The experience of steering this beast is, at this early stage, quite nerve racking, especially when confronted with narrow docking spaces, low water levels or swirling tides. The following day we tried again, practice making perfect and all that, and ended up, when attempting to dock, getting the anchor at my bow entangled with the sailing boat that I was trying to squeeze past. There I was, at a 90 degree angle to a boat I was trying to glide past on my starboard!! Normally under these situations, the whole marina and all their friends, are watching, but there wasn’t a soul around, including, thankfully, the guy who owns that pesky sailboat.

Once we docked, I quickly turned my boat into a home and felt more at ease.

Sechelt is a beautiful town about 30 kms away and has many large stores, specialty shops, a Royal Bank and a laundromat. Now this laundromat takes quarters only and charges $2 a load to wash and .25 cents for 5 minutes for a dryer. I went through 32 quarters! Needless to say, I treasure every quarter that crosses my palm.

I have the feeling that kayaking will be a large part of my life. On June 7 I have a 3 hour lesson in kayaking and am looking forward to it immensely. This part of the world is made for sea kayaks, what with the sheltered coves, the quiet bays and, if adventurous, the open sea. Mind you, the cost of a 15 foot sea kayak can be close to the cost of a used Buick. The roads around here are ideal for biking and I am also checking out the different types of bikes that would make sense for the area.

Just a thought about driving habits in B.C. versus Ontario. In Vancouver, when one sees a light turning red people slow down quickly and stop. This took some getting used to. Dangerous in fact, until I blended in. In Toronto, you accelerate and attempt to get through before it gets really red. Then you look into the rear view mirror and notice three others have come through behind you! I like the driving here; it’s more thoughtful of others.

The photographs cover; Second Choice at its berth at Mad. P. (Madeira Park, not this writer). Local wildlife (2). Ferry terminal at Earl’s Cove for ferry to Powell River. Forests as they actually are, without the pruning attention of Metro Toronto’s Park & Rec.Dept.

“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” Thoreau.

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