Proposed route. Click for interactive view.

Actual route (click for chart view)

Ptly. cldy. Clearing Wind light

I left Cadboro Bay nice and early. Peppers Foods at Cadboro Bay Village, opens at 07:00 so it's become my custom to arrive at opening for a block of ice and last minute groceries. This trip I really under-packed in terms of food. Forget the cold cereal and milk. Bring on the greasy meat and eggs!

I was hoping to meet up with Beth, Marnie and Mom at Maple Bay, so when I saw how light the wind was, I abandoned the notion of sailing and just motored non-stop to Maple Bay. The trip was without incident and with the flood tide, I made good time. I haven't been to Maple Bay by boat since I was a kid on Sea Jay, our Thunderbird. Like everything else, Maple Bay had grown up and increased in population. The Maple Bay Yacht Club was much, much bigger then back in the day. Features include a concrete dock, a half-dozen boat houses and the ubiquitous updated clubhouse.

Upon arriving, I tied up to the visitor's dock and was met by some colorful locals. They wanted to know what club I was from as I wasn't flying a club burgee (just the giant jolly roger!). So I told them I was meeting the owners here and all was well. I wandered up to the clubhouse and lounged on the sun deck, trying to shake the shell shock of standing on top of a diesel engine for 5-and-a-half hours. The clubhouse wasn't open until 14:00 so I returned to T2. About the only thing that hadn't changed was the uncomfortably exposed visitor's dock. Maple Bay is large and as such, can be at the mercy of the North Easterly. In the short time I was there, and with the certainty that I could probably stay for free, using Mom and Dad's reciprocal privileges as members of Royal Vic., I decided to move out and anchor on the East side of the bay.

Mom called shortly after I dropped anchor and said they were in Nanaimo and would be another hour at least. I thought the best way to fill the time was to search for some cold beer. Since I follow Carol @MapleBayMarina, I thought I'd try there first. I had tweeted her a question as to whether or not there was a cold beer and wine store at Maple Bay Marina, but I hadn't received a response from her so I led an away team (me) to the marina to gather intel.

Front and centre at Maple Bay Marina is a pub. Seemed like the place to enquire about libations so I proceeded to the bar and was told they sell off-sales, but it ain't cheap. I be better off hitting the Scottish Pub at the North end of the bay. "Well, thanks for your candor", I said "and give me a Blue Buck for your trouble." A waitress walked by just then and remarked; "It smells like gas in here."

Boarding the dinghy on my way to the marina, I noticed the 10l gas can I keep in the dinghy had leaked in the sun and there was a small amount of gasoline on the floor of the dinghy. I made a note to clean it out later.

"Did you just say it smells like gas in here?" I asked the girl. "Yes", she said. So I copped; "Yah, I think that's me. It's my boating cologne." Polite laughter ensued and then I split.

Back in the dinghy I pushed the throttle to max (4hp) and lay across the bow for maximum speed to the other end of the bay, and the Lion Rampant Scottish Pub, cold beer and wine store. The pub has its own dock right in the 'town' of Maple Bay and welcomes boaters who patronize the pub to moore there overnight for free! Can you believe it?!

Shortly after returning to T2, my phone rang and a woman's voice implored; "Where the hell are you?" At first I thought it was my wife but then Cousin Marnie identified herself. I told her I'd be at the Maple Bay Yacht Club in 2 minutes. I had a nice visit with Beth, Marnie and Mom in the clubhouse over a beer. They departed for Victoria, and I went out to T2 for dinner.

I bar-b-qued some ribs for dinner and then went to the Maple Bay Marina for a Caesar salad, prawn skewer and a glass of wine. The day ended with a viewing of the original 'Mutiny on the Bounty'.

The foreshore at Maple Bay Yacht Club. Note canon used to discourage non-affiliated visitors. My Jolly Roger is visible to the left of the Canadian flag.

The club house.

The Lion Rampant Pub. Sinister looking isn't it?

Encouragement to drink AND free moorage?! WTF

Moored in Maple Bay, just off the yacht club with Maple Bay Marina in the background.

At the end of the day; "The Mutiny on The Bounty" in the comfort of T2's theatre.