5/11/2024 The next leg of our journey moves us to the North end of Vancouver Island.
5/11/2024 We left Telegraph Harbour mid-morning Saturday in order to hit Dodd Narrows. This is a narrow gap that separates Mudge Island from Vancouver Island. The passage is about 200 feet ( 60 meters) at its narrowest point and can run up to 8 knots, which can be an issue for slow boats such as ours. If approached at slack it is a non-event except for the large number of boat making this transit in both directions.
5/11/2024 We stopped at the Fairwinds Marina in Schooner Cove for the night. This is a very nice marina with the Nanoose Cafe at the top of the dock.
5/12/2024 Today was a 9.5 hour run from Schooner Cove to Discovery Harbour Marina in Campbell River. This was a long but uneventful trip. Campbell River is a good sized town with large grocery store and chandlery. We used this opportunity to grab some of our last minute needs, such as bear spray and fishing rods.
Before our very civil 8:30am departure from Discovery Harbour we were treated to a convocation of eagles gathered on the sea wall. It was impossible to get a good photo of the 30 or so eagles gathered there due to the length of the wall. We enjoyed seeing so many eagles…and what looked like one large hawk who wanted to be part of the aerie, or soar, or spread (other terms for a collection of eagles).
5/14/2024 We left Campbell River and went to Blind Channel Marina on West Thrulow Island, BC. This is one of our favorite marinas up here, but we were a bit early in the season. The restaurant wasn’t open yet and there were no cinnamon rolls. We will need to stop here on the way back down.
5/15/2024 Another 6:30am start today as he have about 10 hour run to get to Port McNeill. The weather, wind, and tides all look good for our run up Johnstone Strait.
5/15/2024 Johnstone Strait was named by Vancouver for James Johnstone, master of the armed tender Chatham that was part of the 1792 Vancouver exploration and mapping of the area. The strait is bounded by steep, beautiful mountains. The difficult part of this leg is what wind and current do to each other where classic wind-against current can heap up seas. Our captains did a good job of assessing wind and currents (which is part of what drive our 6:30am departure) and we had an easy run and were tied up at Port McNeill by 3:30pm.
Sally shared this photo that I like so much I had to include it in the blog. Our trip to Alaska via the Inside Passage is about 2500 nautical miles. Bill found a tourist map of the Inside Passage to help orient himself for the trip. I have decided another way to describe the trip is that it is one “Bill-unit”. Bill is six feet three inches tall. This is a big trip!
5/16/2024 Waiting for a weather window in Port McNeill. The next leg of our journey will include crossing Cape Caution. This leg is exposed to open ocean for about 40 miles, and seas can be high and steep. Therefore we watch weather and tides, and wait for a favorable day to go. Right now the Captains (Brad, Phil, and Bill) think that may be Saturday (5/18/2024).
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