LYRV&B! Newsletter – August 2026

South to Find Summer and Warm Water in Desolation Sound

Welcome to the August Newsletter!

What’s New With Us

August started with us still tucked into the Broughtons, but we eventually made the call many boaters up here make: head south and find summer. Cool, gray, often wet days hung around longer than we wanted, so we pointed Vestri toward warmer water, checked in at Lund, and finished the month swimming off the boat in Malaspina Inlet and Pendrell Sound.

Last Days in the Broughtons

Return to Eden Pool: One of our favourite little spots deep in the Broughtons, right by Insect Island. A deer and fawn spotted on the way in set the tone. We spent a quiet week there with just enough room for Vestri. Dinghy runs around Insect Island, underwater-cam tide-pool exploring (sea stars, crabs, anemones, kelp forests), fishing, and a sea lion that came in one evening and took a real interest in the anchor line.

Exploring on one of the islets with Vestri anchored in Eden Pool in the background

Southbound to Warmer Weather: We left on a perfect blue sky, no-wind morning and enjoyed a calm afternoon in Blackfish Sound. Sea lions on the rocks, a humpback mom and calf, and a pink salmon caught for dinner along the way. Later we ducked back into the Broughtons when the breeze picked up, anchoring at Madrona Island.

Anne showing off her catch in Blackfish Sound. A good-sized pink salmon

Next, we staged for a pair of nights in Boughey Bay, waiting for the winds to die down, then got a calm run down Johnstone Strait with a helpful current.

Early morning before sunrise as we departed Boughey Bay

We tucked into Crawford Anchorage beside Erasmus Island near Blind Channel and enjoyed the first real stretch of sunny, warm days. The big highlight was orcas passing by very close to our anchored boat.

Home Base, Then Desolation Sound

Cordero Channel to Campbell River to Lund: After three months up north, we ran south through Cordero Channel (another orca encounter near Shoal Bay), stopped in Campbell River for groceries and better water than Lund’s, then headed to Lund to check the fifth-wheel trailer and take the truck for a much-needed drive to Powell River and back.

Gorgeous view of Estero Peak, cruising down Cordero Channel

Malaspina Inlet / Cochrane Islands: On August 20, we headed out again for a planned six weeks around Desolation Sound. Popular spots looked packed, so we dropped into a quiet little nook behind the Cochrane Islands that we had scouted a couple of years ago.

Anne got the first swim of the season even though the water was only 17 °C (63°F). Orcas came right into the anchorage one day! The shore was loaded with Pacific oysters (open for harvest), so I paddled over, collected a bunch, pan-fried some, made a layered casserole, and froze the extras.

Taking a cool ocean dip in Malaspina Inlet

Warm Waters - Pendrell Sound: First time all the way up in Pendrell. Steep bottom anchoring required. 60 m of rode in deep water that shallows fast, then stern-tied to a fallen log and later to a rock with 300 feet of stern line. Water hit 25 °C (77°F), and air 27 °C (81°F).

Anne was in immediately! Full-moon tides of nearly 5 m, side wind and current playing havoc with the stern tie, fog plumes off East Redonda, a thunderstorm, a rainbow, and a stay shared with the old ship Marabell.

Anchored and stern-tied on a sunny, warm day in Pendrell Sound

“The MV Marabell was built in 1941 as part of the YMS Class of wooden mine sweepers built for the US Navy.

On August 30, with a southeasterly storm coming, we pulled anchor and headed to Campbell River so Anne could see her dentist, and we could be secure on a dock.

As this newsletter goes out, we are at Fisherman’s Wharf in Campbell River riding out a gale warning for both Johnstone and Northern Georgia Strait.

Yesterday morning, a pod of orcas came right into the marina. Seeing a six-foot black dorsal fin out the kitchen window is a pretty good way to start September.

Image Crop from video by a neighbour on the dock. Credit to: https://www.facebook.com/aries.manlig

Systems & Reviews

August also had a couple of deeper looks at the power setup that allows for long periods at anchor:

Boat solar charging system: How I charge our two lithium house banks on the 34-foot CHB, tying the 1440 W array into the day-to-day charging picture.

Xantrex 240 Ah LiFePO4 + inverter/charger: A three-year review update on the bank and charger that have been part of the system for a long time now.

Garmin GLO 2: A demo and the special Android setup we use for charting and navigation.

Recent Posts & Videos

Here is what went up on the website and YouTube videos in August

• Visit to Pendrell Sound – Stern Ties, Warm Ocean Swimming, and Dramatic Skies!

• Malaspina Inlet – Swimming, Orcas and Oysters

• Heading back South to Find Summer – Cordero Channel to Campbell River to Lund

• Broughtons Back South to Blind Channel – Seeking Warmer Temps

• Return to Eden Pool – Favourite Little Anchorage Deep in the Broughtons

• Boat’s Solar Charging System – Charging 2 Lithium House Battery Banks

• 3 Year Review Update – Xantrex 240Ah LiFePO4 Batteries and Inverter/Charger

• Garmin GLO 2 GPS Receiver Demo and Special Android Setup How-to

• Fish inside a Fish! :0)

• Orca Encounter In Cordero Channel near Shoal Bay

Image of the Month

On the way into Desolation Sound, we passed by this cool-looking classic 50s boat named “Lazee Gal”. Very pretty!

Lazee Gal is a historic 63-to-64-foot classic pleasure motor yacht built in 1952–1953 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Until Next Time

We’ll sit this gale out on the dock, then see what early September gives us around the Discovery Islands and Desolation Sound. Thanks for following along this season.

Cheers! Ray

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Website: loveyourrv.com

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