From Prince Rupert to Shearwater

It was warm and sunny as we left Prince Rupert around 11am. As we rounded the industrial area docks we saw the Foss tug boat being loaded with tank cars from a railroad bed. This seems to be a very tricky procedure. A locomotive pushes a line of cars onto the tug. The line is disconnected and the train backs up and the tug re-aligns for the next set of cars. This tug will take the tank cars up to an area near Valdez, Alaska

One of the crew from the tug recognized us and yelled, “Chehalis?” I answered, “Yep!”

Between Pitt Island and Banks Island we witnessed an amazing humpback whale display. The whales were feeding along a cliff not far from us. Wow!

Captains Cove Pitt Island Aug 21 Sunny afternoon had to set hook twice. There was no one else in our little back cove. One other boat was in the outer cove. The weather held in the morning as we continued our journey.

Monckton Inlet Pitt Island Aug 22 23 Hearing that the weather was going to change for the worse, we looked for the best place around to set the anchor. Monckton Inlet was reported to be “bomb proof”. “Bomb proof” means that if the wind blows there will be little if any wave action to knock you around. Monckton proved to be bomb proof but man, did the wind blow. Just before dark we saw a small water spout whiz by our boat! All night long we could hear things going “bump” and the wind howling through the rigging. We survived the night with the anchor holding well. The VHF radio weather gave reports of 50mph winds and 4 meter seas on the outside.

The next day was spent there as we watched the rain. Our leak in the electrical panel spread to the master bedroom. I discovered that my books and clothes were getting wet and water was dripping down from the ledge on the ceiling.

We stayed in the anchorage for another night. The second night there was quieter but the rain was relentless.

(Some of joy of the trip is being taken away by the pain in my shoulder. The ships doctor thinks it is an inflammation and I should take Aleve and keep my arm in a sling. The mean arm pain takes my mind off my lower back pain.)
After a bumpy sail, (waves coming over the bow kind of bumpy sail) the next night was a windy night at Union Passage Lagoon. The anchor held nicely. In the morning it looked like water was once again accumulating in the space beneath the anchor well. We will have to take everything out of the V-berth and bail it out. Mark had caulked around in there a couple of weeks ago. At least our boat only leaks on the top!

Our fifth night out we were at the dock at collapsing Butedale. It was blustery and wet when we arrived. Lou and his dog, Burton, were there to greet us. Skipper and Burton get along very well.

It doesn’t look like Lou has done anything to the place since we were there a month and a half ago, except chop firewood.

Although I hadn’t been off the boat for 4 days, I stayed on board because of the wet.

Klemtu Aug 25 and 26

Klemtu is a nice Native Town with a band store (Grocery store and a coffee shop)
Foul weather threatened again and we spent two rainy days at Klemtu on the Government Dock. The first morning we had breakfast at the band store coffee shop. The restaurant is definitely not a fancy place but more than adequate. We enjoyed talking to a native man, Francis, about how to look to nature and predict the weather. The little gulls in the harbor were all hunkered down and had their beaks pointing into the wind. You don’t have to be a meteorologist to know the weather is nasty.

It seemed to the captain that the big blows had exhausted their selves over night and it was safe to venture out again. We left Klemtu around 9:30 after quick breakfast of fruit, yogurt, and cereal. After clearing Cone Island we entered the Finlaysian Channel. The seas were up but “not bad” according to the Captain.

We cut across the Channel to the Percival Narrows. This passage contains an S curve at the end. Boats over 70 feet have difficulty making the turns.

After clearing the Narrows we were in the unprotected waters with 3-meter seas. That’s 12 foot swells and waves to you landlubbers. Skipper and I headed for cover and the brave captain sallied forth into the Mattison Channel. After a few hours of battering, we entered the quieter waters of Reed Passage. Around 5pm we reached our destination of Shearwater Marina.

Our landing was not graceful as the winds pushed us VERY close to an Oyster, a beautiful custom sailboat. Three guys hopped on the Oyster to fend us off.
This is our first “civilization” in about a week. Note: Some say that our Wauquiez is a “Poorman’s Oyster”.

We will do our laundry tomorrow, buy groceries, do cleaning, and bail the v-berth.
(Leak update 8-28-08-the space beneath the anchor locker is dry!)

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