Almost 5 years later

We've been back for almost 5 years now, watch for posts of our big adventures this summer.  We plan on heading out in the big ocean again in about 5 years.  The kids have almost all grown up...... Kyle graduated 2 years ago, Maya graduates this June and little Emma is almost finished grade 8. All of us talk about our 2 year offshore trip regularly and even did an over nighter last summer.

Shall begin our journeys again....
Happy sailing!

Orca III May Longweekend Adventure!

Well , I have had lots of people wanting me to continue with Orca III and our adventures. And Liam really wanted to be on our blog! So here it is:

We took 3 extra kids and my sister out for the long weekend in May. Kyle, Maya and Emma each brought a friend and my sister, Dana, was feeling daring to join along. We headed out of the creek early Sat morning  - our desination being Plumper Cove ( which by the way is the oldest Marine Park in BC) I chose this place because there is also a dock we could tie up to if need be. Also they have trails to hike , and campsite so we could have a fire. Litlle did I remember that this is also the busiest weekend for boaters and campers. So needless to say , the dock was full, as well as the campsite - so anchored we did ( that was fine) and it poured rain!! Oh how a campfire would be so nice to have.

The first day was fine, cloudy and sunny spots - some of the kids felt queezy on the ride over ( that took us longer than expected - wind and tide) poor Atlin was not well on the trip over.  Anyway, it rain like the dickens that night and the following morning. We decided to pull up anchor , go around the other side of Keets Island to see our friends Bud and Maria  - they have a place there. so we got the tour- had a fire and weenie roast . then headed on our way to our favorite spot - Center Bay!! ( which in hindsight would have been the better choice) had the whole beach area to ourselves , and a fantastic fire which carried into the late evening. Singing songs, roasting marshmallows, who could ask for a better time. The next day the sun was out, kids learned how to drive the dingy, a whole lot of fishing going on, Of course Kyle being the king of that -  crab catching and we even got a bunch of prawns!
we had a great time! on the way home , no one felt queezy!





Kyle teaching Liam how to drive the dingy





Emma's turn to show how its done!

Emma and Atlin - best buddies!

                                            Orca III anchored in her favorite spot - Center Bay

HOME!! in Spruce Harbour Marina

Well, we made it home! What a fantastic welcome for us, my mom and Joe on the boat launching ramp, my sisters, brother in law, niece and nephew and friends on the bridge with the fantastic banner! and on the dock, my dad, steve's mom and lots of neighbors and friends, what a treat~
and to complete our 2 yr journey , we sailed into English Bay with our cruising buddies on Malachi - the 2 boats side by side!

This will be our final post........... the offshore adventure of Orca III and us family of Tremblay's has come to an end , until the next time !

And yes , there will be a next time. We have already been talking about going to the Marqueses & Tonga again! and I really want to see Samoa -

Thank you to everyone who has been following our great adventure! And to all of you who helped get us there! We loved reading all the comments on the blog and all the emails !

Orca III and her Trembaly family of Steve, Dionne , Kyle , Maya, and Emma sailed approximately 18,000 nautical miles , over 10 countries, and many ,many islands in the last 2 years. It was an experience we will not forget.

Vancouver! and HOME - that's the Burrard Bridge in the background, with our marina in behind!our "BANNER" and that's my sisters and other family up there!!! The Tremblay's of Orca III - HOMEDionne with the Planatarium behind

a dock full of greaters, all waiting to help tie us up - This is our "home"

Orca III and Malachi arriving in English Bay together, completion of a great 2 yr trip

SV MALACHI~ coming home

Pirates Cove - the kids still love the treasure chest!! only they are too big to be put in it now!!

Mom and her children sitting on the logs at Pirates Cove - one of the last days of the tripFather and son time

Orca III anchored in the middle of Pirates Cove, it's amazing how all the other boats look so under geared!

Cowichan Bay

ORCA III anchored in Cowichan Bay

Well its been a heap of fun here!! We arrived yesterday morning to seeing Malachi and Maryka Violet rafted together and anchored . We tied to them for a short visit before they headed out - we'll see them again.

Then Dave Ego , connection with the Blue Street Band Steve played in, came down to the docks and we picked him up by dingy for a visit. We went to Dave and Pat's place for dinner and saw how Dave had been following our route. He had the atlas open and yellow stickies marking significant events ( even the long and lat of where we lost our spinnaker!) and all the emails I had been sending. What a treat to see that!! We had a great dinner , and he plays the alto sax. So Kyle played it , first time in almost 2 years!! it sure was great to hear him again! We sure enjoyed ourselves. They are wonderful wonderful people and what a nice welcome to Cowichan Bay!Maya, Dave, Steve, Kyle, Pat Emma - dinner at their house

Dave and his wonderful collection of our trip - see the yellow stickies! and the emails, I love this!!

The kids just hanging around Cowichan Bay Village

We also gave a call to Gordon and Sandy Rutherford - the builder and first owner of Orca III, they came on aboard too!!

We had a great time with them, talking about Orca III's adventures, showing pictures and talking about all the changes we did. They are absolutely lovely people! We went and saw them after dinner at Dave and Pat's . I had burned a DVD for them of Orca III sailing in the big waves in the Tuamotus ( Remember that Dave H?! thanks for filming us!!!) They were thrilled!! Nice to see Orca III sail!!Wooden Model of ORCA III - done by Sandy's brother!

picking plums in Gordon's yard. We even had raspberries! and we picked blackberries where ever we saw them - oooh how we missed those!!

We then went out today with Gord - he gave us a tour of Cowichan. Saw the tressel bridge and the suspension bridge and then he lent us a van to go and check out the BC Discovery Forest Museum. that was fun!checking out the info on the Kinsol Trestle bridge.

US!!!Next we were off to the Suspension Bridge at Bright Angel Park! We had lots of these in the south island of NZ - remember?!yes that would be the monkey man Kyle in his tree! I love me BC trees!

At the BC forest museum. Gordon gave us his pass and we had a blast! got to ride the steam train too! We have been there before in the old cars during a rally years ago. When we got home we stopped at the best ice cream place ever. "Udder Guys" - they make homemade ice cream! We said our good byes to both Dave/Pat and Gord/Sandy and wil stay the night here , leaving in the am for Pirate's Cove.

We dropped 2 crab traps today, first time in 2 years , hope we get some!! Oh and I forgot to mention - poor Steve has had to rebuild the head - nice that it broke down here and not on a passage! Never had to fix that the whole 2 yrs!!

BCA Rendezvous Photo time

here you go! I promised you pictures , enjoy!!!!!!!!!!
Robert, and the kids having fun in the hammock, Kyle took this from the crows nest

Steve and Dionne - after a great weekend at the BCA rendezvous, we were tired - can you believe I got worn out of talking?!

Bryn and Kyle going for a ride

Our dear friends, Carol and Bryn on their boat, they also were in Montague Harbour

Steve and Bryn , playing again! harmonica and wash tub base!

Jam night on Orca III - after the BCA events. Fun Fun Fun - Bud, Robert and Rose
water fight time, the kids filled a pile of water balloons and then resorted to buckets1

dingy tug - o -war!! Row Kyle Row!!!

Kyle rowing with the kids to the races! they got there in time for the big water fight

Kyle fishing with all the kids. Ethan, Lily, Lucas and Aiden - fun ,fun fun

The gang from the marina - Tim, Heather, Pierre , Jennifer, Maria and Bud, what a welcome home ! Great to be at the BCA Rendezvous with them!!

Captain Highliner?! hahaha Robert from Tillicum, they joined us on the Rendezvous
The stick game! taught to us by Carol and Bryn, love the game - here we are playing with Malachi

Malachi and Orca III Sidney Spit

yep that's me ! in the water in BC - Sidney Spit

the boys having fun in Sidney Spit

the girls of Malachi and Orca III - Sidney Spit, Gulf Island BC