More Catch up

Pics from Butedale

Pics from Lowe Inlet 

I forgot to mention the LEAK

A small leak developed over the SB settee area. I isolated it to the chimney. One dry day I attempted to fix it with butyl rubber tape. It did not work and there was a veritable flood coming into the boat and it was pouring outside. The cure using the wax like material used in a toilet floor seal.

Bishop Bay Hotsprings

A little more catch up

• After Klemtu we got immersed in the rain and cold.
• The pictures below were taken when the rain let up as we approached Prince Rupert

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• We dropped by Butedale and discovered it has been bought by some company and big changes are afoot.
• We motorsailed in to Bishop Bay hot springs. We were the only bodies around. We tied up to the dock and a three minute walk brought us to this fantastic hot springs. What a treat in this frigid damp drenched climate.
• Two days brought us to Prince Rupert

• We anchored in Pillsbury Bay with the intention of going into Prince Rupert the next day. At about 2030 hr I decided to check the weather. To my dismay it seemed like it was going to be gale force winds for at least the next two days. On the spur of the moment we decided to motor all night towards Ketchikan. It worked. The winds weren't too bad and for the most part it was dry and we were even helped out by a bit of moonlight for six or eight hours. 
• The next afternoon we pulled into Ketchikan. The extreme wind and rain had started. After a nerve wracking approach into the harbour we were finally safely tied up and took a day off to wait out the ugliness going on in Clarence Strait

A little catch up

• We were storm stayed in our anchorage off Campbell River for a day. When we did leave it was in 30 to 35 knots. There was a little calm oasis as we went through Seymour Narrows. Then we hoisted a double reefed mainsail and surfed along. We were on the verge of catching up to and passing a tug and barge when a blast of wind almost put us on our side. Not being set up for storm force winds we were forced to take down the sails. Later the wind moderated and we continued sailing down to our anchorage for that night, Blenkinsop Bay.
• Next morning at 0400 am we left in the dark. And what should we see immediately, is a tug and barge crossing in front of us. All went well and we made it to Port Mcneill, where again we were storm stayed a day.
• The next day we got out into Queen Charlotte Strait.We were sailing along making great progress when we heard a May Day call and it was from a boat that was within sight about five miles away. This boat was taking on water and had several feet over the floorboards . He was working on the problem and continued to steam towards Port Hardy. We altered course and sailed towards him. I was fantasizing about rescuing the crew while under sail. Unfortunately the rescue boat from Port Hardy beat us to the scene. We resumed course to our anchorage just South of Cape Caution. 
• Another early start in the dark and we managed to get around the notorious Cape in six swell tossed hours and arrived in Fury Cove. What a great anchorage with white beaches and a view of Fitz Hugh Sound and the open Pacific ocean to the west.

• The next day without paying attention to the weather forecast we headed out into the sound. We were pummeled by 20-25 knot winds and swell . After three or four hours of pounding into it we gave up and found shelter in Kwakume Inlet. Here we spent the day being entertained by all the ducks feasting on herring roe. Later a first nations fisherman dropped by and suggested a better anchorage around the corner. He also knew some people Glenn knew in Klemtu. He also explained how the whole herring roe fishery worked.

Surf Scoters

Common Loon eating dungeness crab

Harvesting the sea

• The next day we mostly motored our way to Bella bella where we resupplied with fuel, groceries water and beer. We had about 15 miles of sailing on a beam reach before we headed into Reid Passage and our anchorage for the night. 
• We motored to Klemtu the next morning. Glenn wanted to look up someone he knew from his time there. Glenn and Kathy were married there many years ago. We walked up to the grocery store and lo and behold the person we were looking for was standing at the cash register. Glenn had a brief visit , we had ghastly chinese food and then we resumed our cruise.

• That brought us to the end of the relatively warm cruising days. From here on until today it has been rainy and bone numbing cold.

North to the end of the Salish Sea

For the most part it has been South wind sailing down Georgia Strait to Johnstone Strait.
Our first stop was Jedediah Island. The windex was coming was loose so I had to go to the top of the mast. To my dismay I discovered a little wood rot. When I take the boat out of the water I will have to take the mast down which will give me the opportunity to inspect every inch of it.
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Crew Change

Despite getting down on my knees and begging, Yammy my crew of eight months has jumped ship.
" I would rather get hit by a bus on dry land than spend another minute tipping around on that hell hole you call a ship"

Her replacement, this guy.

He comes with very good references. He is very highly educated. He has worked as high level management in a large telecom. Dogs like him. He claims to like fishing and sailing.
I have been warned that his management style is too " hands on "

So far so good. But it may be too early to say since he has yet to arrive.

I forgot to mention that Glenn is the father of the selfie. He was working on selfies back in the days of film cameras.

Back to Vancouver

Being anchored in Vancouver will make it easier to drop Yammy off for her trip back East and pick up my new crew member for the trip back.
The trip across Georgia Strait was perfect for Yammy's last voyage of the trip. It was absolutely windless. We motored through a sail boat race where these enormous sixty foot boats with enormous spinnakers were struggling to keep their sails from falling into the water.

 Interesting enough later a big wind came up in False Creek and a sailboat dragged it's anchor and passed safely past our boat.

Though there are lots of flower blossoms, the weather seems cool to us.
The forecast is for rain for the next four or five days.

Other Favourites, Winter Cove, Connover Cove and Pirate's Cove

Winter Cove

Turkey Vultures

Pileated Woodpecker

Connover Cove

Pirate's Cove

Sidney Spit, Portland Island

Back to two of our favourite spots. We were the only boat at the spit. That is because we were the only ones stupid enough to anchor there with an imminent strong West wind. We went to shore and were having a great time until we noticed about fifteen knots of wind and waves blowing straight on to the beach.

With great difficulty we launched the boat and then raised anchor and fled to our favourite anchorage on Portland Island only about five miles away. We spent two nights here while the weather blew itself out. 

Song Sparrow

Our first warbler a Yellow Rumped