Bill and Jean Barber love to tell stories. Bill loves his bear stories, and Jean . . . from what I hear loves to tell the tale of how their sojourn to Lagoon Cove in 1992 turned into a retirement nest that so many boaters have come to enjoy.
As Evita skipper John Laing approached the dock, I could hear Bill call out his name. It's like John had never been away.
We filled Evita's fuel tank with diesel, nestled into our part of the dock away from our sister boat, Kyan II with her crew of skipper Nick Bidgood and his Victoria friend, Rod.
Bill was quick to tell me that happy hour was at 5 p.m. at the workshop patio. It was a place for all the docked boaters to mingle, socialize and bring a plate of special food for others to sample. John and I prepared a plate of cheese fingers wrapped in prosciutto, and oysters placed carefully on crackers. Of course our shipmates did a little rib-tickling over our choices.
We walked the long dock to the workshop and met a number of new people, some from the U.S., others from B.C., and some who moored $2 million boats at Lagoon Cove. What luxury!
Even though Bill wanted to burn the place down and start over when he arrived at his soon-to-be haven, he has created a place of beauty and history at Lagoon Cove. His home alone (below) has spectacular views. Good thing it didn't fall down the cliff before he rescued its foundations.
Lagoon Cove is located on East Cracroft Island which is part of the pictureque Broughtons, near Minstrel Island. To get away from it to head to places like Mound Bay where we spent the next night, you must navigate through rocky Beware Passage.
As part of happy hour, Bill brings his freshest catch of prawns to serve his guests. And everyone goes away smiling. There's Bill below with his latest bounty.
Everything is shared at Lagoon Cove. Internet service is tucked into the tool shed. Old wooden shipping crates tell a story of how Lagoon Cove came to be. To get the full picture, buy one of the $15 cookbooks at the Lagoon Cove store on the dock. It's called "Lagoon Cove Marina ... a bit of history and a book of recipes."
I was told Bill had to edit his story down to a few short pages because his recipe book would have been a history tome if the publishers hadn't given him the eagle eye. How do I know this story? Look at the lady behind the store counter below. She knows everything.
Fun is the name of the game at Lagoon Cove. Want to exercise? Try one of these stations (below). Another one involves a hand-powered mower to take care of his grass.
Look at the eclectic mix of items at the workshop for sailors to marvel at.
Feels like a museum, doesn't it?
A historic guitar is there to be enjoyed by people much like Evita skipper John Laing, a member of the Vancouver Bach Choir.
Evita was safe on the dock, so we explored even more.
The workshop is a very interesting place . . .
The Barbers' front door is well appointed.
John and I checked out the burn barrel featuring a totem created by the Barbers' son. Look what he used to create it.
And look at the sign that goes with it.
After a friendly game of horseshoes with the skipper, it was time to go. Evita (in the blue and white at the end of the dock, looks beautiful).
Goodbye Lagoon Cove, for now ...
I'm all set to book passage to this idylic and interesting locale.
None of those islands are familiar to me - off to Google!
Posted by: Marianna | 2013.02.02 at 10:23 AM