Monday, July 15, 2013

Day 9/July 9 - Shoal Bay to Blind Channel

Favourite day yet. Sea asparagus omelettes for breakfast! Pulled anchor at Shoal Bay (out from under a power boat!) and decided to take an easy travel day and pop across to Phillips Arm on the other side of the channel. Drifted down in current with no wind, Scott hopped in the dingy to explore the shore (so close, yet we were over 150ft of water), Gary and Lorraine enjoyed the scenery - and then it picked up just enough from behind us for me to pull out both head sails and completely bliss out wing on wing – sun came out and brightened snow-capped mountains, emerald cedars and turquoise waters. The trees that line the shore are so impeccably trimmed by high tides it looks like there is a very particular hedge trimmer working overtime perfecting every tree up and down the inlets.

We tucked into a little tiny cove for the afternoon. Scott stayed on the boat and finished odd jobs without stumbling over us. Gary, Lorraine and I went to shore to stretch our legs. Picked huckle berries, harvested sea weed and explored under a giant maple. Little creek gurgling, old man’s beard drifting in the wind, game trails breaking up the deciduous wall heading back deep into the forest. Picked up a giant sea star with countless legs in the crab trap. Returned to the ship and headed out to catch the current to Blind Channel. Almost missed the dock the current was so strong! Stocked up on diesel and water and "borrowed" some yeast from the store.  Headed up to the lovely family run resort for a delicious dinner filled with laughter induced by the two bottles of wine we were easily convinced to order by our young chipper waitress from Sudbury, Ontario! Recounted the hilarious and ridiculous stories of the day which we will spare you. Got showered up and had the most bouncy evening yet – on a dock! Current.       
Waking up to sea asparagus omlettes.

Huckleberry desert.
Tucked away in a bay for a day.
Sea star swallowing our bait whole.

Nicely trimmed forest.
Navigating narrow channels.

Borrowed this beach for the day.

Day 8/July 8 - Octopus Islands to Shoal Bay

After rowing ashore to harvest some sea asparagus we pulled anchor (with only 4 feet beneath the keel!) and joined the parade of boats catching the right currents to get through Hole in the Wall. There was a bit of a game of chicken at the opening, but after seeing a couple of power boats go through, we bit the bullet and was the first of the sailboats to “enter”. Tugged and pulled from below a bit, but made it in and out the other side on one tide just fine. But then we had to tackle Yuculta Rapids and we were late. Called into Big Bay marina (in the middle of the rapids) for advice – they were pretty sure we could make it. So we went for it. It was pretty touch and go. There were points were we felt like we were standing still, but we made it and docked there until the next tide for part 2 of the rapids. Picked up eggs, marveled over the clarity of the water and tubulars growing off the dock and had a nice chat with a man summering in the Broughtons – doesn’t appear to be too many heading as far north as we’re going.

Shoal Bay fail – pub didn’t serve food, we somehow managed to get only Gary dropped off on the very crowded wharf and then couldn’t get a good anchor set. We eventually gave up, headed to a spot closer to the dock and doubled up our anchors to prevent swinging. Finally went and retrieved Gary who couldn’t even enjoy the pub because he was without his wallet. Trying again tomorrow.  


Me in Patchi
Gary and Lorraine in Patchi

Nordri enjoying the morning in Octopus Islands

Things got narrow

Blind Bay relief from the rapids

Swaying long locks of kelp
This beast sounded the funniest horn as it bore past us