August 4, 2017

Left around 7:00 for a planned trip to Rescue Bay. As it turned out though, the weather was improved from the last report we were able to get, and so Danny called on the radio and talked about heading all the way down into Millbank Sound and around the corner. We had a nice ride down Tolmie Channel and got some Telus along the way. We exchanged some text with Byron and Sue who were on their way to Wigham Cove.

We did a drive by Klemtu for the cell signal and downloaded some email and did some internet things. We headed out into Finlayson Channel and it looked OK, so we gave the go ahead to go around to Seaforth Channel the shorter way, but the more open ocean way. (i.e.: not Reid Passage). It was mostly OK until we got around and just at the entrance to Seaforth we ended up taking the swells on the beam. The Bella meter got up to around a 2.5 or 3, and so we sped up and zagged for a bit and then it was fine. Pulled into Wigham Cove around 3:00pm and there was Eagles Gig!

We finished anchoring and were putting the dingy down when Potest Fieri came in as well and anchored. We told them to go take Lowla for a pump out and then to join us on Eagles Gig. It was over 90F in the cove and in the boat salon's, so the crew of EG was sweltering and a little cranky. It was even a little hot for me. Apparently it had been like this for several days, and so it was wearing them out.

We sat up on the flybridge to catch the breeze as it came through. Danny and Susan and Lowla joined us and we sat around and talked boat stuff for awhile and caught up. They left and then we had beers and continued to try and chill. We headed back to Spellbound and made a simple pasta dinner as no one wanted to cook. Byron and Sue came over and it was a quiet relatively early evening. After dinner as we were just chatting, Danny and Susan came over in their dingy. They had just taken Lowla for a pumpout and had seen a bear on shore and so went to watch it afterwards. They were able to get very close and the bear just stayed put and ignored them, even with Lowla barking at it! So the 4 of us hopped into our respective dingy's to go take a look. There was a young black bear munching on barnacles! We turned our motors off and just floated in front of him and you could hear his teeth grinding away on them and a VERY loud crunching sound. He even drank some sea water to wash them down. He would look at us for a bit, and then go back to eating barnacles and nosing around on the shore. We eventually got a little too close I think as he started moving further down the shore, so we left him be. Back to SB and dishes and a gorgeous evening.

August 3, 2017

Sorry to leave Bishop Bay, but it was time to move on. Initially the conditions were good, but by the time we reached Butedale, it was blowing to beat the band. Potest Fieri was probably going to stay the night there, but we were going to try and push on to Rescue Cove. However we were going to stop for lunch and a couple of hours to look around.

We tied up and the boats were rockin' at the dock and it was howling. A boat called Nellie came in shortly after our two boats came in. After having lunch and listening to the wind howl, the royal "we" also decided to stay and spend the night there. We met Cory the caretaker, and he said that the wind shut off, "like a light switch", at 7:30pm. (OK, Cory, you're on). At least it was warm and sunny with blue skies.

Had some lunch and then we walked around the facility and looked at the old generators. We wanted to stay off the boat so we sat around up near the patio area. Then Danny decided we should walk to the lake. Cory said it was quite muddy and we should take our boots. Pfffft. Talk about an understatement. It wasn't really a walk, it was a workout, and it was muddy and bug infested. Nice. We all got completely sweaty and got quite the workout which wasn't a bad a idea. Could have done without the bugs though. It certainly gave us a reason to have afternoon beers on the patio! We talked to Bob & Karen on "Nellie" from Oak Harbor and found out that this was also their first trip to Alaska. They were not that impressed and probably wouldn't go back and were also happy to be in better weather! (Karen was getting cranky too). And they "crab-ed" everywhere and also didn't catch even one! (OK, so it's not just us - there's a theme here!)

Interestingly, a "fast" boat came in to just see the place and look around. He was probably our age but clearly had his Mom with him. Turns out he was on his way down to Rescue Bay to spend the night. After talking for awhile, we find out he is a dentist (sort of) and he has to be at work on Monday in the Seattle area. He is planning on being in Anacortes on Sunday! Today is Thursday. My jaw dropped. He admitted that he doesn't pass a fuel dock, but still! He had about a week off so he went to Petersburg Alaska and back with his Mom!

Back to SB for a late dinner and early evening. Yes, the wind died down eventually, but not what *I* would call like a light switch

August 2, 2017

Although we probably should head south, I just loved yesterday and thought wouldn't it be great to have another day just like it. Also, why head towards a gale when you can stay where you are and float in glassy water with hot sunshine and bright blue skies! It turned out to be the right decision.

More bathing in the tub in the morning. More lunch. Greg and Danny decide to do more fishing! Hallelujah the curse is lifted! Greg caught *2* salmon!!

August 1, 2017

Weather report for further south has 2 days of "Gale" force winds on Wednesday and Thursday. Although we want to go south faster, it seems like a good idea to stay out of the way. So we decide to go to Bishop Bay with Potest Fieri. Not a breath of wind in the harbor, but Douglas Channel is blowing like stink with a huge outflow. So we zig zag around and then go up the other channel and take it on the nose so it's not bad. By the time we get to Bishop, it's lovely.

There are 3 mooring balls, all empty. We read in Waggoners that they dragged a mooring ball in 10kts of wind, but we decide to take one anyway. We hope that BC Parks as fixed them up for people to use. And we has 0.7kts of wind so we're probably fine for now. We go to the baths for a quick dip and enjoy the warmth of the sun and water. Potest Fieri gets in about 1 hour later - they stopped outside Hartley Bay to get a cell signal and internet. They also tie to a mooring ball and then come ashore for a dip. We are just sitting on the bench there enjoying wearing bathing suits and soaking up the sun. It's awesome.

We all go back to the boats for some late lunch, and then I talk Greg into going fishing in the dingy with Danny (no catching done though). I strut around on the boat in my bathing suit going in and out of the cabin, alternatively sun bathing and then cooling off. Time goes very quickly. Susan's ear infection has come back and so she's not feeling great. We each have dinner and enjoy a beautiful evening. Danny comes over for a night cap while Susan sleeps.

July 31, 2017

Coming down Grenville was fine. We wanted to stay at the dock in Hartley so that we had the cell coverage and internet. Danny and Susan elected to stay in the anchorage that didn't. It was a bit windy when we came into the dock area and there were a bunch of kids playing on a giant water trampoline - probably not a good idea to run over a kid. As we circled, we noticed that a small boat left which left us lots of room to tie up at the dock. Hartley Bay offers free moorage and free power to boaters. It is a "dry" village and so they ask you to keep your alcohol "quiet".

We downloaded and cleared our emails and then Danny and Susan arrived so we all went for a walk. Beautiful hot sunny clear day and it was really interesting to wander around. Every building is on a raised boardwalk and so everyone get's around via golf carts or ATV's. Everyone. Peoples garages are ATV sized! We also walked up to the fish hatchery, but there wasn't a whole lot to see. Still more people swimming in the river though.

Back to SB for a beer, Danny and Susan and Lola left. We chilled and stayed cool.

July 30, 2017

We spent the morning looking at the weather and talking to various folks. Many were staying and many were heading south. Susan and Dan ended up heading south around 11:00. We met the folks from "Golden Days" who are in a group of 3 boats with "?? Patriot" and "Knight Star" from Delta. We have been following each other around since Lowe Inlet on the way up. Then "Cavok", a GB that we know from the rendezvous showed up on the outside of the breakwater in front of us. They were staying an extra night as well and got kicked out of their spot. We waffled back and forth for awhile and ended up leaving around 12:30 ourselves. We were surprised.

It was pretty windy and pretty rough as we headed around Holland Rock. But it was on our nose and it wasn't too much back and forth. About a Bella 2.5.

We arrived in Kumealon Cove about the same time as "Harmony" who had left first thing. Potest Fieri was already there and the Cove was lovely and glassy, so they asked if we wanted to raft to them so we did! We had some appy's and beers and talked and visited. We pooled our dinner resources (salmon and halibut) and Susan made a salad and we had a great dinner and a lovely evening. I even tried maple syrup flavored whiskey - maybe not a good idea.

July 29, 2017

We had reserved a rental car for today to do some touring around. Greg went to the office and picked it up and then drove it back to the dock. There was a gale warning up for today and the storm had come in last night. It had poured rain heavily all last night and the wind had started to come up. It was probably going to be a good day to be off the boat. Unfortunately, the rental car company did not allow dogs in the car (unlike other times we've rented from National where it was fine) as they didn't want "pet dander" in the car. So we put our newly clean blanket over the passenger seat and then also brought a dog towel and wrapped her up in that.

We drove out to Brutze rapids which is on the other side of the island and is the site of a reversing rapid. The walk out to the rapids was nice and it had stopped drizzling. Then we drove down to Port Edward and the Cannery. We arrived just after a tour had started and so we caught up with it. There was about 30 people in the tour! Who knew! Great to see the entire "camp" and all the buildings and to get an appreciation for how big it was. From a heyday of 200 different canneries in BC, there is now just 1 "boutique" cannery in Nanaimo. This one was just 1 of a half a dozen that were on the Skeena River here.



We had thought about going for the drive to Terrace as we were told by "Jack" that it was a very scenic drive along the Skeena. However we only had 100km mileage total on the rental car and it was ~140km each way. So it would have cost us a bit to do it. And of course there was the whole "dog dander" thing with a $250 cleaning fee if they decide to. So we headed back into Rupert (( We went to Safeway to use the WiFi and to get some groceries. God it was windy. It was so windy, I saw people who couldn't get into their cars because they couldn't keep their car doors open against it. The man almost lost his kid into a car door slam as he couldn't keep the truck door open long enough for the kid to scramble in! We were well protected in the Safeway parking lot.

We decided to drive the 1/2 block to Walmart to check to see if they had something (they didn't) and we ran into Susan and Dan and Lowla again. They suggested dinner at the Breakers and we thought it was a great idea. So back to Safeway for actual groceries this time, and then back to SB. Greg vacuumed and returned the car while I unpacked. Dinner for Bella and then up to the Breakers for us. We checked to see whether we would be able to spend another day at the marina if we decided to stay, and fortunately it was no problem.

July 28, 2017

Oh yeah, now we remember. The docks here can rock and roll when there is wake from other boats. And the fishing fleet appears to like to head out around 5:00am. So we were woken up again as we rocked for about 45 mins, and then everything calmed down again and we all (i.e.: Bella) went back to sleep.

We caught up a bit on computer stuff, and then headed out to Cowpaccino's for some coffee and lunch. They were slammed busy so it took quite a while. We ended up spending a couple of hours talking to a local guy, Jack, who worked for CN. He was very interesting and was also very interested in our views on the States. He was an ex-RCMP member as well and had some interesting tales and stories about people he had come across. He was thinking of moving back down to the lower mainland.

After that we went back to the boat to drop off Miss B, and then walked over to the museum. It is in a really lovely building and it has some great exhibits. I do love BC in that we learned all about the Tshimsian nation from our tour guide, Krishna Sharma. After that, Greg wanted something to eat so we went into the Breakers pub where we could also get a beer and a Ceasar! As we were sitting at the table waiting, we noticed someone walking their doxie on the dock in front, and realized later that it was "Lowla" from Potest Fieri who we had met in Sitka. I went out to say Hi to Susan and Danny and of course the dog. They took the dog for a "pump out" and then met us in the pub and we had a beer together. It was quite warm out so we even tried sitting outside, but eventually it just got too cold.

Back to the boat for a late, very light dinner. Greg also laundered a lap blanket that Bella had pee'd on, and that turned into a bit of a project.