Two months ago this morning we untied the lines on the Wind Walker and, after seven years, cruised out of the Victoria Harbour to come to a new opportunity here on Salt Spring Island. The job, in many ways, is similar to what we were doing in Victoria .... taking care of a small marina and the adjacent property. In other ways, it couldn't be more different.
First of all, the marina is a bit smaller -- there is only room for about a dozen boats here. In Victoria, almost every boat had 'un-official' liveaboards on it, but here, we are the only ones. I really like that right now ... but I might feel differently about it in the dead of winter when it's a bit more isolated.
There is a lot more 'transient' traffic here -- we have an 80' dock that sits empty other than for visiting/cruising boaters. Boats stop here on their cruises for a variety of reasons: it's a mile walk to two vineyards that have wine-tastings and tours almost every weekend, and on that same route is the 150-year-old stone church that people like to see close-up, as well as a 'cold beer and wine store' (not on the same property as the church). :-) Or they come in just to wander around Fulford 'Village' -- a funky little community with a few shops and a great restaurant and organic bakery -- or to meet someone coming in on the ferry.
Whatever their reason for cruising in to Fulford, it's our job to see that they are tied up safely, and know how to find whatever they've come for. Some folks love the quiet of this harbour (as opposed to Ganges, the other main community on Salt Spring, which is a hectic and noisy little port) so they decide to spend the night -- in which case, it's our job to get them hooked up to dockside power and water, and make sure they have a key to the bathroom building.
All of this is revenue in our pockets -- we have a 'day rate' and an overnight rate, and Michael and I get 50% of whatever we bring in. The other 50% is ours to account for and administer -- for dock repairs, washroom supplies, etc.
The property is 2.5 acres, and over half of it is in LAWN, which needs to be mowed pretty much weekly. The house is actually two (upper and lower) 3-bedroom executive suites, and the family lives in the bottom suite when they're here. They live on Vancouver Island but come here for most of the summer, the odd long weekend, etc. In addition, he works overseas in the oil industry, and is gone for long periods of time .... so we are here because he doesn't want his wife to have to worry about or deal with property issues in his absence. The upper suite is currently empty and being advertised (got $1800 a month you don't know what to do with? It's stunning!) and once there are renters, we'll take care of minor maintenance stuff, as well.
So that's 'the facts' about our new life. Basically, it's a pretty easy and fun job that's not very time-consuming! In exchange, we get to live our live-aboard lifestyle, with new scenery! And lovely scenery it is, too .... for boaters, it doesn't get much better than being in the heart of the Gulf Islands, and not having to deal with the Juan de Fuca Strait (which blows 300+ days of the year) in order to get anywhere. This is considered 'inside' waters, and during the summer months, it's pretty calm most of the time.
We'll earn our keep in the winter, though - destructive southeasters can roar in here, and one of them took out the Fulford Marina, next door, last year. It wasn't the first time their docks were destroyed, either, but it may be the last -- the couple that owns it is retired now, and they'd have to construct a huge breakwater if they want to re-build. So it sits empty. This place is a bit more 'tucked in' but those storms could still bring down power lines and trees, etc. -- so I'm sure it'll be harder work, then.
WE LOVE IT HERE! Yes, we miss the kids and grandkids, and we miss some of the events that happen in Victoria (this past weekend was the Dragon Boat races, for example, and for the first time since the event began about 13 years ago, I wasn't in a front-row seat for the Breast Cancer Challenge race)... but we don't miss 'city life' AT ALL. It's so quiet here, and there are TREES in our 'back yard,' and wildlife ... I think we've heard a siren maybe twice in two months, as opposed to several times a day! Yes, the ferry comes and goes every two hours .... but I've already assimilated the sounds as part of the 'rhythm' of island life, and we've learned not to try to go to the store when it's loading and unloading.
Today we will take another local family out for a bit of a cruise, so I'm looking forward to that.
I've been knitting, honest, I have! Finished another pair of socks ....
... and what a pain they were! I used up 4 or 5 little leftover balls of yarn from other pairs, and attempted to do the 'Fibonacci' stripe sequence .... but it's not fun getting all those little balls tangled up with each other, and I can't ever seem to get the tension right when switching from one color to the other. Oh, well, I can keep these for myself... what a shame.
I finished my second 'Twilight Garden' shawl a few weeks ago...
Here's a close-up of the little beaded 'flowers':
This one is now in one of those little funky Fulford shops, for sale! Now I just have to write out the pattern....
And I've started work on a wrap for my sister, whose daughter is getting married in October, in Alberta. This one is also my own design, but it's a much easier process when it's just a rectangle! The yarn is pure silk and here's my swatch, for a 'teaser' ...
Life is good! :-)
And the boys got in some beach-combing, of course:
And Mom got to relax a little!
We watched boats come and go...
... and picnicked at Drummond Park, and did dinghy rides, and drank coffee .... and I added another 5" to the 'Hearts Entwined" stole.
... and then this beauty (an old Chris Craft, but MUCH older than ours!) went by:
... and when we pulled in to James Bay on Prevost, this youth group was just leaving...
Michael had time to schmooze with the ladies...
I had time to knit.... 23" done on the stole...
... and I'm playing with a whole new scarf design/pattern...
We were back at the marina by 4:30, in sunshine, blue sky and calm seas!
... but it must not have been anything serious because he sailed out past us as we were coming home!
This is the crane putting ramps in place for the trucks to drive on to the barge -- the buildings are already sitting on trailers. 
I have a great video of this whole process, but it's 7 minutes long and the file's too big -- if I can figure out how to edit or compress it or something, I'll upload it.
... an evening parade past our stern:
... and a seagull hoping to be fed:
This past weekend there was a big event here on the Island -- the 12-step 'community' holds annual rallies in various places, and the annual Salt Spring one is a huge camp-out. We didn't camp (because we can drive there in 20 minutes) but it was fun to see lots of old friends, and much to my surprise, I tried BBQ lamb for the first time in my life. It was delicious! The event is held at the Salt Spring Island Farmers Institute , the same place that houses the local museum and the Gulf Islands Spinning Mill ... but I didn't have time to visit either of those places. Another day!
Apologies for the twilight picture .... is this one better? :)
Anyway, so we have to go to Ganges this morning. That means ....
(Click to see a larger photo of our evening 'serenader')! Probably someone waiting in the ferry line-up ... but what a lovely way to pass the time...
First of all, the marina is a bit smaller -- there is only room for about a dozen boats here. In Victoria, almost every boat had 'un-official' liveaboards on it, but here, we are the only ones. I really like that right now ... but I might feel differently about it in the dead of winter when it's a bit more isolated.
WE LOVE IT HERE! Yes, we miss the kids and grandkids, and we miss some of the events that happen in Victoria (this past weekend was the Dragon Boat races, for example, and for the first time since the event began about 13 years ago, I wasn't in a front-row seat for the Breast Cancer Challenge race)... but we don't miss 'city life' AT ALL. It's so quiet here, and there are TREES in our 'back yard,' and wildlife ... I think we've heard a siren maybe twice in two months, as opposed to several times a day! Yes, the ferry comes and goes every two hours .... but I've already assimilated the sounds as part of the 'rhythm' of island life, and we've learned not to try to go to the store when it's loading and unloading.
... and what a pain they were! I used up 4 or 5 little leftover balls of yarn from other pairs, and attempted to do the 'Fibonacci' stripe sequence .... but it's not fun getting all those little balls tangled up with each other, and I can't ever seem to get the tension right when switching from one color to the other. Oh, well, I can keep these for myself... what a shame.
Here's a close-up of the little beaded 'flowers':
This one is now in one of those little funky Fulford shops, for sale! Now I just have to write out the pattern....
Life is good! :-)
And then River showed us that he really does know how to do a cartwheel:
And then, of course, their 61-year-old 'Papa' can't be outdone:
... a feat which earned him a 'tackle' (read: no mercy):
... and a challenge to a foot race....
.. which River had no trouble winning! Otherwise, he passes the time being a typical 12-year-old:
And I wandered off and found (finally, I've been looking since we got here!) the world-famous Fulford Harbour petroglyph:
Speaking of beauties, this one was anchored just around the point from us the other night...
She's the Attessa IV, owned by SeaSpan Tug owner Dennis Washington -- one of the 25 largest pleasure yachts in the world, and the largest in North America. See the helicopter on the back?
(In this next one, look on the ground next to the log....)
As Michael says, it sure beats having a huge concrete building in our back yard!
Knitting has been happening .... I finished the second pair of socks for Hailey to take back to Whistler with her ...
And the first pair of Gibson's fall socks (it seems unbelievable to me, but he starts kindergarten in September)!
And yesterday, as I was finishing the LAST row on my latest shawl before casting off, this disaster happened:
