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!