Telegraph Cove, no wind and a day for Alert Bay, Johnstone Straight and possibly some whales. Two days from Sullivan Bay and having Jim and Alicia here has been a nice change. The weather has been good and having two other people tie up and set the anchor has eased some of the work for Becky and I. Turnbull Cove, a few hours from Sullivan Bay got Jim and Alicia introduced to the boat and left us enough time to put the Dingy and Kayaks in the water and Jim and I broke out the crab pots, while Becky and Alicia took off in the Kayaks. Jim and I were pretty excited, and loving the view and reconnecting, blasting off in the dingy….. Our departure was cut short when I ran over the bow line. I thought that I had hit something. It was so tight that I couldn’t lift the engine to free it. Jim and I were laughing, the seasoned sailors that we are, humbled and having fun. We had a great dinner of barbequed chicken, salad and some beans.
In the morning tried to go through Hopetown Passage. I should have taken a clue from the kelp in the pass; I did, because I stopped and coasted with the tide through. I was doing less than 2 knots when I ran aground. Yep, planted the boat. Alicia and Becky were on the bow and I was stuck. Fortunately, when they came back to the stern I was able to back off. OUCH….. Fortunately it wasn’t noisy and the boat didn’t lurch or heel, but I should have posted the look out earlier. I said a prayer of thanks as the boat slid off and then did a u-turn. Managed to stay in deep water the rest of the day as we stopped by Echo Bay and visited with Yvonne Maximchuck and Billy Proctor. I was delighted because I recognized Yvonne, from her picture in Billy’s book and had been interested in her artwork. Also Billy Proctor remembered my boat from two years ago when he toured it, his museum is such an interesting place.
By Becky – tonight is my last night. It has been a fantastic adventure of a lifetime. We are in Shoal Bay where there is a music fest going on. There are about 30 boats tied to each other and we all brought pizza makings to share. They were baked in a stone, wood fueled oven out on a deck in a beautiful bay. We have been visiting with some of the folks we have met in different ports along the way and making new friends with others. It is a great night; fish are jumping next to the boat. We are tied to Spirit of Balto again and they have put a large plastic rat on the line we used to tie to their boat. I love those guys!!
It would seem that four people on a small boat would be a crowd but we have been having a great time with Jim and Alicia. They are warm-hearted people that feel like family. We have gone to some great isolated bays and small, friendly marinas; have seen bears, eagles, whales porpoises, dolphins, and deer along with amazing, awesome scenery. It is hard to go back to home and work but I hope I will return here someday. It is truly a magical place! God has blessed us on the entire trip. We have had weather and waves in our favor for most of the trip even when we had to go in Johnstone Straits. Even the small amount of bad weather and waves were manageable. They just added to the adventure of the trip. I am a bit sad to leave, but am soooooo happy to have been here for the last three weeks that I have to thank God for the amazing trip. I will treasure the pictures that will trigger memories of the places we have been, the things we have seen and the people we have met.