But, the nightly silence - and sometimes the daytime one - is occasionally interrupted by the sounds of modern convenience boating: 'silent' portable generators, humming diesel heaters, thumping rock music from the aerodynamically built power yachts, roaring outboards on tenders.
On the other hand, some boaters row their dinghies instead of using their high powered outboard which create frightful wakes.
Yesterday I walked to Butchard, after an uneventful cruise from Montague - 5 hours cast off to anchor, no favourable winds but threatening clouds.
The community buses are still running between the Gardens and downtown Sidney, still a bargain at correct change 1.65 for 'old people' even if there is no change for a twoonie.
Very convenient for stocking up on the odd grocery item and having a coffee at the local Internet friendly 'Serious Coffee' cafe.
That's what I did today, take the bus and getting my fix of humanity.
Back in the Gardens, where a late blooming dogwood embellishes the Sturgeon Fountain. All else is geraniums, roses, begonias and who knows what else. The usual camper vans, motor homes, tour buses and cars crowd the adjacent parking lot for the ones arriving per land. And Tod Inlet, where I am anchored, is filling up with boats to watch the first Butchard Garden Fireworks of the season. The walkways of the gardens are filled with visitors, taking photos of everything that does not move.
A jazz,blues, rock band is 'sound testing' on the garden's stage, pretty much like a concert but unscheduled entertainment. People sit on the grass listening and clapping after every 'tested' song.
Every language known to man is heard, diversity galore. The great unifier: jeans and t-shirts. The most fashionably dressed visitors appear to hail from the Far East, sporting funky outfits perfectly coordinated, sometimes protected by a colourful parasol. Clothes that earn Asia the title of global fashion capital, clothes that are rare on the racks of North America.
A new carousel with magical animals for rides has opened in Butchard Gardens. The carved animals are faultless, their images have made it already onto Christmas tree ornaments, mugs, plates, bookmarks, postcards etc for sale at the Gardens Souvenir Shops.
The path leading past the carousel have been tastefully blocked with potted plants, in order for visitors to take the new path leading to the carousel. Which is surprisingly deserted, despite hundreds of kids walking, running and being wheeled about the gardens in their strollers.
Entering the glass and concrete enclosure which houses the carousel, I felt as if entering a modern warehouse. Steel, antiseptic glass, concrete walls adorned with a few marionettes dangling from the ceiling, and an ancient mosaic from the Butchard collection hanging from a concrete wall. An impersonal atmosphere like a factory, and nary a kid in sight. To me it felt almost antiseptic and uninviting, curiously out of sync with the rest of the Gardens.
Moored in Montague, tied to one of the famous 12 dollar (incl HST) buoys.
One of the few moments of sunshine, when my solar panel went crazy with joy, and actually charged my boat batteries.
Low tide in Montague Lagoon. These boys enjoyed sinking deep into the black and odorous mud, and tracking down crabs and clams.
