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Weather |
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Aug.14/06 |
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Port Hardy, |
Cloudy morning, sunny afternoon |
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Fishing Fleet Waiting For the Call In Port Hardy |
When we woke up today we saw an available spot on the public dock next to the Quarterdeck Marina that we wanted to move into. Yesterday, after we were securely tied to the dock with the herring seiners at the Packing Plant near the Esso station, we realized that there was power but not water! Still in my pajamas, I rousted the Captain and we cast off
and headed the short distance across the water to the other dock. No need to adjust fenders, easy swing into
a spot at the end of a finger and mission accomplished. Where is the water faucet?? Three hose lengths away as it turned
out. Oh well. We met the fisherman beside us and his
fishing partners in front of us. They
are here to fish for sockeye with their trawlers but the weather is too
rough. They had been fishing just
outside The one lady that I spoke to ahead of us used to live in Courtenay, had a high level administrative job and showed Irish Setters as a hobby. When she turned fifty she and her partner decided to buy into a fishing enterprise and she hasn’t looked back. She’s a fisher now! Not long after getting settled we were able to make out As they all made their way closer to Port Hardy we tried to make arrangements for moorage for them at the Quarterdeck Marina. The public docks were full of fishing boats and many of those were rafted two and three deep as well. We were lucky to grab the spot we did this morning. By the time they arrived we had Kimje on the Quarterdeck
dock, Magistra rafted to us and While my Captain did some boat maintenance (putting lock
washers on the drive shaft flange bolts) I did the domestic part – the
laundry. I got chatting with another
family doing the same. We thought we
had a horrible, terrible no good very bad day back in These folks were in Port Hardy to have their boat hauled
out of the water as they had to replace one of their propellers. They hit a rock in By the time the laundry was done the incoming crew was
ready for a trip to the grocery store.
I went along with Kay for the walk while Carol and Warren left a
little later. Rick and I had shopped
yesterday and taken the shopping cart down to the docks to offload. Today we discovered, thanks to our
experienced new friends, that if you purchase over one hundred dollars from
the Overwaitea at the mall, they provide your cab fare back to the docks. Kay and I shopped around the store, while
she went to the check out I ran to the nearby liquor store, or Mr. Bennett’s
as my Grandfather used to call it, and restocked. I ran back to the mall, found Kay waiting
outside for me and we hopped into a cab.
By the time we returned home and put away our supplies it was time for
Happy Hour aboard the After Happy Hour all nine of us made our way to Ivy’s Pub
for dinner. Halibut was on my mind and
it was delicious. We enjoyed the view
looking out at all the fishing vessels and had another enjoyable night with
the We said our goodnights and headed off to our respective boats to retire. |
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Date |
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Weather |
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Aug.15/06 |
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Port Hardy, |
Sunny and warm |
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Nature Walk Looking out to Queen
Charlotte Straight From Hardy Bay Quatse River Loop Trail |
We woke up to a windy morning at the docks and most people were making the decision to stay in one more day, including us. We stopped and talked on the dock with a Nordic Tug owner aboard the MV Sunday. He was familiar with the Nordic Tugs we had seen in Spitfire Channel. One of these boats, the Carousel, was moored in his marina as well. He invited us aboard his vessel to show us his satellite TV receiver antennae and the quality of reception on his large flat screen TV. He is retired and was waiting in Port Hardy for his wife to fly up to meet him for her two week holiday. We also had Dave, our fisherman neighbor across the finger from us, come over and ask Rick to help him with his computer. Dave showed Rick his wireless computer receiving an internet “Fat Port Hot Spot”. After looking at it, Rick is thinking that this is the way to go for next year. You pay as you go, one day, or one week rather than by the month like Telus. We were going to go on a hike today. The walking trail starts at the Quarterdeck
Marina, through their boat yard and on down along the edge of On our return, Happy Hour was aboard the Sea Foam. We had all nine of us for lively conversation about the day and again we had supper in Babe’s Pub, down the road from the Quarterdeck. There is fine dining on the ground level and upstairs in the pub section there are large windows that look out over the bay much like the view looking out of a large wheelhouse. It was very good and we will go back again. |
Date |
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Weather |
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Aug. 16/06 |
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Port Hardy, |
Cloudy Morning, Sunny afternoon and evening |
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Fishing Vessels Making Away to Fishing Opening |
Today the morning appeared less breezy and we were leaving
Port Hardy. The trip down from Port Hardy was smooth water and very enjoyable. The wind was on our stern and little of it at that. Several fishing vessels were also taking advantage of the calmer seas and getting in position to fish. We said goodbye to our friends, Kimje, The rest of our trip past We anchored in Beware Cove and set up a crab trap. This is the same location where we lost a crab trap two years ago. We dove for it three times because it was a brand new commercial stainless steel trap but we never did recover it. We would keep a close watch on this one. After supper Rick noticed that a boat had come into our
anchorage and it was the same boat, MV Due West, which he had met in Rick took Kona for her last shore visit of the night, returned her to the Sea Foam and went to visit Bill and Dave on the Due West. Before too long Kona started barking and I thought it was because she heard the voices of the men talking on the stern deck. When I went to tell her it was all okay it wasn’t the men she heard it was the threatening blue heron on the shore near us that she was warning me about. It was a large heron and it was standing on the end of a log extending into the water. You never know when a blue heron might attack a forty foot boat and Kona isn’t taking any chances!! She is a good watch dog. Rick returned to the boat soon after Kona’s outburst and we retired for the night. A very calm evening although the holding in this anchorage wasn’t great. We didn’t worry too much because it was very sheltered and little wind was expected over night. |
Date |
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Weather |
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Aug.17.06 |
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Beware Cove, |
Sunny all the way |
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to Enlarge
Two Foresters Climbing Up the
Bank at Beward Cove Due West Picking Up Their Crab Traps In Beware Cove Several Boats Making the Most of Slack Tide Through Mixing Business With Pleasure View on Port Neville From Shore
Looking North to Head of the Bay Public Dock at Port Neville Fishing Vessel Heading Out Into
Johnstone Straight from Port Neville Boats at Dock At Port Neville Nordic Tug on Left, Laurie Lea,
Was Part of During Cummings Konk-Out. Lorna, the Proprietor At Artifacts From Long Ago in Museum
At Port Neville CA Leaving Museum at Port Neville Our Painting of Ucluelet Lighthouse “Amphritrite Point” Off Johnstone Straight Into Port Neville Kona’s Evening Walk At Port Neville |
I woke up early and started catching up on the log. Since leaving Port Hardy I hadn’t recorded our comings and goings. I was too busy having fun. After my first cup of coffee the boat began to rock gently and I looked out to see a small aluminum boat dropping off two people, a man and a woman, right on the steep shore adjacent to our boat. They wore safety vests, hard hats and carried walking sticks. They climbed out of the boat and starting climbing the steep bank. I gathered that they worked for forestry or the company that had logged the area behind the thin stand of trees along the shore line. They disappeared into the trees and the aluminum boat motored away. Not long after that the Due West pulled up their anchor
and their crap traps and drove close by to say farewell. By now the Captain had been rousted from
his bed by all the commotion and opened the pilot house doors to say goodbye.
The Due West reported that Kona had a trip to shore, I made breakfast and Rick and Kona picked up the crab trap on their return. There were fifteen crabs in the trap and four were kept. The females and the smallest ones were returned to the bottom. Salmon fish heads are definitely crabs favorite fare. The eyes are always eaten out, too! Yum, yum! We started back down Beware Passage the way we had come in
last night and then turned north into Clio Channel. We approached the Blow Hole near There were several boats of the same mind, making the
transit during near slack tide. We
came out into We motored past the historical site of Port Neville. The decendants of the original pioneer
family are still at this site. Lorna
Hansen (Chesluk) and her daughter Erica Chesluk still live at the site today.
We were told that Captain Vancouver named this spot in July, 1792. In 1891 Hans Hansen settled there and
started one of the first post offices on the coast in 1895 which is still
operating. Mail comes into Port
Neville ever Wednesday. Olaf Hansen was next to run the post office and after
his death in the late 1990’s his daughter, Lorna continued to run the
place. The docks are public and there
is no fee charged to stay the night as they are part of Transport Hans Hansen built his second home in 1920 for his family and in 1924 a store was added in the front of the building which is now a museum and art gallery. This store was in operation until 1960 and there was a gas station located there was well. Family members have an additional home on the site where they stay when they come to visit Lorna. Erica has just graduated and is now living and working on the mainland. In 2000 the building was re-roofed as it was slowly deteriorating and at risk of being lost all together. The building has had repairs done to the floors as well and the potluck dinners and desserts are held in the large room at the back of the building overlooking the manicured lawns and fruit trees surrounding the site. The local artist, Peggy Sowden, lives across the inlet and displays her work in the museum. There is also a book exchange and gift souvenirs like tee shirts and water colour cards done by Peggy Sowden available to be purchased. If you are lucky the deer will be around and are so tame they will eat right out of your hand. There are also bears, both black and grizzly, roaming around the place as well as cougars. When we arrived Lorna told us there was a mother black bear and three cubs close by so keep a sharp look-out and your dogs on a leash. We anchored across from the public dock and took a walk with Kona along the rocky beach. We were about to round the bend into the next bay when Rick spotted a large splotch of bear “scat”. To me it was the size of a cow plop and about an hour old. I was now uneasy as there are grizzlies and black bears in this area. I walked as close to the water line as I could, not near the tree line and kept a close look out. I was even more uncomfortable because the wind was coming at us and our scent would not be detected by a bear if they were ahead of us. We only went a little further and turned back. We were now down wind and that gave me some comfort. We had been walking for an hour so we had a good bit of exercise and it was time to go explore the settlement at the dock. We left Kona behind at the boat. As we approached the dock
we were happy to run into Bob from the Laurie Lea, the Nordic Tug that had
been part of the Cummings fuel line rescue team in
We had a good chat with Bob about our travels to date and
then continued on up to the homestead.
We met the proprietor, Lorna Hansen.
She opened the museum and art gallery for us. We walked through with the Captain and
first mate of the Sea O2 (They own a Pepsi franchise in the When we left the building I commented to Rick what a nice painting it was and he said he liked it too and thought we should buy it and have it in the Sea Foam. The size of the frame was perfect for a spot we wanted to put a piece of art in. SOLD! We went back and spoke to Lorna about it and we measured the frame to make sure the dimensions would work. When we got back to the boat we determined the painting
would fit perfectly where we had intended.
After supper Rick and Kona went back over to the museum to bring the
painting home. On route Rick stopped
in and had a visit with John and Betty Fitzpatrick from the MV Sea O2. They keep their boat in Anacortes but live
in He left their boat and proceeded up the dock to the museum to purchase our painting. He didn’t know if he should disturb Lorna or not as she was entertaining a group of folks off a Lutheran Mission Boat that had come into the dock this afternoon. They had enjoyed a pot luck meal together and were now having a praise and worship sing-along in the museum. Rick decided to take Kona for a last walk along the beach and then re-entered the museum hoping to get Lorna’s attention without disturbing her festivities. He kept me informed of his progress by walkie talkie. As I looked out over the water there were now several boats that had come into the port for the night. Seven more boats were at anchor all around us now. Earlier today when we decided to anchor, there were three
fishing boats anchored beside us.
While we were on our walk it was like someone blew a whistle and they
all left at once. The three that were
anchored and two that were tied to the dock all made off heading north on Rick returned with our new work of art all wrapped up in
cardboard and plastic. Mounting would
have to wait for another day. It was
light outs and an early morning to meet
|
Date |
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Weather |
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Aug.18/06 |
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Port Neville to |
Morning Clouds |
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This Fisherman Had A Rough Night As Well On the Rocks at In Calm Waters in Cordero Channel Boats Anchored off the Dock In View From Northeast Towards Looking Out From Pub Philips Arm Boaters From Who Trailer Their Boat and Launch in Powell River |
It was a windy night and CA slept little while the Captain snored on. To compound the problem, fishing boats kept coming into Port Neville to sleep and their engines and spot lights were a constant disturbance as they jockeyed around for a spot to anchor in. We needed to get away early before We decided to make our destination We moved out into Johnstone Strait and even though the
flood tide and the wind were going in the same direction the water was
confused and a bit lumpy, probably still calming from the night before’s
gales. We were glad we only had to
travel on it for about thirty minutes before turning in to Sunderland Channel
and calmer water. As we moved along we
spotted a fishing boat grounded on the rocks at The water in Sunderland Channel was calm and the scenery
beautiful. Many other boats were
making their way up this roadway to transit the series of narrows and rapids
in order to get to their next destination.
We would have to go through two sets of “rapids”, Whirlpool Rapids in
Wellbore Channel and Greene Point Rapids in Cordero Channel. The water was running in our direction and
we would be pushed through both areas with an increased speed of about three
to four knots. The current was just
beginning to get going so our timing was right for going through these
rapids. At maximum speed the current
in these areas can be six to seven knots.
These areas are not as tumultuous as the Yucultas further along. There the whirlpools in We arrived at Once we were secure we took Kona to shore and visited with people on the veranda at the pub where the owner, Mark, serves cold beer and wine. His little establishment was very pretty and the grounds and scenery lovely to look at. The view up the bay across to Philips Arm is gorgeous. We were told about the hike through the trees and up the hill to where there are abandoned gold mines. The hike is steep but well worth the climb to eight hundred feet to look out over the surrounding mountains and inlets. Mark MacDonald bought the place several years ago when
there was a big lodge there and not long after moving in there was an
electrical fire and he lost the whole building. He has since built the pub/house and is
making improvements on another large house up on the hillside. The old abandoned grocery store from years
gone by is still hanging on by a thread before it is reclaimed by the wind
and weather. Many years ago this was a
thriving community. It was the site of
one of the biggest mining towns and gold was extracted from several mines in
and near the bay. Some more
imaginative folks say We sat in the sun on the porch and drank beer and chatted
with a couple from After several cold beers on the patio, we returned to the Sea Foam for an afternoon nap. While CA napped after her sleepless night in Port Neville, the Captain took Kona out exploring and conducted an advance search of the trail to the gold mine. On his return we barbequed in the warm sunshine and chatted with the folks on the dock. Another couple and their seven year old son had arrived in
their runabout. They too were from The dock was still lively and going strong with red wine flowing, the wind blowing, and sea stories getting more interesting, when we retired at 2200. Tomorrow we would try fishing and hiking the gold mine trail. |
Date |
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Weather |
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Aug.19/06 |
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Sunny and breezy |
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CA Picking Her Way Up the Trail Captain Rick on the Return Down
the Trail We Did It! View of the Pub in From Across the Head of the Bay At theTrail Head View of Located Just Before the Gold Mine At 800 Feet |
We woke up to another beautiful day and after breakfast and
shore duty we loaded up our fishing gear and headed for Hall Point at the
northern tip of We could see lots of fish on our finder but they were deep and not biting today – at least not for us. We didn’t see anyone else catching anything either, so we packed it up and headed for the dock. Our next adventure was the hike to the gold mine! We packed up a picnic and some red wine and off we went past the pub and onto the trail. I had heard a man say yesterday on his return from the hike that the trail was steep. Rick assured me it was not bad at all and this fellow was elderly so for him it was a challenge. Well, guess what, it started off just fine and got progressively steeper as we climbed. I called for two “rest stops” to stretch my burning calves and wipe the sweat trickling down my back! Once we got to the top it was all worth it. The view was spectacular! We had passed two couples on our way up and not long after we finished our lunch they came up to the summit and admired the view along with us. We were up eight hundred feet and looking down on the bay and out to Philips Arm. The water is so clear around this area you could see the wake of the boats passing by long after they had motored by. Of course the climb down was much easier but you had to place your feet strategically or it was easy to slip on the loose gravel and rocks. I hit the dirt twice but luckily landed on my ample padding. No serious injuries. Once back on the flats we made our way back to the Sea Foam and said our goodbyes to the folks on the dock. We motored out of the bay and the Captain decided it was a perfect time to try an experiment. He wanted to know if, under circumstances of difficulty, the Catch-Up could tow the Sea Foam from either side of the pilot house gates. He rigged up the Catch-Up on the port side of the Sea Foam with a bow line and stern line attaching both boats. He then fixed the throttle at a certain speed and the tiller held in position with rope. He then ordered me to determine the steerage and speed of the Sea Foam while he was standing by in the Catch-Up. In conclusion, if the tiller is in a straight position the Sea Foam will not steer straight. However, if the tiller is positioned full over to the stern of the Sea Foam the Sea Foam can be steered accurately from the helm. The towing speed of four knots was reached. Safety experiment concluded, all ropes and boats returned to their position and on we went down Cordero Channel. As we moved up to our cruising speed, we spied another
Transpac Eagle 40 coming our way. We
had seen this boat in the distance as we passed Green Point Rapids. It was tied to dock at Cordero Lodge. The MV S.K.I. was from We turned south at Nodales Channel and headed for I woke up at 0330 and the sky was full of stars and the
breeze was only slight even though there were gales blowing nearby in |
Date |
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Weather |
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Aug.20/06 |
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Sunny |
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Commerical and Recreational
Fishers Off On Route South to Tranquil Water of Looking Out to The The Cabin Where Boaters Can Leave Their
Mark Inside the Creative Work Was
Impressive Kona On the Look-out in |
Not long after breakfast Rick took Kona to shore and on
his way back stopped and talked to some boaters nearby who were just
returning from Not long after that we looked up to see Ron and Sue from
the Popeye pulling in to the anchorage.
We went over in the Catch-Up and had a visit with them and talked
about the origin of their boat and their seventeen cruises in the We wanted to time our journey through Upper and Lower
Rapids on route to the We were making good time with the current in our favor so we slowed down and meandered through Okisollo Channel at a leisurely pace to meet the rapids at near slack. We got into the Octopus Islands and were happy to see that even though it was 1630 the anchorage was not jammed packed as it usually is and their was room for us to stern tie in the first bay to the right off the main passageway. Once we got anchored up we got the prawn traps out and set
off for shore duty and prawn trapping.
We were on the look out for a cabin that Ron and Sue had told us about
that had boaters’ names hanging from the walls and ceilings displayed in all
sorts of interesting and artistic ways, much like the ones that hang in the
porch at the cabin in Conover Cove, We had rough directions and on our way back from setting the prawn traps we found the spot. We wrote in the guest book and spent time looking at all the artistic representations and mobiles hanging from the ceilings and walls. We returned to the Sea Foam, had a barbeque, and went back out to check on our prawns. We got about fifty of the little darlings, some of them large but most of the medium size variety. Back down it went for an overnight stay. The current runs smartly past the islands so we made sure to have weight in the traps and strategically place them inside the main channel so they wouldn’t get carried away by the current during the night. It was almost dark by the time we got back. It is getting darker earlier now or so it
seems. Our plans for tomorrow are to
hike from We retired, read, and fell fast asleep. |
Date |
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Weather |
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Aug. 21/06 |
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Sunny with a cool breeze |
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View on Small Inlet from the
Trail Rick and the Bleach Bottle Marking the Entrance to the Trail From Small Inlet The Old Wooden Signage Trail Was Well Mark and Easy to
Follow Kona on High Squirrel Alert CA at the Overflow The Hobbit Trail Our First Glimpse of A Cool Dip With the Preferred Picnic Spot in the Background On the Rocks Captain ”Buff” at |
I woke up early today and prepared a picnic lunch for our
hike to Rick took Kona to shore, pulled up our prawn trap (40
little lovelies) and delivered the mobile to the cabin and hung it up with
all the others. On his return, we
loaded up the picnic lunch into our pack back and away we headed for We were at the beginning of a rising tide so we undid the anchor from the Catch-Up and stretched it all the way into shore. We waded into the water and wound the anchor around a rock. By the time we get back this afternoon, the water will be at the highest level and the boat will be waiting for us. We have walked along this trail about three times and it
is cool and easy going through the forest.
It leads to Small Inlet on the other side where you can also anchor
coming in off Discovery Passage into We walked past the head of Small Inlet and found the trail well marked not only on the ground but with orange surveyor tape on the tree branches as well. Almost impossible to get lost. We walked along with the shore line of Small Inlet to our right and another little trail that was leading down to the water caught our attention. We followed it down and it was the entrance to the trail if you were anchored in Small Inlet. It had a yellow bleach bottle hanging from a tree branch to indicate where to enter onto the trail. When you first walk back up the trail from Small Inlet it is somewhat overgrown with low lying shrubs but it only lasts a short bit and then the main trail begins. In other words, don’t let the first twenty feet mislead you, the trail is great! We walked along and the trail reminded us of what it might be like to walk around in the Hobbits’ forest. Very enjoyable. At one place, after crossing the dried up stream bed, the trail got very steep. It lasted for about ten minutes where I felt much like a billy goat, and then it flattened out again. We walked along and saw ahead of us water on our right. When we could see through the trees I was so disappointed. It was a dried up slough!! I came all the way up that @!#$@#& trail for this!! We kept on walking and decided that it was the overflow from the lake and because of the season and the lack of rainfall it was near empty. We were very happy to see, after walking along a little further, a beautiful lake coming up to greet us. There is a large rock face that we were heading to but noticed that it was already inhabited by three young people so we tucked into a shady spot off the trail and had lunch. After lunch we shed our clothes and went in swimming. The temperature was just like baby bear’s porridge, not too hot and not too cold but just right. We were very impressed with how clear the water was. We had a delightful swim around, dressed and headed back down the trail again. As always, going back is always easier and faster than going up. When we got back to the Catch-Up she was waiting for us. We climbed back in and headed out to check our prawn traps. Found about another thirty medium to large size prawns in the traps. We baited it and put it back down again for pick-up tomorrow morning before departure. We returned to the Sea Foam to find her nestled snuggly in the shade with only a few beams of sunlight shining on the upper bridge. We mixed up a jug of strawberry daiquiris and sat up top and relaxed after a great hike. After dinner we listened to good music and retired. Another great day on the water – fresh and salt! |
Date |
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Weather |
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Aug. 22/06 |
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Sunny with afternoon clouds |
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My Clam Digging Partner And I At Bold Provisioning in Surf Scooter in |
We got organized: all traps in, dog to shore, breakfast
made and headed off to We turned in at We got back to the boat and motored off to As we entered through the “gorge” we looked up on the rocks off our port side hoping to see the pictographs that are said to be found there. We have looked before but never been able to find them. This time, with little effort, we spotted them for the first time and took some pictures. Once past the narrow entrance we decided to anchor at the west end of the bay. In the past we have found it too crowded by the docks and always gone to the east to anchor. There aren’t many spots at that end that have a comfortable depth. Once we anchored we headed off in the Catch-Up to buy some fresh fruit and veggies. The hot summer was very apparent by the color of the grass and the drooping of the low shrubs along the path to the store. We returned to the Sea Foam and relaxed for the rest of
the evening. Tomorrow we plan to go to
Manson’s Landing in the Catch-Up and spend the day on the beach at |
Date |
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(Route) |
Weather |
Aug. 23/06 |
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Sunny |
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Pictographs on the North Wall Entering the Gorge View From Manson’s Landing Dock South to Manson’s Landing Provincial Park
Map Trail Along Manson Lagoon to Trail Leading to Let Me Show You the Way Five Nymphs with the Boys in Black Looking On |
After breakfast and a quick shore leave we prepared our
picnic lunch and beach apparel for the short ride and hike to As we headed out through the narrow “gorge” entrance I kept a close look-out for the pictographs that are said to be found on the steep rock face. We had looked carefully the last time we were here but hadn’t found them. Today was our lucky day. We had seen several on our trip north this year so maybe now we were more familiar with what to look for. There clearly was a head with standing up hair and a human shape painted in a red rust color in the right angle corner made by a large gray rock on the west side of the gorge just about half way into the narrowing. We traveled one and a half nautical miles in the Catch-Up
and we were at the public dock at Manson’s Landing. The dock is always full and small craft are
tied and rafted together there. Several boats are also at anchor in Manson’s Landing is a We walked along the short trail that leads past Manson Lagoon. We were there at low tide and the water was very low. It makes for great beach combing and the children love to hunt for sea creatures with small nets and buckets. The hike along the trail is easy and not very far before you cross a road and walk down a path to a beautiful white sandy beach with crystal clear blue warm water. Right close to the path most people set up their “camp” so they don’t have to carry all their lawn chairs, kids and toys very far before relaxing and soaking up the sun. We like to walk farther to the north where there are small nooks and crannies you can claim as your own and have relative privacy. A few people still walk past to get to the same seclusion but not very often. Several young people passed by and said a quick hello and inquired about Kona on their way to find a spot to throw their towels and start swimming for the rock cliffs a short distance away where they could dive from the ledges. As soon as we were settled we headed into the water to cool off after our short hike and as Rick was kneeling in the soft sand, taking in the surroundings he felt something nibbling at his knee! He looked down and saw a friendly little guppy that he then gently scooped up so I could take his picture. Kona went swimming too after a few encouraging throws of a stick to get her used to the idea. We had a great afternoon of sunning, sipping and surveying all the comings and goings of the other locals and tourists enjoying this “Little Tahiti” location. During our stay five little girls walked by and after each one petted Kona they moved away and down just a little further from us. All five of the stripped their clothes off and headed into the water bound for the rock cliffs. We watched from our vantage point on the beach as they reached the other side and climbed out. It was like watching five little fairy nymphs all in a line as they climbed to the lowest reaches of the cliffs to dive in. But, alas, from high above the “boys in black” were also watching. We had seen earlier about five fifteen year old guys head off for the cliffs, all wearing black shorts. They had been diving in and back up on the cliffs all afternoon. It was interesting to watch the antics once the fairy nymphs arrived on scene. First on the agenda for the boys in black was to come down from their lofty perch and select a diving platform that was not only better for fairy viewing but also a better vantage point to be suitably observed and admired for their diving expertise. Oh, to be young again. Great entertainment for two older farts on the beach for the afternoon!! After much fun in the sun we packed up our stuff and headed for the Catch-Up waiting back at the public dock. We had a slow putt home and enjoy a barbeque and a quiet night onboard the Sea Foam after another fun filled day on the water.
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Date |
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Weather |
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Aug.24/06 |
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Gorge harbour to St. Vincent Bay, Jervis Inlet |
Sunny and breezy |
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Peaceful Anchorage in Jervis
Inlet Seal and Pup in Jervis Inlet Passing Boater in Jervis Inlet |
We headed out of The weather was perfect and the sea was calm. It is a long stretch of water from Cortes
to Texada and the piece from Texada to Jervis in We arrived at the mouth of Jervis Inlet at about 1600 and quite predictably the wind had picked up but it was on our stern. Many seasoned sail boaters were enjoying the free ride the wind was providing for them. We traveled up Jervis Inlet and decided to call it a day
and anchored in Once we were anchored and felt adequately secured we left the boat to go out in the Catch-Up and lay a prawn trap. The scenery in the area is gorgeous with the mountains and green trees reflected in the clear water. We chatted with a local workman from a nearby oyster farm out in his work boat. He gave us some pointers on where the best prawn spots might be and admired our dog and our tender. He was a very friendly fellow and very helpful too! We had supper, relaxed and retired early after a long day of travel. |
Date |
|
Weather |
|
Aug. 25/06 |
|
Jervis Inlet, to Madeira Park, Pender Harbour to Buccaneer Bay, South Thormanby Island. |
Sunny with light winds |
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Pictures to Enlarge
Oyster Farm Operation in Jervis
Inlet Oyster Floats Looking West Across To Agamemnon Channel As We Sheltered Behind Surry Islets In |
We were in radio contact this morning with Janet and
Andrew Gunson, friends from our home port in After breakfast we weighed anchor and headed east across
Jervis Inlet, between the top of We decided to pull into We arrived at When we got back to the anchorage we were pleasantly surprised to find the MV Corona was there waiting for us to escort him to a good anchor spot. Gordie had arrived to welcome us home. We had a pot luck supper of steak and prawns, barbequed
chicken, ceasar salad and white or red win on the Sea Foam. After dinner we were all invited to the |
Date |
|
Weather |
|
Aug.26/06 |
|
Buccaneer Bay, Thormanby Island to Secret Cove |
Sunny and windy |
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Pictures to Enlarge
North Thormanby Island Beach Day Eroding Cliffs on Of North Thormanby Island |
We slept in later than usual but our evening last night
was later than we had been used to all summer. We puttered around on the boat until early
afternoon and the crew from the Maiatla and the The tide was out and would be rising all day so as the water came up the beach, so did the Catch-Up. We all brought goodies in our picnic baskets so we spent the day nibbling on appies and treats and sipping on cool beverages. When the tide came up to meet us we knew it was time to go back to the mother ships. Because last night had been quite rocky in We were all invited onboard the When the boat next to us shone his spotlight into the windows at 2400, we decided it was time to shut down the party and call it another wonderful day on the water. |
Date |
|
Weather |
|
Aug.27/06 |
|
Secret Cove |
Sunny |
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Pictures to Enlarge
Secret Cove Log Salvage Man All Logs In Line And Ready to Move Out Of Secret Cove Entrance to Smuggler Cove Tight Areas and Rocks A “Watch Your Chart” Area Large Area Just Inside the
Entrance Good Depths and a Stern Tie |
We were up early again today in time to see a log salvage boat and Captain collect his logs from behind us and after securing them all together very artfully collecting them and towing them out and away from Secret Cove. Today the Maiatla and the While we waited we decided to take a kayak trip over to We packed up a picnic and headed over by kayak. The weather was sunny and hot and it was nice to be so close to the water to keep cool. We buzzed around the whole area of the anchorage to see the spots that might be on interest for us on another visit. Several people were anchored there and by the time we left later that day the place was very crowded. We climbed out of our kayaks and headed off on the trail
around the park. We met some people
that had also been kayaking in the area.
They had driven over in their car and after kayaking along the coast
line north of Secret Cove wanted to see if landing their kayaks from the parking lot in
Smuggler’s park would be another option for the next time they came. We walked and talked with them all around
trail and we found out that the man’s mother lived in We headed back to the Sea Foam in our kayaks, relaxed awhile, had dinner and retired. Tomorrow would be a celebration day with the XXIV VII arriving on scene. |
Date |
|
(Chart) |
Weather |
Aug.28/06 |
|
Secret Cove |
Sunny |
Click on Pictures
to Enlarge
XXIV VII Arrives in Secret Cove XXIV VII Taking On Fuel Before Departing Secret Cove Restaurant, Store, Beer and Wine, Water Also Available |
We spent the day cleaning up the boat and making a meal
for the celebration dinner for the arrival of the XXIV VII. We were in radio contact with them as they
approached I drove the tender while Rick got the video coverage. The new boat was a beauty and many heads were turning as she turned into Secret Cove to anchor. We took lots of pictures as they organized themselves to anchor their vessel for the very first time. Once they were comfortable and secure we boarded the vessel and had a tour. April had done a magnificent job of decorating the boat. The upholstery, the rugs, and the master stateroom all matched and the boat looked elegant. We had happy hour on the fly bridge and talked non stop about the event of the summer. We had a celebration dinner on the XXIV IV and enjoyed good food, good company and good wine. We planned to go again to the beautiful beaches at Another day in paradise! |
Date |
|
Weather |
|
Aug.29/06 |
|
Secret Cove to Gibsons Harbour Marina |
Sunny |
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Pictures to Enlarge
Mark and April On XXIV VII Off Our Starboard Beam Traveling to Gibsons |
We woke up to a cloudy and windy day and decided that it
wasn’t going to be a good beach day.
We went to the fuel dock and put in a bit of diesel. The prices here were high and we had a
report from the After fueling up and walking the dogs, Kona and the Yorkies from the XXIV VII, we decided to head down to Gibson’s Landing further down the coast. It would be about a two hour cruise and we could take pictures of the XXVI VII underway as we motored along side by side. The trip was pleasant and the day wasn’t bad either. Sunny with cloudy periods but still nice. As we approached Gibsons we called in to the public dock to see if they had space for us and they were able to accommodate us. Once we tied up we went to the front of the dock where we
wanted to meet with our friend Tony, who is now operating a water taxi
service and tour boat from the Gibson’s area.
His little tour boat is called the We took the dogs walking along the shoreline trail, bought a few apples and bananas near Molly’s Reach and enjoyed another delicious meal on the XXIV VII. Tomorrow the plan was for the XXVI VII to make away for
the |
Date |
|
Weather |
|
Aug.30/06 |
|
Gibson Harbour Marina to Delta River Inn, Fraser River |
Sunny and windy |
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Pictures to Enlarge
The Almost Home Now |
We said our goodbyes after breakfast to Mark and April as
they departed for We determined that if we left, and based on the different course we would be taking, the waves would be on our stern and we would not have too bad a ride. We headed out and the area just outside Gibsons, Shoal Channel, between the mainland and Keats had many whitecaps. The water is shallow there and the waves coming in were steep and right on our bow. We had to go out into Barfleur Passage further than we wanted to before we could turn away from the waves and have them on our stern starboard quarter. They wind was coming from the west and some of the waves were approaching six feet high. I considered turning back but the Captain said it would only be for a short time and then we would be okay. We were able to change course and head to the river mouth
as soon as we came out past the small islands between Keats and Rick told me that when the waves on coming on your bow it is a smoother ride to slow down and not bang into them. But, when the waves are on your stern, it is better to speed up and have better control of the boat and surf the waves along. We were traveling comfortably at between nine and ten knots with the waves hurrying us along. We reached the river and it is always a bitter sweet
feeling coming into the river. The
ocean is being left behind for many months now and the river and its fresh
water is there to receive us with calm and stress free conditions. The tide was in our favor and we easily
cruised up the river to the middle arm where we stopped to fuel up at the
commercial dock under the It was a real shock to my senses to be again in a busy environment with cars and trucks going overhead and worse yet, huge jet planes screaming by as they were either landing or taking off from the Vancouver Airport nearby. We finished fueling up, turned into the Middle Arm and headed for Rick’s old home grounds at Richmond Marina. They did not have any dock space for us overnight so we anchored across from the Skyline Marina. My son Peter and his girlfriend Tanya came to meet
us. We all had dinner at the Delta
River Marina on board the |
Date |
|
Weather |
|
Aug.31/06 |
|
Delta River Inn, Marina, Richmond to Home Port, Mission |
Sunny and windy |
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Pictures to Enlarge
Ship Repairs or Construction? And the Ship Sinks Slowly in the
West Helicopter Headed for Pitt Meadows Airfield Ceremonial Kissing of the Dock After Another Safe Return to And Fabulous Anniversary Cruise
#3 |
We got up early and wanted to wash the salt off the boat
after our heavy sea adventure yesterday.
We pulled into a vacant slip at the Several days ago I had queried two magazines about the
possibility of covering the North Pacific Rendezvous in As we traveled along both magazines had sent e-mail saying
they were interested in the story and would like to run it in their
magazine. I called Trevor and told him
and he offered to take us to We made the arrangements and called Mark and April to see
if they would have us for the weekend on their boat in We made arrangements for Kona to stay with my son as we traveled up the river. He would meet us at our home dock, have dinner with us, catch up on the summer news and take Kona home with him for the night. We packed our things as we motored up the river and by the
time we arrived home we were ready to take off the next day for We arrived at the Rick did his ceremonial kissing of the dock as a symbol of our thankful return, safe and sound once again, after another fabulous and unprecedented Anniversary Cruise No. 3 aboard the Sea Foam. |