Hey! We're in British Columbia!

Hello everyone- today we are at Pirate's Cove Provincial Water Park on DeCourcey Island in British Columbia's Gulf Islands. Sorry it's been so long, but the computer crashed on the way to Mazatlan and then things just got kinda busy. Anyway, Uncle Hans (Heidi's brother) helped us take Chaitanya from Puerto Vallarta to La Paz, Baja by way of Mantanchen Bay, Isla Isabella and Mazatlan. For the most part, we had really good conditions for the trip. We arrived at Marina de La Paz on about April 1. Hans flew back to Oregon a few days later, and we hung out for a couple weeks. As we were a little wasted, and had "done" La Paz, we decided to fly home to Oregon on the 15th of April or so. During the next month, we (mostly Heidi) started a big organic garden. I (Ian) worked a few weeks for my Dad and stepmom Dana, padding our bank account a little. On May 20th, I returned to La Paz to prep Chaitanya for the big transport to Nanaimo on BC's Vancouver Island. I also wrapped up a few projects and ate Arrachara tacos three times a day!

So three days ago, I drove Chaitanya off the back of Dock Express 12, the transport ship that brought our intrepid yacht 2500 miles in 6 days without so much as a scratch. We pulled into the Nanaimo yacht basin, somewhat shocked. There is a different set of rules, weather, navigation and such for each region one sails in and if I spent thousands of hours of reading to prepare for our time in Mexico, I spent 5 hours reading about Northwest cruising before Chaitanya's keel touched the water here. So I went to work, learning the current and tide tables, charting distances and reading about various possible anchorages and harbors. Today we passed through Dodd Narrows, a cut in the land no more than 150 feet in width through which millions of tons of water pour each day. The current was predicted to reach 8.5 knots through there today, so it was imperitive that we arrived to pass just at the slack between the ebb flood currents. We did just fine, and passed through with about a dozen other boats. An hour later we pulled into Pirate's cove with 6 inches to spare under the keel! We anchored in a spot with 2 feet under the boat. It was low tide, so that's fine. Now, roughly 6 hours later, there are 14.5 feet under the boat!!! And so it goes....

We intend to arrive at Seattle by the 23rd after about 6 more days in the Gulf Islands, then about 5 days in the San Juan Islands (Washington). Finally, we will pass through Deception Pass, spend a night at Whidbey Island, then head for Seattle. On the 26th, I fly to Denver for Masterpiece Training Camp- a 6-day intensive life and chiropractic forum.

Chaitanya will be for sale in Seattle. Hopefully, she will sell quickly and painlessly to a new loving family and we can begin the next adventure- settling in, raising a family, and starting a practice in Florence, Oregon.

Hope this finds all of you in good health and spirit. Please reply with a short or long note. Let us know what's going on in your life. For the next couple weeks, reply to this address. After the 23rd of June, please email us at sailchaitanya@gmail.com

Love,
Ian, Heidi, Jonah and Gabriella Jarman

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