FACS Spring Thaw Cruise: GMBarkley (1)

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After quick shopping in Nanaimo, we are on our way to Port Alberni. Marina where we launch has washrooms, boat launch and that's about it. The guy in charge requests $26 for a privilege to sleep in the boat parked in their parking lot. Zero charge if we launch. Sigh. In the rain, we put up the mast and launch the boat to spend the night at the dock.. It's 9:00 PM. The two sailors are tired, dirty and hungry. First things first...We embark on a search for the swimming pool to take a shower. After 3 misses, we find it and are let inside free of charge. Shower feels like heaven. Afterward, we find a seafood place and have our usual share of shrimp and oysters. It's cold out here on the coast. Calgary is much warmer this year. Shouldn't it be the other way round? There was snow on the mountains when we passed Shuswap area...Unusual. Next day, Maciek wakes me up at 6:00 am. I want to kill him. He is too excited to sleep. Salty Dogs arrived at 3:00 AM last night, launched the boat and is ready for departure around 8:00. Tide is at the highest ebb, and river is rushing. I can feel and hear it when I am in the boat. Maciek laughs at Salty Dog saying that they are trying to time their sail down the river to be exactly at the worst possible time. They leave one minute past the highest ebb, the boat turns stern to current, they spin around but recover and disappear from view. Wow! I came out on deck and land flat on my butt. Everything was covered with ice! That's the first! We decide to take our time. The river is still rushing, there are plenty of things to do. We throw the lines at about 11:00. This picture shows the dock before our departure.

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