August 25, 2013 - Hope island

We had a short trip this weekend.  Just 45 minutes from home to lovely, and secluded feeling Hope Island.  It's a state park with virtually no amenities and is only accessibly by boat or kayak.  Steve, Kevin and Cindy left shelter Bay at about 8:45AM Saturday while Kathy went off to Burlington to help staff the "Girls on the run" booth at the Burlington Back-To-School- Fair.

We dropped the anchor on the south side of Hope Island.  While we waited for Kathy to finish her Burlington duties Cindy went knee boarding.  We also played a few games.  Kathy called to say she was on her way.  She was bringing Cindy's friend Morgan and also Kevin's friend Madoc.  We dingied over to the boat ramp on the "mainland" and got everybody.  It was a very fun having their friends on board, but it was also not our usual boating experience.  Having two more kids on board certainly adds to the energy level!  The kids got a safety and rules briefing as soon as we got on board, and they certainly seemed to pay attention as we had virtually no rule breaking :-)  The kids were great.  We had no safety concerns.

On Sunday Cindy went kneeboarding again and Morgan went tubing.  The weather was fantastic on Sunday with clear blue skies, no wind, and warm temps.  That all changed at about 3:30 right after we dropped Madoc off back on shore.  Morgan was returned to shore about 11:00AM.  Anyway, around 3:30 the clouds rolled in and a breeze kicked in.  It drove us back inside the boat where I (Steve) fell asleep on our settee.  After dinner we motored back home to find another boat in our slip.  Yikes, there was no other place to park out boat.  Every place we could fit already had a boat tied up.  Fortunately, the people were just returning to the boat after dropping somebody off.  Phew!  I'm not sure where we would have gone had they not returned right away; there aren't many places to park a 54' boat (overall length, bow sprit to swimstep) in Shelter Bay.

Cindy and Morgan kayaking Hope Island

Bathing beauties!

Kevin and Madoc with Legos in the Pilothouse

Yes, gymnastics are possible in a boat!

Morgan and Cindy with food fun!

Kevin and Madoc love food fun too.

Morgan loving the rope swing.

Movie time (with popcorn) Saturday night

Sunday morning getting ready for the cold water (52 degrees BTW)

Cindy Kneeboarding

Morgan Tubing

Warming up with snacks on the boat deck while Steve works on antennas

Kevin driving with Madoc as co-driver!  Driving a boat at 20+mph is
quite a thrill when you are 8 years old!

August 18, 2013 - Gulf Islands, British Columbia

We just spent 11 days in the beautiful British Columbia Gulf Islands.

ANNETTE INLET:

We dinghied from Annette Inlet to a small island to check out the small
shell beach.  It was worth it!

Kevin water skiing in Annette Inlet

Cindy goes knee-boarding

Kevin takes a spin on the knee-board

the kids head out for a sail, with healthy snacks in hand.

Kevin goes off to do some solo sailing.  He's only 8!

Kevin takes kathy out.  At this point, Kevin is a good sailor so Kathy can
relax and be a passenger  :-)

RUSSEL ISLAND:

Beautiful Russell Island

Over on Portland Island.  These are brave kids.

Family photo on Portland Island.

Cindy does a little knee-boarding at Russell Island

Beautiful Russell Island white shell beach.

SIDNEY SPIT:

Kevin takes us to the beach at Sidney Spit

Our annual family photo at Sidney Spit

CABBAGE ISLAND:

Kevin kayaking in the very interesting shoreline of Cabbage island

Dad!  We need a tow back to the boat.  And we are ready for a snack! :-)

Water toys.  4 people.  4 boats.  No waiting!

paddling an air mattress.  kitty on a rowboat.  Wow, is this normal?

Kevin rowing Dad back to the boat at sunset.  Does it get any better?

Breathtaking.   What an awesome summer.

MUD BAY:

Kevin and Cindy practice docking on the swimstep.
They are getting to be great sailors.

The Elston family PILE-ON

Kathy helps Cindy with her first swimstep launch

Cindy, and Adagio, on the last day of our wonderful trip.