Water Weaver Trucks East
This past winter, the Water Weaver sat at dock in the Ladysmith Marina in downtown Ladysmith, BC awaiting her transfer east to Lake Ontario and the expedition’s launch site. I spent time on Vancouver Island with her previous owner, Stephen Adam (Coxswain, Station Leader RCMSAR 29 Ladysmith) as we went over the boat stem to stern and conducted sea trials with both nice and not-so-nice weather. It was great to learn about the Water Weaver and it was even better to be in the Gulf Islands which is a boater’s paradise, especially when the killer whales pop up as well as friends to be the first visitors on the new boat. On April 28, I was joined by my first volunteer crew, Brian Ferguson (retired fisheries biologist and now a farmer from Saskatchewan) and Pietro de Bastiani (retired transportation management specialist and now a captain from Campbell River) to make the crossing to the mainland. We started the morning by raiding the Old Town Bakery for the best cinnamon buns on this continent, and I stop at almost every bakery on my journeys! Next, we set off navigating from Ladysmith across the Georgia Strait/Salish Sea to Shelter Island Marina in Richmond, BC where a truck and trailer awaited.
We had started the boat renaming ceremony the previous day, and before leaving western waters and when docked in the Fraser River at Richmond, we completed the two-part renaming ceremony. The first stage was the opening of a new bottle of a preferred spirit while docked in Ladysmith where we reminisced with Captain Steve about the boat as he knew her. That bottle was then closed never to be opened again and taken off the boat. The final stage was the opening of a new bottle at dock followed by some laconic words about the new boat name and the Water Weaver’s new adventures ahead.
We eventually finished the at-dock preparations for the boat’s truck journey. It was then lifted and loaded on to a hydraulic boat trailer for its ride east. Andrew Riddy of Harbour West Marine Transport had delivered a boat from Ontario to Richmond and the Water Weaver was his return trip east. Brian, Pietro, and I then reconnoitered at Tugboat Annie’s pub adjacent to the marina where we caught our breath after a long, full day of excitement.
Eight days later after the accumulation of 4,000 km of road grime, I and my next volunteer first mate, Karen Kidd, met the Water Weaver at 50 Point Conservation Marina in Stoney Creek, ON. The launch was straightforward, and we said goodbye to Andrew and his father who was helping that day. These folks are experts in the boat trailering business; a 5-star rating! Once the boat was reassembled to a safe operating state, we took the short journey to Newport Yacht Club where the Water Weaver is moored until her launch in July.
Now I spend my days on the boat going through every nook and cranny, testing all the systems, and making her ready for launch day, and of course practice, practice, practice. She had a service day that became six at St. Catherine’s Marina while we waited for some unplanned parts. Steve and Rob the mechanics were awesome – excellent on the boat and highly informative - and the folks running the marina are great people - Greg who co-owns the operations, Chris in the shop, and Kelly managing the office. It is a very well-run operation, the people are kind and helpful, and the marina is highly recommended.
While at dock, I also met the expedition’s first local ‘water people.’ Leslie and Jim live on their cruiser after selling their house a few years ago. They seem quite happy with their life on the water in the marina community. In winter, their family is close by, but they also spend time in Cuba in a wonderful community on the north coast. I have worked and taught in Cuba for many years and confirm that both the people and country are lovely despite the challenges of living there. I recommend visiting Cuba if you can.
I have a lengthy list of things to get done in a shortening time, so back to the boat - ciao.
