July 2, 2010
After leaving Prince Rupert with a lovely send off from Jennifer and Peter Simon, we quickly stopped at Dodge Cove to pick up some charts from Des and Wendy. Thank you guys as we have already needed those very charts. (It is somewhat disconcerting to have the fancy, expensive electronic program give a, “reduced data for the next chart,” sign and then a big blank spot.)
We stopped to fish at Humpback Bay and caught a lovely coho on the first pass. Then it was on to Totem Harbour for a super fish dinner and a quiet night.
July 3, 2010
Early the next morning we picked up 10 crabs from our trap and kept the four best ones. We had a beautiful sail across Browning Entrance to Principe Channel. Then the weather started to close in and it got pretty ugly. Mae found us an anchorage that worked out nicely. We did not make a lot of distance, but at least we had a chance to drip dry.
July 4, 2010
We got another early start and headed down the channel in good sailing conditions. Wind on the stern quarter, which made the boat slew around a bunch. We had to be alert on the wheel as the auto-pilot could not cope. It was watches of two on and two off the whole way, but we made good distance. Then there was the anchorage Mae picked out. It had a truly terrifying entrance – narrow and surrounded by rocks with shallow water and a two meter swell pushing us through. All I can say is that it is a good thing our boat can turn on a dime and, “No Mae. I cannot just stop the boat. It does not have a brake.” Once inside, there was more than one drink downed and another wonderful dinner to take the strain off.
July 5, 2010
It was a 4:30 start to get out before the wind picked up. We rounded the lite at McInnes with only the Pacific Ocean to our starboard and crossed Millbank Sound under a beautiful sunny sky but light winds. We came down Seaforth Channel and marveled at how many wonderful spots there are; definitely another place to explore. We are now securely tied at Shearwater where we will stay the night and at least until the football matches are over tomorrow. I don’t know who to pull for now???
