Princess Louisa

Kay couldn't wait to get off the boat to explore.  The water in the inlet was teaming with life suck as harbor seals, jelly fish, bait fish and birds everywhere.  Kay was so excited.  We planned to stay 3 days.  The flotilla that was ahead of us was a Canadian group of friends that take a trip like this as a group a few times a year.  They had boats from a 22ft dory to a 40ft Rennel cruiser.  What a fun bunch.  After interdictions, Kay and I were accepted into the family.  One couple were from Sweden and they both immediately took a swim once tied up.  The water temp we 65f.  That evening all the windows came open on the boat.  Wow the roar of the falls at the stern to put us to sleep.  The air was fresh and warm.  Even as the sun started to the west side of the fjord it was comfortable 75f.

The next day we took out our inflatable Kayaks to explore the inlet.  There were harbor seals everywhere and once we were paddling around the inlet they would come right up to the Kayak to see what you were doing and then they would follow you everywhere like lost puppies. There are cliffs here that soar to 6000ft, then another 1000ft straight down under the water.  Amazing how much sea like you can see if you take the time to get close. We used our kayaks a lot during the 3 days we were there. 

At the end of our 2nd day, it started to rain. Lucky I washed and cleaned the non-skid on the bow that morning.  We woke up the third day to find Chatterbox falls twice as large as it was the day before.  New waterfalls were everywhere.  The slack low tide was at 10:50 so it was time to go.  What a great place, but time to head north and a long ride to Powell River (Westview).

WARNING PICTURE HEAVY!

Discovering Chatterbox Falls by kayak.

The cliff continues straight down for at least 800ft.

Can you see the kayak?

Spectators

Can you believe this?  Trees growing out of the cliff

Super Hero holding the mountain

Nesting area

Kay loves flowers

 

Moon Jelly Fish

Awesome sail boat

Chatterbox Falls

McDonald Memorial.  The next day I had a fire going. 

Nice clear water

 

 

Sitting under a tree to get out of the rain

 

Kay liked the moss on the tree

Trails to the falls

McDonald Memorial

My Best Friend

grabbing a drink of fresh water

Hey DYC

This was the day we left after rain the day before.  The falls doubled in size.

This creek put a lot of water flow under the dock

Lot of spay off the falls

Rain sure affects, even just a little rain

Leaving Princess Louisa Inlet

Chapter 10 Pender Hbr to Princess Louisa

We had a great time at Garden Bay Marina and Pub.  Met some new friends with big big boats.  The 70 Ocean Alexander backed up to the dock, then parallel parked with stern and bow thrusters, with a little tiny remote as he was standing mid-deck!  I want one.

The docks were not in that great of shape, being wood and there are only two docks.  Pender Harbor is a really cool place, quiet and great protection.

Our departure was timed to be at Malibu rapids on the slack.  It was 40 miles from Pender to Malibu.  I built in an extra hour.  Later I found out I would need it as I was fighting the current.  The cruise was an easy 8kts ride.  As you work your way back into the B.C. wilderness the peaks start soaring skyward.  The water is deep and cold.  Some peaks still have snow. The sun was shining nice and warm.   Then we figured we were not alone.  There were 6 boats ahead of us and a few behind us.  Oh, oh a crowded dock.  Will there be room at the dock?

The farther we got back into the mountains the taller they became.  There were places were logging was taking place and it was the first time we came across fish pens where the aquaculture folks raise Atlantic farm salmon.  A crap fish which endangers the natural pacific salmon stocks. The further we got back into the fjords I started to wonder if we were still in the ocean water and not a lake,

As we came around the corner there was a parking lot of boats waiting to get across Malibu Rapids, all staging to cross.  Then I heard the announcement on channel 16 that the first boat was headed in.  One by one they proceeded through the very narrow opening to Princess Louisa Inlet.  They disappeared!!!!  Crap this is going to be interesting.  The gap is just wide enough to accommodate one boat at a time.  As a 40ftpower boat announced its intentions and started to make the entry, a 40ft+ sail boat came out of the inlet!  No announcement no nothing.  He got his butt chewed a bit by others and was showed a "personal flag" from some.  This would later be the topic of discussion on the dock.  Then it was our turn.  As we got closer I could see how the entrance was a lazy "S" and in 30 feet of water.  Straight toward the marker, then a hard right turn and make your way around the rock, not getting too close, then a hard turn to the left and bingo you are in and the water depth increases to 400 feet. 

Now it is 4 miles to the dock and Chatterbox falls.  The mountains soar up to 6000ft on each side with waterfalls everywhere! Idle speed only as you have just entered God's Cathedral!  WOW!  Then about 3 miles in, you make a lazy left turn and there is Chatterbox falls and the valley behind it that feeds the water. We found room on the inside of the 800 ft dock.  The roar of the falls drowned out everything.  WOW!!!!

Putting up Jervis Inlet

The farther you get back into the mountains you see scenes like this.



Malibu Rapids but you can't go that way big rocks

Put your bow off this rock, then hard right

This is at high tide.  See the ripples?  Not quite slack tide.

Once you turn right at the light you go between the rock on the right and shore on the left.  Low tide is half as wide.

Welcome to Princess Louisa Inlet.  4 miles to the dock

The Plane!  The Plane!!!

Waterfalls everywhere

The Dock

The Canadians have arrived!!