June 11, 2008 - - Leaving Vancouver

We leave our dock at Deep Cove, North Vancouver, on a dreary Wednesday morning, for a three-month cruise, hoping to go as far north as Juneau, Alaska.

Waiting for the Second Narrows railway bridge to open brings back memories of traveling on the Intra Coastal Waterway to and from our trip south in 1999 – 2006.

While fuelling up in Vancouver Harbour during busy morning rush hour, we see seaplanes zipping in and out, the seabus delivering commuters from the North Shore, cruise ships swallowing up Alaska-bound tourists, tugboats and freighters hauling loads, and yachts silently waiting in their slips for the season to summer up.

The clouds clear as we motor along the Sunshine Coast to our first anchorage at Smuggler Cove (49-31 123-58).

Roger and Carol on Heart of Gold row over to help us sterntie. We enjoy sundowners and visit with them over the next two days.

The sky is still light at 11:00 p.m. What will it be like in Alaska?