September 11, 2020

Finally underway after several days delay doing sea trials and getting the boat into proper order. We departed Anacortes at 0930 and weaved through the San Juans to Bedwell Harbor on South Pender Island in Canada. After being thoroughly scrutinized by the customs gentlemen, the stresses of the past week ebbed away as we swung North into Trincomali channel; Dodd Narrows, past Nanaimo, through the Strait of Georgia, arriving here to drop the hook in this quiet little cove on the west side of Quadra Island just north of Campbell River. We plan to catch slack through Seymour Narrows in the morning.

Departed Anacortes 0930. Odometer 174 nautical miles
Arrived Pender Island 1115 and spent a couple hours.
Arrived April Pt. Cove opposite Campbell River @ 1900 Total nm 324.
Travelled 150 miles on 64 gallons = 2.34 nm/gal

We were not afforded much of a view through Seymour Narrows and along Johnston’s Strait due to fog and smoke blown in from Eastern fires. We did have a great show from about a hundred Dall porpoise in a feeding frenzy. We stopped the boat and cut the engine to watch them play and swirl all around us.

Refueled at Port McNeil (odometer 410 nm) taking on 94 gallons (burned 92 gal since Anacortes with a total distance of 236 nautical miles with an average of 2.5 nm/gal.

Jim is currently at the wheel as we skim over flat seas up Queen Charlotte Strait toward Cape Caution and Fitz Hugh Sound with a plan to anchor in Phillip Inlet. Fog has lifted but it’s still quite overcast with mostly smoke. Ahhh, it appears more than our forests are on fire in our world these times. What a reprieve to be away from the daily news of human affairs.
A whole line of geysers spouted off to the East as we motored along Calvert Island and once again we had to cut the diesel to hear and watch a quarter mile line of whales blow, breach, and bring their tales and fins into this other world.

Odometer reading at Philip Inlet 482. Fuel remaining 100 gal (burned 32 gal since Port McNeil) = 2.25 mpg. Total miles since Anacortes = 308.

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September 13 – Lowe Inlet, fish climbing Verney Falls into Lowe Lake off Grenville channel, B.C.

Silky seas made for smooth cruising today with much improved visibility as smoke cleared. Granite escarpments enfolding lake filled basins emptied as waterfalls along channels and passes. Had a tea in Jackson passage after going through the narrows near high slack. Cruised at 1 knot under no power and wonderful silence as we ate lunch. Then that great throaty diesel engages and we step up on plane to carve our smooth ribbon on the water. We stop to watch ten seals feed in a tight group along the shore in the fast current.

Took on 50 gallons of fuel at Shearwater. Travelled 173 miles from Philip Inlet to Lowe Inlet (odometer 655). Fuel remaining 79.2 gal.

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Sunny Ketchikan

Odometer 793, took on 103 gal., then did the customs formalities at the city dock. Jim went to check out Totem poles and see some of Ketchikan and I walked around the boardwalk enjoying the feeling of having my legs move. Did a once over on the boat and cleaned the windows which took on quite a bit of spray from a North East wind out of Portland Inlet in Dixon Entrance after a smooth ride to Prince Rupert.

Ran 35 miles to Meyers Chuck and tied up at the state dock for the night. And now to bed after a couple bowls of Clam chowder.

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September 15 – Wrangell

Arrived in Wrangell before noon. It was a beautiful ride up through Ernest Sound, past Deer Island, and through Zamora passage.

Another warm and sunny day. Paid $18 to tie up to the city dock and plug in for the night. Topped up with fresh water. Washed down the boat. Splashed the dingy and cruised around the harbor. Walked around this fine little working town with several Hardware stores and found a WiFi spot at the Stikine Hotel where we were the only diners for a French Dip lunch and a great view toward Sumner Strait. Did a few little boat projects and got the flag up to represent, not one nation, but an alliance of all countries. Being on the water brings an even greater realization of the interconnectedness of the world and the necessity to work together to solve the climate issues we are facing.