Port McNeill to Blind Channel Resort, August 20.

August 19.
After four days getting caught up on the blog and getting squared away on everything else, we left our slip in fair weather, stopped at the fuel dock for fuel and propane, stopped to see the folks on the Ericson 36 Dream Seeker anchored in the anchorage,that we had met the day before, and headed toward the Broughtons.

The weather was deteriorating rapidly before our eyes. Our headway dropped below 4 knots. Well we just turned around and went back to the same slip we had just left. When we went up to the harbour office to check back in, we spotted Dream Seeker at the loading dock waiting for moorage. We stopped to chat and they invited us to join them on their boat for cocktails that evening. We had a wonderful time getting to know them and sharing stories of anchorages, moorages, and adventures in general.

The next morning we took off again in smooth seas and great currents. We made it across Blackfish sound, in building southeast winds, and to Joe Cove faster than ever before.




By the time we set out crab trap near the entrance to the cove,










and tied to the float in the cove with two other boats, it started raining. It rained steady all night.







The next morning we fished unsuccessfully for halibut until we lost the tide, then went over to the Burdwood Group and set the prawn trap before going into Pierre's at Echo Bay for the night.




Pierre sold us on joining the steak and baked potato night at his circus tent. We meet several interesting people and had a great time visiting over an outstanding steak dinner.






Art, standing in the cockpit of"Afternoon Delight" turned out to be a close friend of folks that used to live on Beaver Creek very near us on the Klamath River.

Besides seeing Art and Dan of "Afternoon Delight" at Port McNeill and Pierre's at Echo Bay, we also saw them at Lagoon Cove, Blind Channel, and at Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham.



The next morning we picked up our prawn trap yielding 9 very small rock crabs and just 8 fair sized prawns. We dumped the rock crabs and saved the prawns.






We then headed for Lagoon Cove for moorage and the famous Lagoon Cove happy hour featuring fresh cooked prawns. The owner collects a couple hundred prawns from his string of traps daily for the pot-luck happy hour. You don't need to plan dinner after going through the spread of food put out at these great feeds.





The next morning a southeaster was blowing up a storm and we were unable to get to our prawn trap and went back to the comfort of Lagoon Cove Marina and stayed until the next morning. We also had to suffer another pot-luck happy hour, prawns and all.





8/24 The weather looked tolerable by morning and we made another attempt at collecting our prawn trap. Well, the high winds the day before had drug our trap and fouled it, or the line, with something on the bottom. We tried several different pulls, but nothing would free it, and in the battle we pulled the float down under and it set on the one way catch. So when we finally cut our boat loose we were only able to save just under 100 feet of line that we had winched aboard. All the rest of the gear including the trap were left on the bottom.

Dejected, we went through the Blow Hole and Chatham Channel and on to Port Neville in smooth seas, fair current and sunny skies.







We arrived at the public dock by noon just as the whale watching boats pulled in for their lunch break. Most of the folks shed their foulies (foul weather suits) when they headed up the docks.

Later in the day four other boats came in and moored for the night.




We visited with the other boaters , and went ashore to stretch our legs, and chat with some of the locals who were visiting the folks at Port Neville






The next morning we left Port Neville on the tide in a heavy fog and headed for Blind Channel resort on Mayne Passage. By the time we got into Johnstone Strait the fog lifted and The trip down the Strait was smooth and fast with a good current push.



The 4 to 5 knot tide rips in and around Current Passage, that could not be avoided, steered Teal around as much as 45 degrees. They can be very troublesome when they are kicked up by an opposing wind.






We arrived at Blind Channel Resort about mid day, got caught up on our domestic chores, took a walk on the scenic trail out to the point, and visited with some of the boaters that were coming in to the docks to moor for the night.







By evening the place was full.

Tomorrow we will head for Heriot Bay.

Stay tuned more to come,

George and JoAnne

The Broughton Islands, August 19.

Our plan is to leave Port McNeill tomorrow about mid day and cruise through the Broughton Island Archipelago for three or four days. We want to revisit some of the spots we liked in the past and refill our box with sea food before continuing our passage to Bellingham.

Stay tuned for the final post when we get to Bellinham in a about 10 days.

George and JoAnne

Millbrook Cove to Port McNeill, August 14.

Hoisting anchor in the morning fog.








After we left Millbrook Cove we ran in the fog with as little as 100 yards visibility, sounding Teals fog horn every two minuets, all the way around Cape Caution to Southgate Island staying in close to stay out of the tug and barge lanes.

When we got to Southgate Island the fog cleared there, but not across Queen Charlotte Sound to the Walker Group.





I did not want to cross Richards Channel and Ripple Passage until I could see the 6 miles to the Walker Group. Tugs towing barges use these Lanes and with out radar it would be fool hardy to attempt a crossing in the fog.








I chose to hold up in this little cove at the south end of the Southgate Group where we could see across to the Walker Group when the fog cleared. It was time for lunch anyway.






By 2:00 PM the fog had cleared to the Walker Group and we took off. When we went through Shelter Passage we saw a cruise ship going down Gordon Channel, right at the edge of a fog bank along the south side of the channel.

As we crossed Gordon channel the fog thickened just as a tug towing a barge crossed our bow. I changed course to pass after the barge crossed my bow. By then we were at the pass through the Gordon Islands with improving visibility. After we went through the Gordon Islands into Goletas Channel the fog completely cleared.



We continued on to Patrician Cove in Beaver Harbour and anchored for the night ending our 55 mile ordeal in the fog.







Peel Island from our anchorage in Patrician Cove.








The next morning after waiting until noon for the fog to clear we set off for Port McNeill.

It was an easy 18 mile passage to Port McNeill in thin fog.




It was a bright, warm sunny day when we arrived at Port McNeill.

This ends our intended cruising blog, we will post the remainder of our passage to Bellingham and the statistics of our cruise when possible.
Stay tuned,

George and Joanne

Green Island to Milbrook Cove, August 12.

With the iffy weather we chose to delay out rounding of Cape Caution and just go into Frypan Bay for the night.










Frypan Bay is another classic B.C. anchorage totally protected from all winds.







Looking out the entrance to Frypan Bay.








The next morning we had some very interesting low tide reflections.







Our plan for the day was to route Teal to Millbrook Cove to stage our rounding of Cape Caution the following day.










With a side trip up Darby Channel to Dawsons Resort.











We needed a dozen eggs and a shower.







Dawsons is a classic back woods fishing resort in Rivers Inlet.








It features a fuel dock, moorage for lots of boats, fairly well stocked store, a well stocked liquor store, fishing supplies, cabins, shower and laundry.






After our showers we headed for Millbrook Cove In Smith Inlet.









Once at Millbrook Cove we anchored behind the island where we usually do. There were two other power boats also anchored in the cove.


More to come stay tuned,

George and JoAnne

Klemtu to Green Island Anchorage, August 9.

We left Klemtu and headed out for a 45 mile run to Shearwater.











We got everything done in Shearwater that we needed to do before heading for Codville Lagoon.








We left Shearwater just in time to make it over to Bella Bella before the fuel dock closed for lunch, took on fuel and good sweet
water. Bella Bella's water is second only to Ocean Falls for purity.





It was an easy 20 mile run to the anchorage in Codville Lagoon











Codville Lagoon is a Provincial Marine Park.








We set the prawn and crab trap before seting the anchor in this peaceful cove.







The next morning the crab trap had one very large male and one soft shell.







The prawn trap had a disappointing half dozen prawns.








We left Codville Lagoon for Green Island Anchorage.











Green Island Anchorage is completely protected from all winds.









When we pulled in to the anchorage Yachette, the power yacht we crossed tracks with in Alaska was anchored there.







We anchored next to a Canadian Ketch rigged Boat, in a peaceful part of the cove.

The weather was deteriorating and the rain woke me several times during the night.




More to come stay tuned,

George and JoAnne

Hartley Bay to Klemtu, August 7

It was an easy 29 mile run to Butedale.









Butedale is an abandoned 1908 to 1968 cannery town with a caretaker named Lou. He has a rickety old dock and sells moorage at reasonable rates. He also rents his personal shower out.











The cove is somewhat spectacular.






When you get close enough to see the condition of the town. And it just happens to be for sale.

http://www.landquest.com/detailmain.asp?prop=08001&curpage=6&search=newlist

Next to the town is this spectacular water fall.








The guest dock is shown below the partially collapsed building.








Teal sidled up to the dock.








One of the buildings still standing, temporarily.








George and our tour guide Gordon. Gordon took us up to the lake to go trout fishing.







This lake like most all the lakes in the north are log choked at their outlets. I think this trip was more for the guide than the tourists.
Gordon is not allowed to go to the lake alone, and Lou made him take bear spray. He told us that the hike up to the lake only took 5 to 15 minuets depending how fast you go. It took us closer to an hour to make it up the steep muddy undeveloped insect infested trail.



When we got back from the lake Gordon finished his tour showing us the herring oil rendering plant, the power house where they generated power from water falling from the lake and what was left of the domestic buildings.





We took showers in Lew's shower for $3.00 each, and dined aboard Teal. After dinner we were invited to join Lou and Gordon at their camp fire and visited and star gazed around the fire until after midnight. We could hear bats squeaking, but it was hard to pinpoint their whereabouts.

The next morning we headed for Klemtu.











It was a pleasant warm, sunny 38 mile cruise through Princes Royal Channel to the First Nation community of Klemtu.






We tied to the public dock, and paid our moorage fees.








We went to the band store, got our ice cream fix and took a walk through town to stretch our legs.







More to Come stay tuned,

George and JoAnne.