Sunshine Coast BC

We spent a wonderful 2 nights tied to the magnificent new government dock at Gibsons Landing ... right in the middle of this busy little community and magnificent because, unlike many docks, it is the same height as the deck of our boat. The Sunshine Coast is on the mainland of the province of British Columbia but can only be reached by boat. Most people come here by ferry and so have we in times past. In fact, this is the first time Traversay III has visited 'the Coast'.

A calm moment in the Brahms

Bob and Karen selecting songs

Richard and daughter Becky

MY ISLAND

Kathleen and Ed

Kathleen, Shelley and Josephine

Many friends from the past wanted to see her and it turned into a feast of music and food. At the 'Boat Show' on Friday night, after a little wine the guests were tricked by Larry into a sing-along. My great friend violinist Kathleen was cajoled into taking up the fiddle and launching into a rousing rendition of one of Brahms' Hungarian Dances (danced by Larry in trued Cossack style!) Kathleen had included me as pianist, harpsichordist and organist when she started the 'Seacoast Chamber Players' in the 90's. Other guests that night included our neighbours  at the dock Richard Till and daughter Becky on  MY ISLAND - a beautiful seaworthy steel boat built by Richard himself.  On Saturday we had a reunion with Kathleen's husband Ed at their home and some violin/piano music - Bach, Mozart, Bartok, Ravel - we then went on to visit  Josephine Hammond (soprano) for a musical marathon of of Mendelssohn, Schumann and a read-through of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater (performed some years ago with Jo and mezzo-soprano Shelley Dillon in the vocal roles).
As we ate the beautiful dinner prepared by Jo and contributed to by all (except Larry and myself who were treated like visiting royalty) we looked out across the waters to Keats Island and to one of the Hammond boats tied to a mooring ball. Jo's son Erik has taken over his parents log-salving business plus helps operate a water-taxi service. We were privileged to view his new second-hand aluminum vessel - destined to be re-configured as a liveaboard boat to take his young family on exciting adventures along this BC Coast.

Erik Hammond's new boat

Erik