Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Ocean Falls to Port Hardy
Ocean Falls is a ghost town. It was once a booming pulp mill town of 5,00 until the 70’s.
The province, unwilling to lose the jobs, tried to run it. On May 31, 1980, it too gave up. The mill’s machinery was removed and in 1986 bulldozers came to level the town. The town’s residents stood in front if the bulldozers and backed them down, though not until many of the buildings had been destroyed.
40 people live in nearby Martin Valley. The dam and power plant still provide electricity for three communities. There is a large fish farm on the far side of the bay by the old sawmill. There is a effort to sell the old mill and part of the mill has be painted blue.
The dock was busy with folks getting ready for the Yacht Club Fishing Derby the next day. We were invited to the pre-derby potluck at The Shack (dock office). I got there a little late and just sat and listened to them talk. It was quite a cultural experience. The whole event reminded me of the Red Green Show. There were questions about what tackle to use for salmon, firearms on boats, and bears.
One local fellow told how to protect yourself from bear attacks: 1. Wear a “bear bell”, 2. Carry bear spray, and 3. Know how to tell Black Bear scat from Grizzly Bear scat. (Black Bear scat is dark and has berry seeds in it. Grizzly Bear scat has bearbells in it and smells like bear spray). Big laughs.
Actually there was a bear on our dock that night. The black bear had gone onto a boat further up the dock from us and was shooed away. We had heard some knocking and scratching on our boat but assumed it was just the wind.
The next day was mostly sunny as we walked around the ghost town and took pictures. When I think of a ghost town I think of old wooden buildings and dirt streets. This town was certainly different with its modern structures.
We bought tickets to the Derby BBQ that evening and enjoyed talking to local people, including charming “Almost Normal Norman Brown”, and folks on holiday. An older lady from the Okanagan won the grand prize of $500 for the largest salmon…15.75 pounds. She and her husband grow grapes for Popular Grove Winery in Naramata, BC. They used to grow apples and other fruit but are finding grape growing is easier and much more profitable.
Check out photo albums at: http://picasaweb.google.com/kiata.linda08
The next day we continued on south to beautiful Fury Bay. It was the prettiest anchorage so far. It had lovely shell beaches, rocks and vistas. I wish we could have stayed longer but my shoulder needs to be looked at and we need to get a better sling for my arm. #$$%%^*&%
Mark enjoyed the crossing of Queen Channel. He even had the main up for a while. At our anchorage in the Walker Group, he and Skipper had a hard time getting to shore because of the kelp and mud.
Then it was on to Port Hardy—their ER is open on Tuesdays, Port McNeil’s on Wednesday. We ended up going across the street to a medical clinic because it was A WHOLE LOT cheaper. We were seen right away by Dr. Khan. He thinks I just have an inflammation of the rotator cuff. We got RX, a shoulder brace, and a sling at the local Rexall. I though the fees for this office were interesting. The older you are the more it cost! I was in the next highest group!
The province, unwilling to lose the jobs, tried to run it. On May 31, 1980, it too gave up. The mill’s machinery was removed and in 1986 bulldozers came to level the town. The town’s residents stood in front if the bulldozers and backed them down, though not until many of the buildings had been destroyed.
40 people live in nearby Martin Valley. The dam and power plant still provide electricity for three communities. There is a large fish farm on the far side of the bay by the old sawmill. There is a effort to sell the old mill and part of the mill has be painted blue.
The dock was busy with folks getting ready for the Yacht Club Fishing Derby the next day. We were invited to the pre-derby potluck at The Shack (dock office). I got there a little late and just sat and listened to them talk. It was quite a cultural experience. The whole event reminded me of the Red Green Show. There were questions about what tackle to use for salmon, firearms on boats, and bears.
One local fellow told how to protect yourself from bear attacks: 1. Wear a “bear bell”, 2. Carry bear spray, and 3. Know how to tell Black Bear scat from Grizzly Bear scat. (Black Bear scat is dark and has berry seeds in it. Grizzly Bear scat has bearbells in it and smells like bear spray). Big laughs.
Actually there was a bear on our dock that night. The black bear had gone onto a boat further up the dock from us and was shooed away. We had heard some knocking and scratching on our boat but assumed it was just the wind.
The next day was mostly sunny as we walked around the ghost town and took pictures. When I think of a ghost town I think of old wooden buildings and dirt streets. This town was certainly different with its modern structures.
We bought tickets to the Derby BBQ that evening and enjoyed talking to local people, including charming “Almost Normal Norman Brown”, and folks on holiday. An older lady from the Okanagan won the grand prize of $500 for the largest salmon…15.75 pounds. She and her husband grow grapes for Popular Grove Winery in Naramata, BC. They used to grow apples and other fruit but are finding grape growing is easier and much more profitable.
Check out photo albums at: http://picasaweb.google.com/kiata.linda08
The next day we continued on south to beautiful Fury Bay. It was the prettiest anchorage so far. It had lovely shell beaches, rocks and vistas. I wish we could have stayed longer but my shoulder needs to be looked at and we need to get a better sling for my arm. #$$%%^*&%
Mark enjoyed the crossing of Queen Channel. He even had the main up for a while. At our anchorage in the Walker Group, he and Skipper had a hard time getting to shore because of the kelp and mud.
Then it was on to Port Hardy—their ER is open on Tuesdays, Port McNeil’s on Wednesday. We ended up going across the street to a medical clinic because it was A WHOLE LOT cheaper. We were seen right away by Dr. Khan. He thinks I just have an inflammation of the rotator cuff. We got RX, a shoulder brace, and a sling at the local Rexall. I though the fees for this office were interesting. The older you are the more it cost! I was in the next highest group!
A Tale of Two Dogs
At Shearwater Marina we met a nice couple from Lund/LA. Later we met their two Australian Shepherd dogs, Tehya and Teal. Note their multicolored eyes in the photos. Soon we learned that the dogs on their boat named “Lucky Puppy” are very lucky pups indeed.
A month ago, while hiking with the dogs near Sitka, Art saw a two Grizzlies, a mother and her cub. The Grizzlys made their exit and his dogs tried to round them up. The little female dog was attacked first. Art went back to the dingy to get it untied, then he went back to get the dogs. The little female was gone and the young male dog was in the mouth of the momma Grizzly. He yelled and the bear stood up to her full height—much taller than Art. Art used his bear spray and the bear released the dog as she headed for the woods.
Teal had wounds to his back. Art swooped him up and carried him back to the dinghy. The female dog was not in sight.
Art put his dog in the boat and headed back to their American Tug at anchor. Then his spied Tehya swimming in the icy water. As Art pulled her from the water he noticed that she had bloody wounds to her head and throat.
As Art approached his wife, Chris, on the tug he yelled, “The dogs have been attacked by Grizzlies!” She thought he was joking at first.
They hurried to Sitka where the local vet treated the dogs. The vet said he had lost a dog to a Grizzly about a year ago. The kind vet charged them around $60.00.
We could not tell that the dogs had been through that ordeal. They were running up and down the dock and enjoyed being petted.
Footnote: Sept. 5 The Lucky Puppy tug is here at Blind Channel Marina, just down the dock from us. It is good to see them again.
A month ago, while hiking with the dogs near Sitka, Art saw a two Grizzlies, a mother and her cub. The Grizzlys made their exit and his dogs tried to round them up. The little female dog was attacked first. Art went back to the dingy to get it untied, then he went back to get the dogs. The little female was gone and the young male dog was in the mouth of the momma Grizzly. He yelled and the bear stood up to her full height—much taller than Art. Art used his bear spray and the bear released the dog as she headed for the woods.
Teal had wounds to his back. Art swooped him up and carried him back to the dinghy. The female dog was not in sight.
Art put his dog in the boat and headed back to their American Tug at anchor. Then his spied Tehya swimming in the icy water. As Art pulled her from the water he noticed that she had bloody wounds to her head and throat.
As Art approached his wife, Chris, on the tug he yelled, “The dogs have been attacked by Grizzlies!” She thought he was joking at first.
They hurried to Sitka where the local vet treated the dogs. The vet said he had lost a dog to a Grizzly about a year ago. The kind vet charged them around $60.00.
We could not tell that the dogs had been through that ordeal. They were running up and down the dock and enjoyed being petted.
Footnote: Sept. 5 The Lucky Puppy tug is here at Blind Channel Marina, just down the dock from us. It is good to see them again.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
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