Hopefully now i can stay on track, on May28, we left Klewnuggit  and traveled to Prince Rupert.    Here are some photos from on the way….. Continue reading →

So yes, i am jumping from one thing to the next and back again, i guess part of that problem is how long its been now, and even though i wrote down a lot, i did not write about Butedale at all, but i did take photos.   Butedale lies in a bay, on Princess Royal island, and same as namu, was a convenient fuel stop.   Slowly though , it became in disrepair, even though the Butedale Restoration Project tried to get it going again.   Now there is only a caretaker, with a guard dog and cats, and he does let you tie to the dock, and you can, by escort only, view the site.   The waterfall is amazing, especially in early spring, and most boaters stop in front, take photos and go on again, which is what we did.        After Baraka Bashad went ahead, we came close to the base of the falls, and i saw swallows darting in and out of the spewing water, i am not sure what they were catching, maybe bugs……      Later on a big brown head appeared, right at the base also, a sealion!!!    probably catching fish!Baraka Bashad in front of Butedale.Butedale falls.

We had quite the time ,getting into Klewnuggit Inlet, the tide was still running against us, and as we came closer to the entrance, we basically came to a full stop!!    The other boating friends were already inside, nicely anchored, their boat has a very powerful engine and after all, she is a motor sailor. but, here we were, Bert knew we could not turn in until we were past the light ,which marks the reef at the entrance.    So, we pushed on, slowly gaining speed, until we could make the turn, as soon as we did, the boat lurched forwards and now our speed read, 7.5!!!!!    WHOAH!!!!!!     Then we realized this was going to be very hard for Waterford, she is smaller, less power, so we hailed them on channel 16 and told them our concern.   Bert talked to Don and suggested to him what to do, to make sure to round the light before turning.     later on they told us that their speed also went basically to zero, and after the turn they shut forwards , doing 7 knots!!!  So we all made it, and anchored nearby each other.    Looking back, after leaving Alexander Inlet, motoring into Princess Royal channel, we did stop at Butedale,more on the next post.

The boat is doing well. Bert checks the oil every day and it has not gone down as yet.   We run the engine rpm at 2000, which seems to be compatible with the hydrolics.  It all sounds good, and mostly we do around 6 knots, which is great!    I have noticed though that the new batteries do not seem to charge fully, i dont think they are as good as the old ones, they do not hold their charge long either, plus, we have not had much sun as yet, mostly rain, rain, rain, which means the solar panels are not as yet filling the batteries either.     We left Coghlan Anchorage on May 26, around 9.30 am , heading into Grenville channel, Grenville channel is the main Northern route, used by cruise ships, commercial boats and everyone else.     It has to be planned carefully, usually the weather is not too bad in the channel, but, the ebb tide runs very strong , as much as 6 knots, so we had to plan our start , at the last of the flood, so when we would get to Klewnuggit inlet, our destination, the current would start running the other way, its tricky to say the least, but the natural beauty along the way was amazing, mountains still covered with winters snow, waterfalls running hard!      I believe we met the ferry, new ship from BC ferries, a good looking boat, but other then that , we didnt meet any other boats.   Waterford motored behind us, Baraka Bashad was already way up ahead.

SV Waterford. Continue reading →

Sea anemones , closed up till the tide comes in. Continue reading →

In my rush, (try not to), to get going with the blog, i totally forgot such an important story to tell, so i am stepping back, only one step, back to Bishop bay hot springs.    Both days we were there ,the sun was out, beautiful ,warm spring days, and Bert and i paddled in the dinghy to the dock, there is a dock here, only for smaller boats ,and i had seen some small fish jump….      Well, what we saw, in the water, the clearest most beautiful water lifted my spirits , there, on the bottom, about 4 feet down, lay some amazing animals, Sea Cucumbers,  i had never seen them before, especially not in these colors, bright orange tentacles, which act like dust mops on the animal, gathering up decaying food particles.  They have 5 longitudinal  muscle bands which they use to escape when threatened .  I have this info from the MARINE LIFE OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST BOOK, a wonderful book to have on the boat.  The book is created and written by Andy Lamb and Bernard P. Hanby ,who is the photographer.     The photos are stunning, mine are so mediocre but then i dont have their equipment.

Continue reading →

I just finished writing the whole story down and it disappeared.   No idea where it went. So, here we go again.  On May 25 , we left for Bishop bay hot springs, our end destiny would be Hartley bay, actually the anchorage around the corner, Coghlan anchorage.   The hot springs sit at the head of Bishop bay, and have three buoys in front, anchoring is not much of a possibility  , and wouldnt you know it, all three buoys were free when we got there.!!!!!   Years ago the Kitimat Yacht club built a cement bath house, a path from the bath house leads up the hill to a covered picnic area.    The hot springs flow steady , all the time, but there are now signs ,warning folks of the hazard of the hot water, i guess , eventually, the modern world laws have reached here too.   In the meantime, we had a wonderful soak and ended up looking like 6 prunes!!!    Cute ones though……  We stayed as long as we could , warmer ourselves in the sun, which was a total blessing, it had been so cold!!!    We left the next morning for Hartley bay, or rather Coghlan anchorage, around the corner from Hartley bay.    Hartley bay is a Native community, and has a well protected harbor, its one place where you can get fuel and water.   It has a medical clinic, a Tsimshian carving shed and a store for those things you might need. We didnt stop there this time, but our boating friends from SV Waterford did, looking for some groceries and the folks opened the store and gave them a dozen eggs to cook for dinner. ( some of the eggs…).

We anchored in Rescue bay, there are many red necked grebes here, with their funny calls, they woke me up every morning!   Rescue bay lies off Mathieson channel. It offers the best protection from stormy weather.  It was training very hard while we were there, in the morning i made one of my special breakfasts, might as well enjoy ourselves!!!  On may 23rd, we headed out towards Klemtu, planning to go through Jackson Passage, the tide was running 1 knot in our direction.   Jackson Passage is a shorter route towards Klemtu, then Oscar passage , but you have to be careful. When going through Jackson Narrows, ( part of Jackson Passage), you need to watch out for opposing traffic, we went through at flood tide, so lots of water, but its a tricky place with rocks here and there.   Minimum depth in the fairway is 2 fathoms, 12 feet.     After passing Klemtu, we didnt need to stop, i think Baraka Bashad did, not sure if Waterford stayed with us or went with them , anyways, we motored towards Tolmie channel, and headed into Alexander inlet.    We anchored here 5 years ago also, and forgot how long the inlet is, but it is beautiful in there.    I am pretty sure the other two boats must have doubted our decision to go in there…….But, the anchoring is great, excellent holding.  In the cruising guide they mention that Alexander inlet is infrequently used as a cruising destination, i think thats why we like it…..Its 8 miles in there, not good for impatient folks!!W met up with all old friend. Continue reading →

On may 22, we left Shearwater, the weather was blowy , dark , and cold, we headed into Seaforth Channel, two Sandhill cranes flew over!!!   I love those birds, their calls can be heard a full MILE away, its a call like no other, they fly 8000 km from the South to their nesting grounds in the North.    We went into Reid Passage, towards  Mathieson Channel, and met up with a large pod of Dall’s porpoise , these wonderful animals are magnificent to watch, as soon as they see the boats coming, they come skooting over, and start their play, jumping at the bow, racing ahead, then coming back again, over and over, they take their breath , jumping out of the water, and make a good size splash!!   i was leaning way over the bow of the boat, with my camera, and i swear , one large one knew very much so i was there, and kept coming back, splashing me each time!!    They give you joy, i was having a hard time already, with the constant rushing on this journey, and this made it all okay.     This species is declining, they are still hunted , several countries take as many as 14.000 per year, and many are killed in the fishing nets.     Their total length is 6 to 8 feet, and their weight is on average 300 lbs.      They are the joy in the waters here, and it would be so dreadful if they disappear altogether .

On the way to Rescue bay. Continue reading →

We all tied to the docks there, so much easier for carrying groceries to the boat, and doing several laundries.  We arrived on May 20, at 14.30 pm, and lucky for us , there were 3 spaces open at the docks, but its still early in the year, most boats would come later….    The old dead tree is still standing in front of the marina, the two eagles are still sitting in it every day , waiting for their treats.    The laundry is still pretty good here, and we took the water taxi to Bella Bella for our groceries.     The town has quite a few changes, it is a First nations town, and the folks built a beautiful Tribal building to house the two canoes, which they use every year to travel along the BC coast.   Bella Bella is also known as Waglisla, and is the home of the Heiltsuk First nation.     More about this later, we stopped there again on the way back….Curtsy and Waterford tied to the dock in Shearwater. Continue reading →