We left Nanaimo around 7:00 after getting fuel. The forecast wasn’t good, anywhere from 10 – 25 knot winds. Well, I think the winds were on the high side and the swells were upwards of 6 – 8 feet. It was not fun!
We stopped at Powell River to get fuel and took off again after cleaning up everything that was in the middle of the floor or the back deck. I was holding on for dear life all the way and my hands, arms, neck, and shoulders were very tight!
We kept going, though, and ended up at Stuart Island where friends were waiting. So nice to see them all!
Darrel and the guys went for a short fishing trip, then we had happy hour together with some yummy clams by Marilee.
We all did dinner separate for the most part, then the managers of the marina came down with a banana cream pie for dessert. We all chatted for a while, then some of them ate up the pie. Not a banana fan myself, but everyone thought it was great!
The guys are going fishing in the morning, so I am hoping for a sleep in for myself!
Yvonne and Simon are supposed to be in tomorrow so we will have a potluck welcome for them.
So glad to finally be here with no boat problems (knock on wood!) and friend to be with!
Thank you all for your welcome and prayers!!
Millers' Time 
It sounds like you are having quite the adventure on the water while we were dealing with fire. We narrowly escaped the fires at Alta Lake. there was smoke all around us for most of the 10 days we were there.
They closed Highway 2 just after we passed through the area where that fire started. They evacuated the campground the day after we left. There is there is only one road in and out of there, I’m so glad the fire didn’t start a day earlier. We couldn’t get the boat started when we were leaving until Gary used one of Darrel’s tricks and used “go juice”. It would have been awful if we were trying to do that with flames all around us. As it was, there were ashes on our canopy and it was 105 degrees, so I can’t imagine how hot it got when the fire reached the area.
Pateros looks like it is pretty much gone and it is the Apple Pie Jamboree is this weekend. It was 34 years ago that Robin and I stumbled upon the APJ and discovered Alta Lake.
If the fish had been biting as well as the horseflies and skeeters we would have a boatful of trout. I caught the first fish on the boat but Gary caught a 22 incher while on his floatie. The fish was towing him around the lake until he landed it on the King Cool Lounger where it proceeded to bite his finger because there was no way he was going to let it go.
Poor Gigi just stood in the lake because it was so hot. The lake was like bath water so it wasn’t even refreshing. It was hard to keep the beer cold and a couple of nights were absolutely miserable in the camper. The Skeeters were licking up the Deet like it was ice cream so you had to pick sweating like a pig v becoming anemic from blood loss.
I hope the rest of your trip brings calm waters, lots of fish and more fun with all your friends.
Love and miss you,
Vanessa
Good times, good friends and lasting memories. Thanks Robin