“Falling” around South Van Isle - Part 4

Sunday afternoons, during the peak cruising season, is a great time to acquire a vacant slip or adequate swinging room.  After the weekenders depart, and the local shindigs have ended (Saturday farmer’s market in Ganges, for instance), the lucky few reap the benefits.  But if you can cruise during the shoulder months, April and October, many of the popular cruising spots are pretty quiet all week.  Pulling up to Ladysmith Yacht Club’s guest dock Sunday afternoon was quiet as a church mouse.
The following morning we found out where all those mice worked, at the nearby log mill, from four in the morning till midnight.  A little noisy at times but entertaining during our short stay none the less.  Sunday evening we walked the 40 minutes into town and dined at the Fox and Hound, an English pub recommended by Randy V. (Thx!) and lucky for us, still open.  Maybe we should have grabbed a flashlight for our walk back to the boat that night since most of it was unfamiliar territory and in pure darkness.  It turned into a bit of fun and misadventure.              

Monday afternoon, after Erika finished up her work day, we made another trek into town to top off our boat pantry, flashlight not required.  Repeating Monday morning’s wake up call, Tuesday morning’s 4 a.m. log mill steam whistle, followed by their industrial clamor of cranes and conveyors, stirred us out of our bunk.  When in Rome? After lunch in the cockpit, Erika returned below for another hour of work while I set off to explore the marina.  There are a couple marinas that are adjacent and, therefore, more convenient to Ladysmith’s downtown resources, but we preferred the rustic, less populated surroundings of Ladysmith Marina, oh, and the reciprocal club benefits, of course.  On the other hand, aside from the constant hum of the mill, the sleepy setting might just be seasonal or even temporary.  There are rows and rows of silver metal, king-sized, monolithic boat sheds taking up the marina’?s prime water-estate.  Also, a large construction site adjacent to the marina points to expensive housing developments in the very near future.  Whether its busier in the summer or will become busier year-round, we’ll find out another time.  Next stop, Thetis Island. - Keith