Cruising 7/18/2015

2015 Boating Season

Cruising 7/11/15

We spent five long days in Ketchikan, waiting for the wind to die down, and very happy to start our cruise south. There is only so much to see in Ketchikan. At 5am we took Nichols Passage to Revillogigedo Channel and into Foggy Bay for the night.

You have to watch for logs!!

We met Purse Seiner fishing boats along the way and saw two whales. A very large bear welcomed us into Foggy Bay. As evening approached, our boat had turned just right to look out into the channel and see the sunset. Russ said, “Wouldn't it be perfect to see whales too.” Surprise, at that same time two whales sprayed high in the air. Two eagles landed on a dead tree and looked at each other. What a beautiful scene to end our day.

We left in the morning at 5:30am to cross Dixon Entrance. Dixon is open to the Pacific Ocean so must be crossed in good weather. It was a good day, spotting a whale on the way to Prince Rupert, Canada. We got to the fuel dock at 11:20am, called Canadian Customs and checked in. With a full tank of diesel and an OK from Canada, off we went down Grenvelle Channel to Baker Inlet. We entered through Watts Narrows, at slack tide, into a scenic basin with glacier-scarred alpine slopes and glaciers still high on top. Four miles back and we had the bay to ourselves. Can you imagine the clean, sweet smell of fresh alpine air. I couldn't breathe enough of it.

Rainbow

One of several whales 

We woke up at 6:30am to low hanging clouds, some fog, no wind and flat, calm waters. Good day for cruising. It's a different kind of beauty, with the clouds so low on the mountains. We slowly cruised down Grenvelle Channel along with the whales this morning. We spotted two single and three together and they gracefully swam right along with us. They must like this weather too.

When cruising any waters, you must know where your next fuel stop is going to be. On our way north, we never had a problem getting fuel, knowing just how far we can go and where the next fuel stop would be. Today our plans changed when a small First Nations village decide to close their fuel pumps for a wedding, for two days. So the side trip we were going to take will have to wait until next year. We have just enough fuel to get to Shearwater Marina, 119 miles away. Russ figures our speed, distance, and time in order to have enough fuel. We go slower so we will have to spend a night at anchor. (Which I don't mind at all!) But we won't get there until 7PM.

From Fraiser Reach we take Princess Royal Channel to Finlayson then cross through Jackson Passage and anchor in Rescue Bay for the night. Here are several boats anchored and it's a very calm and quiet night. Up by 5am, we are off to Shearwater Marina for fuel. Again we are met with whales in the early morning and along the way are Dall Porpoise to entertain us.

We spent the night at the marina and had lunch at their restaurant. Water in Canada in limited right now because they have had very little rain nor snow. We didn't get to fill our water full but we always carry ten extra gallons with us.

Up again at 5:30 am and start our cruise. Right away we feel something is not right with the boat. We notice a small vibration. After 5 ½ years and 1000 hours of cruising, you know what your boat is suppose to feel like. Luckily it is a very calm morning so we stop in the bay. Russ decided there is something wrapped around our prop. He strips down to shorts and t-shirt, using googles and snorkel gear, slips over the side into the COLD water!! With a big, sharp knife he goes under and slices for at least 10 minutes. The rope must have been in the water floating, we ran across it, tangling it into our prop. After he got back on the boat, we put the shower hose out our bathroom window so he could get warm water to rinse off with, stripped down and re-dress. He was cold for quiet awhile so I made him a cup of coffee, hoping he doesn't get pneumonia. What a start to the day! Then a little fog to go through before we are finally out in Fitz Hugh Sound. And a beautiful sight of four whales.

Morning sun rise

My Hero

The Problem

Now was time to cruise around Cape Caution. This was the crossing I said I was very cranky coming North but today is a perfect day. This is open to the Pacific Ocean for a bit. But today there was no stopping. We cruised through Queen Charlotte Sound to Queen Charlotte Straight, right to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. WOW( Eight to nine hours). We fueled and docked on the local dock then walked up to the museum and dinner. (We had only a blueberry muffin and peanut bar all day. )

After getting back to the boat it was only 5:30pm so we decide to cruise on down to Port McNeil, only 16 miles. We anchored in the bay to calm waters. (We went about 120 miles and one long day. )

We wanted to get as close as possible to Johnstone Strait. This passage is about 70 miles and seems to always have gale force winds in the afternoon, so you must start cruising as early as possible. I make a list of little places to pull into in case the winds get bad.

Started at 6:30am, Russ slept in this morning! A little foggy but clear enough to see ahead. We do use our radar and it works great! There are Dall Porpoise this morning and we met several boats headed to Alaska. Beautiful morning!! 6 ½ hours down the strait and now we're anchored in Plumper Bay waiting for the Seymour Narrows slack tide at 6:15pm. Once it is slack, we can go the 2 miles through and stay in Campbell River at Discovery Harbour. There are several 'narrows' to go through in Canada and they all must be timed when the tides are at slack. We have read some horror stories about boats going too early or too late and I don't want to be one of them.

Rough Water

Made it through the narrows, it sure has a strong currents!! Fueled and moraged in Discovery Marina at Campbell River. Had a nice dinner and left early the next morning for Nanaimo, Canada. Very windy and rough this morning so made it half way and moraged in Deep Bay Marina on Vancouver Island. Cute marina with live-a-boards and very nice people. Stayed overnight and left early for Nanaimo. Very rough and windy. Could not turn around because of rough seas so we had to head east across Strait of Georgia to an Island called Lasqueti. Three hours later and three bays, we found Old House Bay/Grave Yard Bay!! Holding was great but NW winds still came through a valley on the island. All day and night there were probably 25 to 30 wind gusts and finally calmed early morning. At 5am we pulled up anchor and headed back across Strait of Georgia to Nanaimo. Winds were calmer and the current and wind were in our favor. After fueling we anchored and cooked breakfast, waiting to go through Dodd Narrows and we will then be on the inside of the islands where the wind is calmer. YEA

Ready to have a baby

Can you see the mommy and baby?

We made it through the narrows and went from South Vancouver Island straight to Roche Harbour on San Juan Island, USA!!

Whirlpools

Whirlpools

Checked into customs and are now anchored in Blind Bay on Shaw island. We will head to Bellingham, Washington in the morning and stay the night in the marina. We are having dinner with our friends, Pat and Patty Anderson and hope to see our kids, Cathy and Josh.

It has been quite the trip to Alaska. We saw so much beauty and enjoyed every day. Thank you for reading our Blogs and following us on our cruise.

Love to all our family and friends,

Russ and Toni on Traveler

Russ here: Toni was very brave for two days in the Strait of Georgia with near gale force winds, the weather reports are not always entirely accurate. Our boat handled the seas very good and always brought us to a safe place to spend the night. She always had a cove or harbor picked out in case things got snotty. I am lucky to have a mate and life partner like her.