Telegraph Harbour, Thetis Island

With batteries badly in need of a full charge and both of us in need of a shower, we decided that we should head to a place where we could get a slip.  The marina at Telegraph Cove on Thetis Island was the perfect place to stop for a few days.

After our arrival, we spent the afternoon getting showered and doing laundry.  We also walked to the post office where we were expecting our mail to arrive that had been forwarded to us from Seattle.  Unfortunately our package had not arrived even though it had left Seattle nearly 5 days earlier.  Gwen, the post master was very helpful and suggested that she could forward the mail post office to post office at no charge to one of our next stops.  We wrote down her phone number and plan to have her forward it once it arrives.  We think Vancouver will be the place.

The following morning we woke early and caught the ferry to Chemainus, a small town on Vancouver Island.  It was a great outing which proved to be very productive.  Chemainus was formerly the site of the worlds largest lumber mill.  The mill is now much smaller and to fill the void left by the mill the town has commissioned local artists to paint murals on buildings throughout the town.  The murals tell stories of the towns history.  It was interesting to walk around and look at them.  We made stops at the hardware store for some propane canisters for the BBQ, the liquor store for beer, the grocery store to re-provision, the nursery so Janet could create an herb garden for the back of the boat, and of course the coffee shop for lattes before heading back to Thetis.

Later in the day one of the couples we had shared happy hour with on Wallace Island had just arrived on their  boat m/v Navigator a Camano Island Troller.  We were invited over to have dessert with them that evening.  Jean is a doctor who serves at least part time as the ships doctor for some of the National Geographic Expeditions to Antarctica and other places.  Derick, her husband was able to travel along with her.  He is an accomplished photographer and has recorded an excellent photo essay of their expedition to Antarctica, which he shared with us while we had dessert.  It was wonderful.

Today is Sunday and from 10 - noon there is a market in the shelters just above the marina.  We plan to make a stop there and then run up to the Island Market before our departure.  The Island Market is an honor market.  You simply select what you need, add up the price and leave your money in a box by the door.  It is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.  An amazing system that works here on the island.

We will be off to Pirates Cove on De Courcy Island, just another few miles north.

Chemainus murals

m/v Navigator

Telegraph Harbour Marina, Thetis Island

Janet's herb garden