Alaskan Sea-Duction

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Pender to Port McNeill

On our travels to the north, we are staying at places we have been before in 2016 and 2017. We have anchored in most places and used a dock in others. Docking allows us to hook up to electric to top off the batteries, access to fresh water to do laundry and wash the salt off the boat. We have done both at Pender Harbor. Garden Bay disappointed us. The dock was not in very good shape with moorage fees at over $80 a night! Not that I think it is overly high, but for this price you expect some kind of services such as trash, someone to meet you at the dock etc. The restaurant at the head of the dock offered a plain western menu (Hamburgers, wings ). The new owners are Asian and an Asian menu would have been great.

As is always the case you meet new folks along the way. This was the case with Brad and Teresa Clarke. Brad made a commit about my scotch and cigar and that got him an immediate invite. Brad got his choice of a cigar and a glass of Monkey Shoulder. Brad was familiar with this brand of scotch! We were invited to breakfast the next morning at their home which we attended!! We plan to visit again on our way back!

The next day we steamed to Prideaux Haven in Desolation Sound. We had discussed visiting Princess Louisa again, but decided to push north. During the summer months this anchorage is super crowded! They have chains secured to the wall and stern tying is mandatory. When we arrived, there were only 3 boats and we had the place to ourselves. This is one of our favorite anchorages due to the view. This is the first place you see huge mountains. The next object was the 3 rapids, Yuculta, Gillard and Dent. All need timing. For us 1:06 PM was slack. Up here its all about current, not tide. Because of modern electronics we were able to time our arrival perfectly!!!The crossing of the rapids to Shoal Bay was a non-event, well almost.

As we entered Yuculta this big 80 foot plus yacht passed us 20 feet on the starboard!!! I laid on my train horns. The name of the boat is “Mixer” out of Sitka, AK. We will be having words. He also shut his AIS off so he would not be required to report in to the Vessel Traffic Services system. Yeah, we will be having words. I should have called him on Channel 16.

Shoal Bay we a big surprise! I expected the government dock to be crowded! We had the dock all to ourselves. Around 5 PM we wondered up to the wine shack. This is the place boaters gather for happy hour. Mark and Cynthia own the lodges and cabins. We witnessed Mark mowing the grass. Cynthia must be home and driving the whip!! Mark stopped and had a beer and yes Cynthia arrived home the day before, therefore he was working!!

The next day, May 14^th was cloudy and raining. Wow!! First rain since we started this trip. We had to close all the windows. Oh well the boat needed a fresh water rinse. The run from Shoal Bay to Port McNeill is 80 miles, about a 8 hour cruise.

Port McNeill is a fuel stop for us and restock of ship stores before heading across Cape Caution and Northern B.C. As we were approaching the Port McNeill area, Kay had mentioned she had not seen any whales or critters. About that time some white sided pacific dolphins (or porpoises) showed up to give us a quick show. Hope we see lots of critters.

We are currently on a weather hold until Friday May 17^th for the run around Cape Caution.

Numbers so far from Neah Bay to Port McNeill:

Total Fuel: 244 gallons

Total Miles: 642

Total Cost: $969.00

Price per Gal: $3.97

MPG: 2.6

Burn: 6.8 GPH

Is this not cool with the reflection? Prideaux Haven

The Pub at Garden Bay

Fresh Water Rinse

Easter Island? Nope Pender Harbor. Thought I took a wrong turn!!

We have been so lucky with weather.....so far.

Bad Day if you hit this....

Powell River Paper

Copeland Islands No fishing allowed!!

Short cut through the Copeland Islands

Nice View

Arriving to Desolation Sound!!

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Tight entrance to Prideaux Haven, The narrow gap to the left.

Stern tie chain

ASD

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Someone lost their tender

Kay loved these birds. They are Surf Scoters

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Smooth seas

Jerk!!! Mixer and I will be having words

Look at that water So clean

Dent Rapids, nice and calm

Shoal Bay government dock

Coats are back on. What happen to the sun?

View from Shoal Bay

New house in Shoal Bay

What is that sign?

I am in the right place!!

Mark and Cynthia's place

Our path from Shoal Bay to Port McNiell

Friday, May 10, 2019

Friday Harbor to Garden Bay

We left Friday harbor after 2 days tied to the dock. The generator gremlin did not show its ugly head. We love Friday harbor but it was time for a change. Kay like Sucia, so the plan was to dock up in Fossil Bay. We figured on a Monday there should be lots of room. As we passed by it appeared the dock was full. We found out later that you need to come into the bay to look. There were two spots open.

Instead, we anchored up in Echo Bay in 26 feet and I added 140 feet of rode. Good thing we did as the winds came up that evening and we were tight on the rode. Several other boats were anchored up to include a National Geographic ship. They are also headed to Sitka. It would also appear I have done my good deed for this trip. I was on the bow with my evening cigar and scotch when I saw this nice dinghy float by with no one in it. I saw the boat it came from, so I lowered my dinghy and rescued it for its owner who was chasing it with a kayak.

The next day we took the dink over to Fossil Bay and hiked the trail to Jones Point. It was gorgeous. It so happened that at the dock were some friend we had met from Texas last year. Al and Susan from the MY Kaos. Their plans had them in the San Jauns most of the summer.

On May 8^th we pulled the anchor and headed to Montague Harbor. On the way we cleared Canadian Customs with just a phone call and it took less than 5 minutes. Gotta love Nexus cards. We anchored out in 20 ft and took the dink to shore so we could find out the bus schedule for the Hummingbird bar. We were disappointed to learn that it doesn’t start operations until Memorial weekend. Oh well we had a great early dinner at the restaurant.

The next stop is Nanaimo and the Castle Island anchorage. Our first current rapids was Dodd Narrows. We timed it just right to cross over at slack tide. On the other side there were a ton of crab pots. One poor guy got his stabilizers wrapped up in one. The Port sent some folks out to assist him and we saw him a few hours later. This is one of our favorite places because of the Dinghy Dock restaurant. The anchorage was calm and lot of room to anchor. Had a great dinner with beers. That evening as Nanaimo lite up the evening no better place to be but the bow of ASD with a cigar and scotch watching folks going back and forth.

Today, the 10^th we are heading across the northern end of the Straits of Georgia to Pender Harbor and Garden Bay. We will tie up to the dock for a few days and give ASD a nice bath and Kay can get some laundry done.

On our way across there is a military training area called Whiskey Gulf (WG). Today the area was closed to traffic. How do I know, I called them and asked. So I plotted a route around the area as they tend to get a little crabby if you trespass on the area when it is closed. It amazes me how folks (idiots) seem to think the rules don’t apply to them. Most of them are sail boats!! I even passed a sail boat that was headed straight into the area. I blew my horns and tried to to raise him on the radio. About 15 minutes later a helicopter buzzed the idiot. The sail boat finally answered the radio. The chopper told him to head magnetic north to take him out of the area. He didn’t know which way was NORTH!!! Idiots….

The seas are flat and no wind! We have the dock to ourselves, so far.