July 2022 British Columbia Boating

6/30/2022 through July 4th Seaview Boatyard Dock

Water Dog Back at Seaview Boatyard Dock

I woke up 4am….hung out til alex got up. Moving to Seaview. May sell dinghy, sell kayaks and alex has appointment with notary at 4pm. Busy day. Tomorrow new dinghy and install chocks. 

I put in add for Dinghy and Kayaks. Had several emails on dinghy. One guy in fisherman bay area really wanted but would have trouble getting to Bellingham. We said we might deliver since we were gonna go there for the fourth. However other two folks in Bellingham wanted immediately and had cash. We also asked steve guyer about trade in value. We had posted for 1800 but steve said 2K. We had agreed tentatively with a guy named Joel (happened to be co boat owner with kyle) for the 1800. Alex texted him about Steve’s offer and he said fine. Also one interested party for Kayaks.

Nice sunny morning with flat water. Had some push by the current. Arrived at Bellingham around 11 or so. I had to call Seaview to have them ask Kyle to go to marina or to their dock. He said there is room at their dock. We want them to fix chrome rail that is bent AND to check out depth finder.

Tied up, Alex touched base with kyle on what we would like looked at. Kyle loaned us yard truck. Went to Dicks sporting goods and bought two small light weight (36lbs) kayaks, then to get notary done about 3:30 at WF, then mailed documents at Pak mail and went to home depot quickly. Was going to meet kayak interested party at 5:30 so we went and unloaded kayaks and then the guy delayed to later. So off to Safeway for some groceries and Costco got back just at 7pm. Met with kayak purchaser and he liked them and bought (his boat in same marina so he and his son paddled away to their grand banks Dear Prudence (he was an Englishman). Got a lot done

Day two, Friday, at Seaview Dock: dinghy delivery around 11am by steve, then measure and measure and measure for chalks and then install!  Also sold dinghy to Kyle’s buddy Joel around 3:30pm

Alex Arriving With New Dinghy With Steve Guyer


Day three, Saturday. Put chocks on base, got some fish at fish sails, some trips to LFS and put dinghy up. Got some fuel for dinghy, went out to dinner at the Loft and fish tacos and salmon succatosh were good.

Alex Pointing Out To Holly Where Dinghy Chocks Should Go

May or may not leave tomorrow, rain in forecast.

Day 4, Sunday: rained most of day. Alex did 30 amp install. I rode bike to big lots and got some stuff

July 4th Fisherman’s Bay

Met up with Grand QTR and Mana Kai. We left early around 7am or so. Arrived 9:30 am or so shortly followed by Mana Kai. Grand QTR had been there the night prior. We met up to walk to town and did catch the parade. Small…large portion abortion rights marchers…cool.

July 4th Parad Fisherman’s Bay

Got some snacks in town but not much else. Back to boats. Grand QTR hosting

Water Dog At Fishermans Bay Ready For Fireworks!

Dinner was burgers. I tried turkey burgers which was semi disastorous (messed up grill), Salad and Darlene made strawberry short cake for desert.    Fireworks at 10:30 were great. Then to bed.

Fireworks Fishermans Bay
Fireworks Fishermans Bay

We could not get slip at port Sidney for the fifth so plan to go to Garrison for a night

July 5th Garrison Bay

Left 10 ish…cruised to Garrison cutting through roche harbor. Very busy outside of Roche and made it choppy! Garrison not to busy when we arrived and Mana Kai met us there. We anchored followed by many more boats, still only mildly crowded. Took terra for short walk and swim, did some supping and tested kayak (alex did and liked it) and then took the walk up Young Hill. Darlene and Jeff hosted dinner (spaghetti) and we brought wine and contributed a salad and red pepper for the sauce. Nice day all around. To Port Sidney tomorrow for two nights then Lady Smith two nights…then Nanaimo then who knows……

Grand QTR reported big back up at Port Sidney custom’s dock, we may check in at Van Isle

July 6th and 7th Port Sidney

We ended up checking in at Sidney. There was a boat at the dock so I was able to call numbers and get checked in without touching dock. We pulled up to the end of H dock. Long walk to shore. Had 30AMP so we tested our 30 amp.  Did laundry, did some shopping, Bob and Alex rode over to Spencers. Alex installed crab puller. We had a nice Indian dinner at aroma spice together and some walks. Jerr and Darlene picked up start capacitors when they ran errands down towards Victoria. Very nice.


July 8th Ganges

We shoved off Friday AM about 10:30 am and cruised to Ganges. Alex had me get us a dock so we were at the Ganges Marina, outside breakwater D 26 (a bit wavy). We maybe have a good idea where public dock is now but think we could only take an outside tie.  We walked and got lunch at Al’s falafel and fries but he was out of falafel and eggplant which is what we wanted. Alex got a chicken wrap which he enjoyed and I got fried cauliflower which I enjoyed. Alex went back to nap and I walked town. We then took dogs to the Moat’s park and walked in the woods. On the way back we swung by the Ganges alley and when we rounded the back corner near the Local Pub, Holly got jumped by an off leash dog. Got a scratch and puncture on her neck. Took a bit of us screaming to keep the dog back and the locals took a minute to collect the dog, following up that it was not their dog. …..

July 9th and 10th Ladysmith Maritime Community Dock

Woke up early to get to the hardware store to look for hat (nada), alex bought more gas cylinders and a 5 gallon gas can.  On to the Saturday market. Not as good as I remember, only a few produce stands and crafts. I did buy earrings and got some veges and sprouts for Pho and I did get an indigo tie dye shirt. Got back and took off around 11AM heading to Lady Smith

Ladysmith Maritime Community Dock
LadySmith


Nice cruise to Ladysmith, good last tie on long dock. We liked the dock and the town. Also good to anchor, bob says there is a dinghy dock/public dock at butte island. A local said crabbing good at 80-90 feet around the buoy and he said can get crab at Sidney spit in 30 feet of water. FYI

Staying two nights. That afternoon we all walked into town and got a few supplies at grocery. Had a big Mexican feast (fish tacos, chicken enchiladas) on Water Dog.

Bob And Alex Making Mexican

Day two we took a 6 mile walk to Holland Creek trail: nice trail, fairly good waterfall but not very accessible.

Holland Creek trail
Bob On Steep Part of Trail
The Whole Gang of Eight at The 49th Parallel

Had 2pm ish lunch at the Fox and Hound irish pub. It was good…shepherd’s pie. Darlene and Jeff enjoyed steak and stilton pie immensely. Dinner on our own early departure tomorrow because of Dodd’s narrows slack being at 8:30 am.

4/6 of us got sinus issues or head cold. I think it was a head cold. All took COVID tests which were negative thankfully.

July 11th Nanaimo

Left around 6:50 am, arrived at Dodd’s narrows 8:20 am (slack at 8:30am). Will be anchoring and crabbing and walking and terra swimming.  As usual  anchorage kind of full. Dock had two empty spots so we pulled in starboard tie. Alex had a beer (his ritual but it was only 10:30 am) and then we launched the dinghy. He went and picked up Bob to deploy crab traps and they decided to move one after 10 minutes and it already had two crab! I went SUPping around the bay, chatted with Claudette then back to boat but was against wind. Alex went over to Nanaimo Yacht club to help jeff with his AIS and then brought them back and we did a short walk. Bob, Claudette not feeling well. Darlene and I feeling better. Got some ice cream, swimming for dogs then we took Darlene and Jeff over to Nainaimo. Parting ways tomorrow…. They go to comox, we stay here another day.
Did check crab pots in evening of day one. Bob got two, alex 3 but crab puller must be wired wrong as going in wrong direction. Alex fixed quickly voltage reveresed. We may go to back eddy to pick up crab trap we lost on Wednesday but not sure about the weather. Alex will find out.

July 12th: Nanaimo, New Castle Island. Renamed indigenous name: Saysutshun. Happy Anniversary. Picked up crap pots at noon. Davit failed with the dingy all the way up…at least we could swing it over chalks (about 1 foot above. Called company and they told us how to slowly drop winch and davit.  Some box before the hydraulic rams has a nut too loosen which exposes an allen wrench fitting. Turn this ¼ turn at a time CLOCKWISE and at some point winch or boom will go down (depending on which one you are turning). This worked YAY so we got dinghy down. Company sent alex some better schematics and when discussing with the guy at Nautical Solutions Alex eventually figured out it was relay switch (has another name). Had a spare so fixed it and it was easy to replace….

Relay On Left of Davit That had To Be Replaced

Tightened hydraulic fittings that are slowly leaking (checked fluid the next day and it was ok). Anyhow…happy anniversary ☹
We took a short walk around 7pm terra galloping and jumping over logs to get swimming. Then had vege burgers for dinner.  Long day tomorrow to Comox (50miles) or Gorge (80 miles)

Holly On MillStone at New Castle Island Quarry

July 13th and 14th Gorge Harbour Anchor

Slow day up strait. Left Nanaimo about 8am (on purpose csause of tides). At first bumpy as wind still up at 15 knots plus or minus. Forecast says dies down steadily. Mild chop, Whiskey Golf near Winchelsea islands active so had to skirt it and/or stan 1 nm from any vessels (which one was out there).   Wind did die down and within 2 hours (of the 10 hours) it was nice. Saw maybe a whale around north end of texada island but never saw it again so maybe it was seal. Alex thought we’d get current but really never did…barely 8 knots most of the day…he was bummed. Got to gorge around 6pm and anchored (moved once). Alex messed with dinghy a bit and I SUPped terra to shore. She did good with the 10 hour day.   Happy hour on Mana Kai (they on dock) at 7pm and dinner reservation at 8:15pm. We got in about 7:30 pm (when music started) so we missed “appy” hour. Listened to music a bit then had a nice dinner outside at the Floathouse restaurant.

Band at Gorge Harbour

Alex, Terra, Jeff and Holly Pulling Jeff Bad Dog

All enjoyed their meals (I had halibut, alex had seafood fettucini).  Lamb and Saffron seafood mix looked good too! 

Dinner Gorge Harbor Float House Restaurant

Had brought dogs with use so we just walked them and back to boat.

Terra And Holly Behind Railing Dinner at Float House

Decided to stay another day. Maybe move to dock.


July 14th: no dock space so stayed anchored, Gorge is very busy busy busy!. Mana Kai left for Octopus islands. Grand QTR decided to stay so we invited them for crab cake dinner. Went for a walk around 11am to the Whaletown Commons trails then out to Whaletown road and visited whale town. A bit long for Terra. She swam before walk but super low tide so not after.  Used are short hose to rinse dogs on docks then back to boat. Alex puttered with heater and some small leak in engine.
Grand QTR showed up around 6 or so…alexs made cakes and we had a feast of Crab cakes, roasted veges, tomato cucumber salad, rice pilaf with roasted walnuts, baby bella and lions mane mushrooms and peas. It twas a feast and nice evening. Took dogs in and then shortly after to bed.

July 15th Shoal Bay

Debate on Octopus islands or Shoal bay which require different routes to then get to Blind channel on the 16th.   If do Octopus the next day requires a 2-3 hour wait to make rapids…. Not so if do big bay area and dent rapids. Alex checked forecast and it said rain all day so we decided to go to shoal bay where there is a dinghy dock.  Might also see about getting to blind channel a day early. If Shoal bay either rafting or Anchor so left dinghy down (hope that’s ok decision as he kind of wanted to put it up).  Only about 31 nm. Got to run Yacult, Girard and Dent rapids in one fell swoop or could stop at Big Bay if we want.

Left timed to get to Yacult early and then go through Gillard and dent…no problem, most turbulence was after Dent.  Pulled in to shoal bay, small but one could anchor. Dock was empty except for one boat so we pulled up and tied up.

Shoal Bay Sign

The Shoal bay pub sadly closed. The garden which active captain said you can work a bit and harvest from was there but did not seem open. We did find the Creekside walk which was nice and Terra got wet in stream. Alex crabbed and got 5 females……so nada. He prawned as well and got 7 prawns so had them for lunch. 


July 16th and 17th Blind Channel

We shoved off 11 am ish after collecting all the fishing stuff and putting up dinghy. Only 6 mile cruise. Mana Kai and Grand QTR were already in their slips. We were sharing a slip with grand QTR. I asked the dock person about current and she said it would be pushing us off but alex didn’t here or believe so we had to approach twice but got in the second time no problem. 

Mona Kai and Water Dog Blind Channel Dock

We all took the big cedar loop walk and then had a nice dinner at the Cedar Post Inn…our boat meeting “anniversary” as we had all met there in 2019. 

Dinner at Blind Channel Cedar Post Inn

They all left the next day, Grand QTR to pick up guests in refuge cove and Mana Kai to Port Harvey or Boughey bay (They ended up at lagoon cove a day early).

July 18th  Lagoon cove Dock
We decided to go to lagoon cove (46 nm) in one day and we were able to get the dock as they had a cancellation.  We put the dinghy down as Alex wanted to prawn.  Instead of walking with us to the blow hole he rigged for prawning (Tied two traps together).  Darlene, Jeff and I walked to the blow hole, somewhat strenuous (again and for those guys which are 75 years old (Darlene is)) which I had forgotten. Got back and Alex and I went to put in traps but he discovered he did not have enough line so we aborted, went to the appy hour and then put out traps in the evening. 46 prawn caught the next day.

Alex and His Prized Prawns

Did finally catch some crab also after getting blanks for a month.


July 19th and 20th Native Anchorage and Village Island

Left lagoon cove at check out time 11am. Parade of boats coming in. We could not have stayed at dock if we had wanted to!  Short cruise to Village Island Mamalilakulla village site. I had to and had acquired permission form. 20 per person to get to village, a dollar per foot to stay at dock. Arrived in gloomy weather…decided not to dock as seemed tight and we had the dinghy towed behind us.

Mimkwamlis Dock

Anchored in cove but also tight so hoisted anchor and went around the corner to Native Anchorage which turned out to be a great spot for a couple days with decent cell phone internet access.

Native Anchorage

Anchored a bit out in cove so better views but did suffer some wind mid afternoon. Crab pots all around.
Took dinghy over to the village and walked around: not much left…collapsed buildings from the 1960s and the long house front door frame from the older village…  Apparently the village had a secret long house in which they had potlatches even though they were outlawed in the 1920’s. 

Back to boat, alex napped and I read…it turned into a nice afternoon.   Dinner, some tv then bed. Staying another day just to move slow.

July 20th: slow start. Alex slept in and took a shower. Waited too long…terra pooped in the dinghy. Oh well we have to do better. Took them in 8:15 am or so then back to boat and mucked about on computers, paid a doctor bill etc.  Going to dinghy about, maybe put out crab traps and try to find a walk. Going to Port McNceill tomorrow, want to stay 2-3 nights but only place to reserve north island marine only had one night, we may try the harbour authority.

Alex decided to deploy crab traps, near dinghy.

In early afternoon around 1pm fog started to clear and we took dinghy ride over the “Interfor dock” which I had found on active captain. It was no longer abandoned: parked truck but no one there. Sign with phone number to get info/training on safety. So I am sure we were not supposed to use dock but we did 😊  Walked dogs for about 40 minutes, not very scenic but a walk. Saw one older bear poop….it was sunny and hot when not in shade. At end of walk took terra down to the ramp that must be used for offloading big stuff and she had a nice swim. Back to boat and hung out.

July 21st Port McNeill North Island marine

Late start. Got up early though and got terra in for doing dog business. Alex had coffee then picked up traps and got 3 crabs. We cooked those, put up dinghy and took off around 10:30 am.  High fog so a bit dreary. Calm sees, caught tide so good speed. Some swells but calm when crossed queen charlotte strait. Saw a couple whale watch boats but…. No whales. When got inside Malcom island lots of debris and wood to dodge.   Arrived about 1pm. Tried municipal marina (no go) so tied up shore side of C dock at end so that was pretty easy (but wind blowing us off a bit).  Walked with Jeff and Darlend to pick up stuff: toilet seat, distilled water, micro SD cards.
Darlene made dinner cippiona which was good but I brought some fettucina alfredo with our over cooked prawns in case I Didn’t like the soup. She made fresh bread! Nice dinner and evenings. Alex been frustrated all afternoon as can’t get the garmin map to download…making him sad and mad. He worke don it till 11pm and NADA.

Wanted to stay two nights but only got one night. Could move to municipal dock tomorrow perhaps but alex also told D and J would go to Cullen cove (not sure if it will be good for dogs). Then we tentatively plan to all meet (including Grand QTR) at Echo Bay. We shall see.


July 22nd Port McNeill north island marine

Someone left early so we got to stay another night. Darlene and Jeff moved to municipal dock as the wind might not be good for Cullen Cove. Alex still arguing with fish finder all day…never got it to download…did figure out how to do little maps from active captain app. Darlene Jeff and I along with the dogs did the hike I found: up beach road, through the woods and then instead of a trail back due to Darlene being scared of bears we walked back on the “beach” which was large round rocks, not the easiest walk. Terra had great fun as got to swim. We did do happy hour with those guys and the plan is to all meet at Echo Bay tomorrow.

Fair amount of bear sign on the walk…berries barely ripe though

July 23rd Echo Bay

We left Port McNeill around 10 am?

We saw a couple whales plunge feeding which was cool.

Cruised by Health bay a small Indigenous community which supposedly you might get invited to see their long house if you were to tie up to their dock.

Health Bay Long House

Would take dinghy trip from nearby bay not  our big boat at their dock.  Onward up the channel to Echo Bay. Fog lifted early so nice cruise. Arrived and we all tied up, we were on dock 4 and those guys dock 2. Dock one needs repair. A young man Trevor hired by the tribe is the general manager. He helped us tie up, get power and opened the store for registration and shopping. Nice young man who said he was a musician (guitar). He was born in Port McNeill, spent some time in Alert bay then went away to Calgary for years like 18 and then felt the need to come home. His friend lived in an old fishing boat across the bay and had told him about the job. His friend stayed on 1-2 years after Pierre’s sold to the tribe. We all walked over to Billy’s museum and checked it out then through the woods to the other side of the bay to “echo bay marine provincial park”.

Billy’s, Biily was There On Right With Bob
Billy was There, really Nice Guy

Apparently the park is unceded lands and the tribe discouraged the park from existing so the dock is condemned and to be removed.


We had a pot luck of sides and grilled our own stuff for dinner. Darlene made a wonderful cobbler desert. Tomorrow we split up with Mana Kai heading south. Grand QTR will stay and hang a few days but will then have to get back fast.

July 24th Jennis Bay Marina

Darlene and Jeff left kind of early, headed up Tribute channel, poked nose in kwatsi and sent pictures of depth and broken down docks.  Grand QTR and ourselves cruised to Jennis Bay Marina which required going through Stuart Narrows (can have 8 knot current) so we had to leave by 9:30am to get slack. Nice lovely cruise: fog lifted as we went and sun a shining at arrival. We decide to tie up hoping to get internet to share with Grand QTR who anchored.

Water Dog At Jennis Bay Marina

No one paid any attention to us until the following day at departure so no internet. 1 dollar per foot…we paid 52.00 before we left. Unfortunately a couple hours after we got there a generator started running and continued to run for the entire visit (we would not go again because of this). We all walked the logging roads out of the back of the marina property: no bear sightings…saw some new and old logging equipment. Not a scenic walk but a walk none the less.

Jennis Bay Marina Dock Entrance

We supped around Jennis bay and they took a dinghy ride.
The worker bee guy we chatted with the following AM said can catch cod at the narrows near slack and “Sibley” bay up the inlet had crab.

July 25th and 26th Greenway sound, Cecil island north

Some debate as to go to Clayden bay and Turnbull cove vs Greenway sound which supposedly has a hike. Grand QTR sweeties that they are decided we could go to Greenway sound for two nights then Sullivan bay then Qwatsi (Which would be their last night). 

So we set out around 12pm to get the stuart narrows at slack: fog gone early by 10 am. We cruised to Greenway sound near the marine park but the dock was in the water and non usable. Also very dep and no good anchorage. I did not read up well enough. The best anchorage is over by cecile island almost 3 miles away so we ended up anchoring off to the south of Cecile Island.

water Dog and Grand QTR Behind Cecile Island


No good shore access used sloping rocks with seaweed on top of barnacles and at low low tide in AM used the extra fish farm dock (which we did feel kind of bad about but did not get yelled at).  
We stuck our noses in to broughton lagoon at low slack but did not stay long. Plan for tomorrow, explore the lagoon at high slack (1.5 hours after alert bay HW Slack)  and we planned to check out the hike to see if we can get to it.

Day two….those guys were debating going to Turnbull but decided to stay as the lagood exploration time should be 4pm ish. Around 12:30 we all went over to the Greenway sound recreation site.

Holly and Bob On Dinghy Ride To Hike

Confirmed dock a now go but there was a clearing area with a reasonable landing so we used the anchor buddy and started the hike

Broughton Lake Site

Not a maintained trail> Muddy, one area with trees across it which was hard for terra and then a bridge over a creek which was just three big logs tied together with logs of holes to fall through. The logging road was right there so we used that bridge but it was hard to get up to the bridge. Claudette was pissed as the whole deal was dangerous for us and the dog terra.

Log Bridge

But stubborn us ¾ of us…soldiered on and made it to  Broughton lake. Lots of logs on shore, no good beach, a double port-o-let before the end and then a picnic table and small dock. Terra and holly got to swim, alex dipped in and then we all rushed back as we needed to get into the lagoon later.

Patty And Alex The Poser

Getting back seemed easier ie made it in 35minutes I guess cause we were familiar with it. Made lots of noise the entire hike and no bears seen.
This was a sketchy hike and dangerous for Claudette and Bob as he has poor balance and both are mid 70s. Also terra could have gotten hurt. We considered ourselves lucky.

We got back and happily retrieved the dinghy and headed back. About a mile from the boats alex tried to floor the dinghy and bam …out of gas… gas indicator still says full….. we had two gallons as we were worried about that…added the gas but still no start…(later we determined big air lock). So we had to paddle back to boats! Thank goodness tide was with us and no wind….

Paddling The Dinghy Back


Those guys towed us back to Water Dog then came and picked us up sans dogs to explore the lagoon. People mention porpoises in the lagoon a lot but they did no show up….

Passage To The Lagoon

When we got back I helped alex bleed the gas line and we got gas and the dinghy seemed to work. We went over to their house for burger night which was fun. Off to Sullivan Bay tomorrow…. About a 6nm cruise.


July 27th Sullivan Bay Marina

Arrived around 11 am and tied up to outside of their dock one. As other cruisers had told me no shore access just docks.

Water Dog at Sullivan Bay Marina
Sullivan Bay Marina

Behind the fuel dock is a floating dock with real grass which the dogs would use if we got them there. We hung out, joined the Appy hour at 5pm at the tent with one the dock hands Cory? playing on a synthesizer and singing (oldies piano man, johnny cash, George Strait, Elvis)…

Elvis Playing at The Dock

then we had reserved dinner (chicken and ribs) and had nice dinner together.

Originally we thought we might stay two or even three nights but nah….so planned to go to Qwatsi with those guys tomorrow.  Stinky! We ran into other boaters who had gone two weeks prior and no smell so maybe something died under docks.


July 28, 29, 30, 31 and August 1st!    Kwatsi Bay, broken down abandoned docks

Sun a shining by 8am. Left dock around 10 am and about 25 mile cruise to Qwatsi bay. Stopped by Lacy falls but not much flowing. Docks looked ok (in very bad shape) so we tied up and both guys thought it ok to stay on dock so we did. 

Grand QTR and Water Dog Kwatsi Bay Dock

The marina was sold in 2021 and the dock are almost broken apart and shore trails grown over. A few buildings are left that don’t look too bad but will take a lot to bring it back. It’s amazing how quickly things go back to nature!

Office On Kwatsi Bay Dock, Only One Year Closed Down!

First night with Grand QTR, had fish tacos for dinners, they leaving tomorrow.  

July 29th: Next AM Dolphins arrived! Big pod of 40 or so, rounded our cove twice near our boats (very special). The first pass they where so close to the dock they rocked our 58′ boat big time with there bow wave, amazing amount of energy.

I went out on SUP and they swam under me.

Patty SUPing With Dolphins

They went to head of bay mostly and hunted for hours. At first big acrobatics with breaches and full out of the water jumps then as the day went on less energetic (they must expend so much energy!!!)

Dolphin School

Guys put crab traps out from docks and Alex caught a halibut and bob small red crab so nada. Grand QTR left around 12pm..  Alex put prawn traps out over slack, got 15 prawns so put them in overnight for pick up tomorrow.  New line twisting bad and causing cursing. Caught a small black cod. We took Terra Swimming on the island and then took holly to the waterfall hike which is short but very nice waterfall and good to walk on a trail albeit short.  

Red Marker In Tree On Shore Marking Trail West Of Dock
Patty, Alex and Holly at Kwatsi Bay Falls

July 30th Some neighbors arrived, Ralph and Kelly on a big older sailboat Iolair 

They seem younger than us, do have adult kids, sold their east coast home and have a cabin in Idaho for winter and Blaine is home port for summer cruising which they plan to do a long time (already owned boat 12 years and did Caribbean etc.  Ralph plays guitar.  We loaned them our SUP so they could go out together. We chased dolphins in PM (respectfully, I was on SUP) a little tougher on SUP as afternoon winds blowing up east side of the bay and waves near cliff where dolphins were hunting.

July 31st Lazy AM. Picked up prawn traps and alex likely got about 40 prawns from two traps put out.

Alex With Decent Catch of Prawns

He invited Iolair for happy hour with prawns. I did trampoline. A older Ocean Alexander arrived and shared dock as did a sailboat. The OA people were nice, Irene and Ed (Jeanne something is boat name). Alex invited them to our “appy hour”. They were on their way down form Alaska and had done well with fishing up there. They gave alex tip that Minstrel Island is good place to go for Salmon near lagoon cove and I think said fish farm near the marina good for prawns but not sure.

Years ago they had been to Qwatsi when open so they were sad to see it in such disrepair. They had gone to Bond sound and done a river cruise and saw grizzly’s.
Ralph had talked to a sailboat guy anchored up the bay and he was told the log boom is gone, lots of logging signs but boom is gone and indigenous peoples are creating a lodge…two big totem poles. They didn’t happen to find out if a dock was around.
I keep bugging alex and running dinghy up one of these rivers and it sounds like Atta river is better than Thompson. Anchorage is questionable in both but from reading book can be done and perhaps bond is better but not sure.
August 1. Tentative plan was to leave and go to Bond and Thompson and see about anchoring and trying a river…. I keep pointing out to Alex that bond sound is 7 nm from us so it could be a dingy ride IF we trust the dinghy. Iridium should be brought along. Its sending texts but can’t make calls and failed to text to Lagoon cove to ask about reservation…. So we may dinghy to Bond sound. We shall see.

Had satellite tv (at times when foggy not local channels), no cell but got a spam call as we were entering the inlet so the Tardis camper thing caught something.

June 2022 British Columbia Boating
August/September 2022 British Columbia Boating

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