Haida Gwaii: A State of Mind

Map of Sidney, B.C.

Departing Roche Harbor at 8:40am, we crossed Haro Strait and entered Canadian waters with a stop at Port Sidney on Vancouver Island to clear customs. Adhering to flag protocol, we hung a yellow quarantine flag signifying that our vessel had not yet cleared customs. We called the phone number posted at the customs dock and provided all the necessary information: names and passport numbers, vessel registration number, length of stay etc. and reported the amount of alcoholic beverages onboard.

Port Sidney

Items not allowed into the country include fresh fruit with pits, potatoes, fresh corn, house plants, and firearms – we were ready for inspection and Java was ready with her rabies vaccination certificate. No physical inspection was ordered and we were able to quickly clear customs over the phone. We received a clearance number which we posted on both the starboard and port side windows of our vessel and replaced the yellow flag with the Canadian flag to be flown as a courtesy while in Canadian waters. It seemed to be an unusually quick stop for clearance and we were soon on our way again. We discussed going to Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island vs. heading further north to Ganges Harbour on Saltspring Island, or perhaps we should anchor for the night in Montague Harbour on Galiano Island – all included as favorite destinations.

Dodd Narrows

The day was still young and the seas calm so we continued motoring north up Trincomali Channel. “Might as well continue on to Nanaimo since our timing for Dodd Narrows will be perfect for slack water.” So goes the thinking process of boaters – no definitive plans, you simply go with the flow; or put another way, well laid plans can shift and change – as fluid as the waters we traverse.

Map of Nanaimo B.C.

We reached Nanaimo at 4pm and found a moorage spot at the marine park docks on Newcastle Island, the site of an early pulp-stone quarry; the evening closed with a fun dinner at the Dinghy Dock Pub located nearby.