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Listen to What the Children Say 5/12/2016 06:10

By on May 11, 2016 in Furthur
on the campaign trail

on the campaign trail

Taking a detour from the daily online bantering about the US elections, i spent some time learning about the Filipino elections.  Election day is May 9, campaigning is now in full swing, and oh what fun they have.

The big one, the presidential election, has five candidates. The one with the most votes wins, so it is likely the president will not have a majority of the voters, possibly as low as 21%.  The multitude of parties and the fast switching of party added to the large amount of independents take away the importance of political parties. The Filipinos clearly have more choices than we do. 

Of the five candidates two are women, one of which has cancer and one holds dual US and Filipino citizenship. Grace Poe was disqualified over her US passport but the courts reinstated her. Donna’s papa is supporting her, in a large extended family that is significant. She is running high in the polls.

Papa like this one

Papa like this one

The most interesting, and my favorite, is Rodrigo Duterte, the mayor of Davao.  In a country that is 97% Catholic, he is a Muslim. He is famed for cleaning up Davao with guns a blazing old west style. He brags about the numbers of people he had killed, and the positive effect. He actually said that his presidency would be a boon to the funeral business, gotta love him. Duterte is leading in the polls. Donna’s four year old son and i are his supporters in this family.



[pic 6: as complicated as a campaign gets]

More fascinating than the national elections are the antics of the local candidates. I have campaigned many times in the states, doing humiliating things like standing on a street corner holding a sign like a mattress sales stooge to the drudgery of door belling. Here all this takes on a much more festive mode. 

Door belling is done but the candidate brings gifts and bags of candy for the kids so he is welcome into each home, not the door slam-in-the-face you get in the US.  They enter neighborhoods with a parade of vehicles and a large entourage, campaigning here is a roving party and loud!

The real twist i just love, is the candidates hand out money, lots of it. Go to a rally and you will get 500p, (more than a day’s wage). Donna tells of hitting multiple rallies in a day and bagging lots of loot. As one who has donated heavily to many races i found this enlightening. Money usually spent on TV ads and mailings is just handed out, probably with better return.

As we are deep into the campaign season the party is going on everywhere. Reminiscent of days of old, here the loud sound of speaker vehicles is everywhere, old beater cars, jeeps, trucks all with huge speakers strapped to the roof, parade around the neighborhoods, songs a blaring.

singing his song for miles

singing his song for miles

 Each candidate has a theme song, usually a pop song with rewritten lyrics which plays over and over, loudly! we followed one such makeshift rig for miles on the motorbike, no idea who Jo Jo Perez is or what he is running for but i am still singing his song.

[pic 5: candidate fixing his own jeep, my kinda guy]

i met one candidate who’s jeep had motor troubles. He was working on it right in town, rolled up his sleeves and got the old gal running again. Loved his jingle too, a Bob Marley song with new words that never stopped playing.

Like most things in the Philippines, the people take these elections very seriously, up to 75% voter turnout. Unlike the US, the younger people vote in huge numbers and education, wealth or gender play little role in who votes. i have yet to find a Filipino who is not excited about voting.

Presidential

Year

Voter Turn­out

Total vote

Regi­stration

VAP Turn­out

Voting age popu­lation

Popu­lation

Invalid votes

Compulsory voting

2010

74.?98%

38,162,985

50,896,164

64.?70%

58,986,204

99,900,177

 No

2004

76.?97%

33,510,092

43,536,028

68.?77%

48,727,136

87,857,473

11.?90%

 No

1998

81.?32%

27,782,735

34,163,465

68.?96%

40,287,296

73,052,254

 No

1992

22,654,194

65.?29%

34,699,860

64,259,000

 No

Also like most things in the Philippines they take it all with a smile, not too seriously. No one will lose a friend over who they support, no family feuds, albeit Mama is rumored to support Duterte, no hatred at all. Papa will vote for Poe because he likes her smile, i would definitely head to the polls singing Jo Jo Perez, Jo Jo Perez.

Make Your Dream Your Story

Capt. Brian Calvert

MV Furthur

www.furthuradventures.com

Listen to What the Children Say 5/12/2016 06:10

By on May 11, 2016 in Furthur


on the campaign trail Taking a detour from the daily online bantering about the US elections, i spent some time learning about the Filipino elections.  Election day is May 9, campaigning is now in full swing, and oh what fun they have. The big one, the presidential election, has five candidates. The one with the most votes wins, so it is likely the president will not have a majority of the voters, possibly as low as 21%.  The multitude of parties and the fast switching of party added to the la…

Port McNeill to Pruth Bay

By on May 11, 2016 in Spirit

May 11, 2016 – Port McNeill to Pruth Bay

0500 came all too soon and in the predawn light we prepared to depart.  At 0536 the last line was brought aboard Spirit and we backed out of the slip, careful to not use noisy bow or stern thrusters since we saw no lights on the other boats in the marina.

Putting the tender in tow we headed across Neill Ledge and out past Pulteney Point lighthouse where we set a course for Ripple Pass.  The light breezes in Broughton Strait were soon replaced by 15-25 knot northwesterly breezes which kicked up a 3 foot chop on top of the low westerly swell.  Spirit was soon covered in salt spray, undoing all the work that Ted Marx had done the day before.

As we continued across Queen Charlotte Strait the wind gradually abated to 10-15 knots, but now the swell increased to 6-8 feet from both the offshore effects and the 3 knot ebb tide in Ripple Pass.  We had to slow down to keep from going airborne in the larger swells.

After several miles of sloppy water we passed through Ripple Pass and set a course for Cape Caution.  The Cape was abeam at 1115, with 5-10 knots of wind and a 6-8 foot swell at 7 seconds period on the port bow.  We had occasional light mist/rain as we passed Egg Island and then the sky cleared.

 The swell stayed with us until we were in the lee of Calvert Island and entering Fitz Hugh Sound, where the wind dropped to 3 knots and the seas were glassy.  We saw only one other pleasure craft crossing Cape Caution, “Salpare”, a Catalina 400 sailboat from Roche Harbor Yacht  Club.

When we turned the corner out of Fitz Hugh Sound into Kwakshua Channel the wind picked up, but fortunately subsided as we approached Pruth Bay.  Along the way we saw an interesting  rock formation.  Can you see what we saw?

Egg Island Light from 3 miles

The rock formation reminded us of a ???

Looking east down Kwakshua Channel 5 miles to Fitz Hugh Sound

At 1610 we slowed down as we entered the anchorage in Pruth Bay, a few hundred yards from the Hakai Beach Institute.  One other boat was already at anchor, otherwise it was an empty harbor, in stark contrast to late in the summer when there can be 25 boats anchored.  By 1618 the anchor was set and the engine was off after an 82 nautical mile day.  We relaxed in the cool sunshine, protected from the wind by the cockpit enclosure.

Port Harvey to Port McNeill

By on May 10, 2016 in Spirit
May 7, 2016 to Lagoon Cove

We reluctantly said our goodbyes to George and Sabi (his dog) at 1000 and headed back towards Johnstone Strait.  We endured a few minutes of chop and wind as we turned the corner into Havannah Channel and then into calm waters.  Transiting Chatham Channel on a flood tide we arrived at Lagoon Cove via The Blowhole at 1154.  We were the only visiting boat at first and were greeted by Jean Barbour who has been operating Lagoon Cove since her husband Bill died three years ago.  By 1700 happy hour time there were 4 boats and we all gathered at Jean’s house for spot prawns provided by Jean and other snacks provided by the other boaters.  Jean is being assisted by a young couple, Dave and Jam for the time being.  Lagoon Cove has been on the market for some time and Jean has accepted an offer from a company that intends to continue the marina and fuel dock operation.

May 8, 2016 – Mother’s Day to Pierre’s Echo Bay

Ted and Patrick had set out prawn pots soon after we arrived, but the wind reappeared and it was not safe to retrieve them that evening in the rain.  The next morning the winds were still more than 25 knots, but Ted and Patrick were able to get the pots up and we had more than 100 nice sized spot prawns in just one of the pots.  Due to technical difficulties, the other two pots only had a few spot prawns,

Low Tide at Lagoon Cove

The commercial season starts in just a few days, so that is probably our last prawns until Alaska.

We departed Lagoon Cove at 1102 under sunny skies, but windy conditions.  As we headed west in Knight Inlet the winds and seas continued to build, reaching more than 40 knots. 

The True Wind in Knight Inlet, moire than 40 knots

Pierre’s is normally packed with yachts during the summer, not know

Spirit enjoying the solitude of an empty marina

All the work of several days ago to remove salt spray was negated in just a few minutes.  The winds, seas and currents combined to make for a sloppy transit of Spring Passage, but the seas smoothed out as we headed up Cramer Pass and docked at Pierre’s Echo Bay.  We were the only visiting boat.  The store was closed, the power was not yet on, nor the wifi.  The store has been repainted inside and a new deck extension has been added to the pavilion.  Nonetheless we were treated to a sunset bugle concert from Don and Karen, the caretakers while Pierre is in Port McNeill.  The sound of Taps floating out over Echo Bay was beautiful and haunting as Mother’s Day came to a close.

May 9, 2016 – to Port McNeill

The wind abated overnight and at 0747 we eased gently from the dock at Pierre’s and worked our way back down Cramer Pass to Arrow Passage and across to Donegal Head on Malcom Island.  The large ebb tide slowed us to a crawl for about one hour, with our speed over the ground down to 2.4 knots at one point.

After finally rounding Donegal Head and entering Cormorant Channel, our speed picked up and we docked at North Island Marina in Port McNeill at 1137.  We have travelled 338 nautical miles since leaving Anacortes.

A parade of Roche Harbor Yacht Club yachts followed us in, a separate flotilla also heading to SE Alaska.  Everyone was washing the salt off from their experience in Johnstone Strait and buying last minute provisions before heading to Cape Caution and beyond.  We chose to remain in Port McNeill at least one day longer to allow the weather to improve.

We celebrated the end of this part of the voyage with Ted and Lisa Marx at the Northern Lights Restaurant followed by an epic game of Mexican Train.

May 10, 2016 – Port McNeill

The RHYC yachts began leaving before 0700 as Ted spent the morning washing the salt off of Spirit and then all of us drove to the Port Hardy Airport so Ted and Lisa could pick up their rental car.  Miriam and I stopped at the IGA on our return and picked up enough fresh produce to last until Ketchikan.

After a burger at Gus’s Bar and Grill we said our goodbyes and returned to Spirit to finalize our preparations for crossing Cape Caution.  By 0800 in the morning we will be out of cell phone range until we approach Prince Rupert. in about one week.

2016-12 Prince Rupert to Ketchikan

By on May 9, 2016 in Wild Blue

Monday, May 9, 2016The 4AM weather report for Dixon Entrance East was special.  No real wind until late in the day and seas less than 1 meter.  Let’s cross… so we did.It was as forecast, a pleasant crossing in light winds with flat seas and…

2016-11 Lowe Inlet to Prince Rupert

By on May 8, 2016 in Wild Blue

Sunday, May 8, 2016Rather than fight the current, we opt to “sleep in” until 9.  Then we’re back on the Grenville northward using any current in our favor.  Gray turns to light clouds, then sun and wind as the morning becomes afternoon.In Nor…

2016-10 Princess Royal Reach to Grenville Channel and Lowe Inlet.

By on May 7, 2016 in Wild Blue

Saturday, May 7, 2016The high wind warnings persist so the crew is OK with early morning departures in hopes of minimizing exposure to the winds.  By 6am we’ve departed Work Bay.  It is a fine anchorage but there is room for just one boat nea…

Shoal Bay to Port McNeill Part One

By on May 7, 2016 in Spirit

May 5, 2016

High Slack tide at our next tidal rapid, Greene Point, was at 1552, so we left Shoal Bay at 1500 under sunny skies.  We transited Greene Point Rapids right at slack water and headed down Chancellor Channel in brisk winds.  Turning into Wellbore Channel we transited Whirlpool Rapids with a 5 knot push behind us.  The original plan was to spend the night at Forward Harbour and then on to Port Harvey the next day.  
Patrick made the call to continue since Sunderland Channel looked OK.  However, when we got to Johnstone Strait the conditions deteriorated with short steep seas and winds steady at 35 knots, gusting to 41 knots.  The seas were accentuated by the ebb tide now strongly flowing against the wind.  The tide rips in this area are well known and we endured the slamming and spray for less than one hour before the winds began to decrease and the seas calmed down.  Somewhere after the seas built up, the portside ball fender went over the side, still attached, and as the waves hit it the fender would appear airborne well above the bow rail.  By the time we reached the Broken Islands the winds were down to 15 knots and the seas were calm.  We pulled into Port Harvey and shut the engines down at 2030, with still plenty of daylight.

The wreckage from the sinking of the barge (with the store and Red Shoe restaurant) is beginning to get cleaned up and George Cambridge has a new float which will have the octagonal tent from North Island Marina as a temporary gathering place as George and Gail rebuild.

The barge has been refloated and a new float for the tent is in place
Since it was Cinco de Mayo, we had chicken enchiladas for dinner and then called it a night, saving the washing of the salt off the boat for the next day.

Even with the rebuilding, there are plenty of scenic views in Port Harvey
May 6, 2016

By sunrise the two other boats in Port Harvey had departed for Port McNeill, everyone trying to get across Cape Caution while there is relatively good weather.  The gales in Johnstone Strait do not extend to Cape Caution and yachts are crossing every day according to AIS.  The sun came out, still breezy, and we washed the salt off Spirit from yesterday’s excitement.  By early afternoon two more yachts had joined Spirit in Port Harvey.

With several more yachts on the dock we had an impromptu potluck on Spirit, with steaks, spot prawns, steamed asparagus, salad and roasted potatoes, followed by ice cream sundaes.  Meanwhile the wind continued to howl from the NW in Johnstone Strait.

2016-09 Lambard Inlet to Work Bay

By on May 6, 2016 in Wild Blue

Friday, May 6, 2016This is our 8th year cruising the Inside Passage to Alaska.  Each year we try new anchorages.  In 2016, for the first time we’ve anchored in Fish Egg, Lambard and tonight’s Work Bay. It’s a 5-hour motor from the Inlet up to…

2016-08 Fish Egg, Shearwater to Uncharted Lambard Inlet

By on May 5, 2016 in Wild Blue

Thursday, May 5, 2016This morning we harvested more seafood.  With 12 crab it was time to cook and pick.  After 50 prawns had their heads twisted off, a prawns and pasta dinner was likely.  Maybe crab cakes for appetizers? We motored up …