On the 22nd. we left to try to get as far as Port Neville, we like anchoring there, the holding is good, plus we could get out of the wind.    The trip over there was by far the wildest we have had with Curtsy,she would literally dive down into the water, waves coming over the bow , totally covering the whole cockpit, i think she was having fun, and that evening, the boat was totally salt crusted .     Coming into Port Neville, after 7 hours of wave fighting, was a blessing, quiet, no wind,  birds everywhere, and while anchoring, a lone dolphin came to look at what Bert was doing, then swimming to the dinghy, having a look there, and back to Bert again, she stayed a while, then swam off into the bay.      From Port Neville we motored to Cutter Cove off of Chatham channel, a couple boats joined us, the bay is big enough, but that darn wind came up again, well to 35 knots, and yes , williwaws again!!!   We explored the bay with the dinghy, every where was evidence of large, once upon a time rock slides, the large, very high rock cliff had huge pieces missing, but, by the look of the boulders in the water this all happened a long time ago.   The wind died down for the night, and we slept well.       On July 24th, we motored (again), towards Simoom Sound, and saw our first Humpback whale this year, the area around the Ridge Islets is so full of life, birds every where, hundreds of gulls nesting, eagles, watching for snacks, scoter  ducks with a lot of young,  Porpoises , and yes, the whale.    What a marvelous spot, sure smelly though……..

After a good night in Granite Bay, we decided to have a look in Small Inlet, it is a marine park, and at the head is a wonderful hike to Waiatt Bay, which we had done before but from the other side.    We anchored along a granite wall, very steep, it was still blowing like crazy, well over 30 knots, williwaws i thought……..and yes, we got pounded by them, but, this was after the hike.  We stayed two nights, because the wind was just crazy out there, in Johnstone Strait.   Waiatt Bay has been mentioned in books for the large clam gardens and shell middens, actually, the whole beach, where it goes into the shore is all midden, i could not even try to guess how old these are.   The forest is marvelous, deer ferns, maple trees, large firs , Sitka  spruce, and the total peace and quiet only a forest can give you. We left on July 22, and i received well over 10 birthday wishes, the only thing missing was the cake……

We left Comox on the 18th of July, and actually did some sailing, the current runs hard as you come towards Discovery passage, crazy wild water at Cape Mudge, it was very busy there, lots of people fishing, apparently the fishing is very good right now.     We decided to anchor in Gowlland harbour, nice and quiet in there, plus we discovered that Camp Homewood is there.   Maybe our granddaughter Jess was there……     We went across to Campbell River in the dinghy , not until the next morning though, Bert was tired, and the wind just howled outside of the harbour. Plus,  It runs at 6 knots there, so we really wanted the tide with us!!!!     The next morning we had coffee with Toni and Bill in their 5th wheel, so good to see them again, it was high time!!!      We stayed two nights, on the 20th we planned to motor towards Seymour Narrows, planning for slack turning to ebb, but we started out too soon, and had to head back into Gowlland, it was still running at 6 knots, we were going backwards.!!!!!      Hour and a half later we tried again, this time it looked ok, but at the entrance to Gowlland harbour we heard “Opa, Opa !!!!!   thats my Opa’s boat!!!!  And there was Jess , in a canoe , together with a friend, so we chatted for a bit, i took some photos of her, and by that time the current had really settled, so away we went.    I dont want to go through there again, really dont, the wind came up and it blew 38 knots, NW, right on the nose, so, current with us, but you could have fooled me, we hardly moved at all!!!!      The waves built to 4,5 feet, but we pushed on, oh joy, and after 5 hours, ended up at Kanish bay, and anchored in Granite Bay.  Its quite protected, and quiet.  We had a good night.