Mill Bay - Day Six

I woke at 7:30 and rowed to shore for a much-needed facilities visit (we try never to use the port-a-potty on the boat so that we never have to clean it). After a breakfast of homemade granola with walnuts and dried cranberries, we set off at 9 for a new port, Mill Bay, on Vancouver Island.

On the way to Portland Island, our engine had been slightly damaged when I steered through the wake of a large vessel. Nothing too serious (broken impeller, causing the usually robust stream of water emanating from the engine to slow to a trickle), but anchoring was more traumatic than at Spencer Spit because the engine kept dying out at slow speeds. In the morning, the water stream still looked a bit anemic, but flowed enough to get us to our destination.

While the forecast called for 15-25 knots of wind, we got nothing. Still a pleasant journey though as we read The Long Way and drank orange tea, making us feel oh-so-civilized. Shortly before docking, we snacked on smoked salmon, dill chevre and crackers to sate our hunger until lunch.

The marina at Mill Bay is new (after a fire a few years back) and well cared for and Trent was able to make repairs - luckily he had brought a spare impeller along for just such an eventuality. I got a bee in my bonnet about our now sweaty clothes, after days of hot (for the Northwest) weather and exercise, and decided for the first time ever on a sailing vacation to actually use the laundry soap we carted along with us. We draped the clothes on Rock Lobster (Trent rigged a makeshift clothes line from an extra line we had aboard) and reveled in the fresh scent. Next year, we'll try to remember to bring along some clothespins as well.

Attached to the marina is Bridgeman's Bistro, where we shared oyster tacos, shrimp gyoza and a Caesar salad. Of course, we each had a local beer as well - a summery one for me and a porter for Trent.

After our late lunch, we explored the little shopping center, where we made the requisite stop at the library before stopping at Rusticana for milkshakes (I couldn't resist the blackberry - yum!) and Boggle.

A quick stop for provisions for a Thai shrimp and peanut noodle dinner before a nap break for Trent and an hour and a half sketch break for me, where I had the sobering realization that our journey was over half over. Fortunately, plenty of adventure (and delicious food) still awaited us.