Spring Sails, or Young Things Growing

La Sonrisa has left her winter moorage and is taking the winds north. It’s time to start up the blog again. Our first adventures away from this winter’s Snug Cove have been brightened by spring’s longer days and spending time with young ones.
Getting the boat ready for spring included adding a second kayak.

Elizabeth and son Will kayak in False Creek
Nicole explores little nooks in Smuggler Cove

Easter on La Sonrisa spanned Georgia Strait. Daisy helped us dye eggs in False Creek, then we sailed a gusty wind across the strait for more egg colouring in Tamaya’s kitchen with her young friends.


The eggs survived hail on Easter and freezing temperatures afterwards, and we brought them across the strait again for a sunny picnic on Jedediah Island.

eggs in a hail storm
Easter egg picnic

Young things growing – what can be a better celebration of life. Our winter was shaped and brightened by grandkids. Watching them learn and discover on board has launched us into spring.

sawing firewood with Skipper Grandpa

Frankie learns to throw a ball to Katie Ann, a new dog friend in English Bay

making new clothes for the grandma doll

Isaac sets out for a hike in Smuggler cove.

And then there's time for rest

La Sonrisa specializes in discovering sea life. Patrick caught our first fish of the season.

You can tell it’s spring when the lambs are born and the seagulls make love. On Jedediah Island the sheep are their own shepherd since the old homested was made a marine park.

Ba ba black sheep

This time of year the ducks and geese are our most vociferous neighbours. Canada geese make constant announcements, the cormorants in Degnan Bay on Gabriola fill the trees by our anchoring spot with white guano and the air with curious, growly calls. We saw beautiful little bufflehead couples swimming around Scottie Bay on Lasquity Island, and watched a group of mergansers herding a school of fish in Codfish Bay on Jedediah.

And the mallards are always fun to feed.

Some sea neighbours are good for chowder, and others for a spring salad.

And some are better kept at a distance

These sea lions let us know it’s time to back the dingy off.

We look forward to the adventures ahead with our neighbours of sea and shore.