September 2 -- Welcoming Committee

The flood tide gives us a boost as we motor in calm air on smooth seas along the Sunshine Coast, past Sechelt and Gibsons, around Bowen Island, and into English Bay. The skyline of Vancouver rises to meet us in fairer weather than on the day we left. We cross under Lions Gate Bridge, pass Stanley Park on the right and the yellow North Shore sulfur piles on the left, wind our way through anchored freighters and barges and around a tugboat doing circles (trying out his engine, we heard him say on the radio), and come alongside a small dock.

Today is the first day of school, but it is a short day, so we have arranged to pick up two of our granddaughters, (plus two cousins and a friend) at Lonsdale Quay. They join us for the last hour as we head in to our marina. The girls have had a great summer with trips to Ottawa, camp, and Europe, and have much to tell us. It is so good to see them again!

Burrard Inlet is quiet – you could never tell it is a major seaport – and the Second Narrows train bridge lifts at our request. We slow down to prolong the trip, and the kids take turns being towed in the dinghy, behind the sailboat. As we round the point and come in to Deep Cove, our neighbour on Prairie Otter blasts his horn to welcome us back. We slide in to our slip, and tie up. We are home.