ALMOST TO ALASKA !

Tuesday, May 21, 2013. We left Ocean Falls this morning, headed for Shearwater where we hope to get some groceries and do the laundry.  Saw a small humpback whale while we were going thru Gunboat Passage.  When we arrived there were only a few boats but it filled up later in the day with some big yachts (100 feet plus).  In the afternoon we took the small boat out for a little salmon fishing but no luck.  Still a little early in the season.  Grocery prices are really high here and the selection isn’t very good so only got a few items.  Their $10.00 per day wi-fi wasn’t worth the money.  Will probably pass this place by next time.

Hurry! Where's the bucket?

Marina at Shearwater

114 foot yacht coming into dock at Shearwater

Catching crab and shrimp is hard work for some guys!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013.  This morning we are off headed north again.  The destination is Bottleneck Inlet.  This is a very protected little bay that we have stayed in before.  Three other boats were here but there is lots of room for us.

Looking out
 of Bottleneck Inlet

Thursday, May 23, 2013.  We were up and underway early as there is a lot of water to cover today. Saw 2 killer whales and some Dall porpoise.  Also passed the BC ferry Northern Expedition.  About one hour before our destination the water got rough.  We had the wind to our back but the current coming toward us and the steep waves got up to 6 foot high in no time.  Pat said the fishing boat went out of sight between the waves a few times. We are headed to Lowe Inlet where there is a nice water falls that dumps into the head of the bay.  Saw a black bear on the beach on the way in. We anchored close to the beach but will need to move early in the morning before the tide is low to avoid going aground.

BC Ferry Northern Expedition

Friday, May 24, 2013.  Up at 5:00 this morning and headed for Baker Inlet.  Only about 2 hours away.  Yesterday we cruised 10 hours.  The entrance to this inlet is very very narrow and makes a slight bend so you can’t see if someone is coming the other way.  So in a case like this we get on our VHF radio and broadcast: “security, security, security. 54 foot power boat west bound into Watson Narrows.  Any opposing traffic please respond.”  There was no other traffic but just our luck there was a large log in mid channel in the narrowest place. The current was running fairly hard with us so we kind of nudged it a little as we went by.  This is a very pretty place but the clouds are low and it’s raining today so we can’t see the mountain tops above us.  Also a good spot to watch bears and the books say there are wolves here.

Saturday, May 25, 2013.  Spent a lot of time yesterday watching the wildlife in Baker Inlet.  Watched a bear for several hours, eagles catching fish, seals and river otters swimming nearby.  We timed the tide going through the narrows at the inlet and passed through easily.  We had a great cruise up to Prince Rupert.  Flat water all the way.  When we got here Russ launched the 12 boat from atop and started out for town to get some steering fluid for the fishing boat.  Half way there ( it’s 3 miles from where we are anchored ) the engine quit and he had to row the boat back against the wind and current.  Only took about 2 hours.  Tomorrow morning we leave at daybreak and will cross over into Alaska.


Sunday, May 26,2013.  Up at 4:00am but did not have enough light until 5:00am to be underway.  Wound our way out thru Venn Passage to the open water and turned north.  Perfect water conditions  today.  No wind and the swells in Dixon Entrance were non existent.Had some Dall Porpoise ride our bow wake again. Entered back into US waters at 9:35am ( 8:35 Alaska time).  Just as we were ready to turn into Foggy Bay I decided to check the tides.  Holly smokes it’s a 4.2 minus tide today! Not wanting to take any chances with hitting bottom we decided to continue on to Ketchikan, another 33 miles!!.  This will be a long cruise today.  We cleared customs and are officially back in the US. We will be here a few days if anyone wants to call or email us.  Then we will go back out for a few days and Chrissy will be here on the 10th.

Green Island lighthouse on border between BC and Alaska

Couldn't believe our luck.  Dead calm water in Dixon Enterance

Snapshot of the navigation computer showing us crossing in Alaska waters

Large cruise ship leaving Ketchican

Can't believe these big ships dock up without the aid of a tug

STILL A LONG WAYS TO GO

Saturday, May 11, 2013.  We pulled the crab pots this morning, nothing but star fish in them.  We are leaving early so we can ride the current north up Johnstone Strait.  This body of water has a reputation as being a rough place to be when the current and the wind are going in opposite directions. But today the weather gods were in our favor.  We anchored up for the night in Port Neville.  We put out the crab pots for the night and started our bear watch.  Saw two black bears just before dark. 

Sunday, May 12, 2013.  Pulled the pots but nothing but star fish this time.  Saw another black bear on the beach. We left early again to catch the current going north and had another great cruise.   We did not see another boat for over three hours as it is so early in the season except for those folks going to Alaska.  Stopped at Mound Island for the night.

Monday, may 13, 2013.  Saw yet another black bear last night.  Tried to take the dogs for a walk on the beach but they were really spooked by something.  I think they could smell bears!!  No luck in the crab pots so left this morning for Port McNeille. Great moorage rates here!!.  Only $35.00 per night including electricity.  There is a BC coast guard boat tied next to us.  The weather report is for winds of 10-mph the next 3 days so will probably just stay here since we have internet service and can monitor the weather forecasts closer.

Aye Aye Sir tied up in Port McNeille

Canadian Coast Guard in Port McNeille

Tuesday, May 14, 2013.  When I took the dogs for a walk this morning we came across some bear scat in the lawn right on the marina property.  Maybe I will take my bear spray with me tomorrow!! We spent the day laying around the boat waiting for better weather.  We will probably leave here Thursday morning and cruise up to the very end of Vancouver Island where we will wait for the right time to cross Queen Charlotte Strait.  It is over 40 miles back across and the swells come in from the Pacific ocean along with whatever wind waves there may be.  There are several weather buoys off the West coast of British Columbia that send reports of the wind and wave conditions so we will monitor these reports on the internet and go when things are in our favor.

Thursday, May 16, 2013.  We left Port McNeille this morning headed for a small bay along the Queen Charlotte Straits called Clam Bay.  We ran in heavy fog for four hours not seeing any other boats along the way.  Took the fishing boat out bottom fishing and caught one small rock fish.  One other boat came in late.  They were from North Carolina and had been up to Alaska and were on their way back to Bellingham.

Logging camp on floats in Clam Bay. When the job is finished they can tow it to a new site.

Friday, May 17, 2013.  We pulled anchor at day break (5:15am) and headed out into the “big water.”  Had a perfect weather forecast, no wind and a low westerly swell.  Also no fog until we got all the way across.  The stabilizers worked great and kept us from rolling from side to side and we had a great ride.  Arrived at Fury Cove at 11:00am.  While walking on the beach we found some really large barnacle shells and mussel shells.

Looks like rain in Fury Cove tonight

Reminder:  You can follow along with us by looking at the map located on the right side of the blog.  Just click on the “follow along”to open it up and than click on the plus and minus signs to zoom in or out.

Saturday, May18,2013.  Left early again this morning for Codville Lagoon.  We were the only boat when we arrived but two others came in later and spent the night.  We took a boat ride around the bay looking for wild life but came up empty.  Rained on and off most of the day.

Sunday, May 19, 2013.  Cruised up to Ocean Falls this morning.  This is a abandoned mill town but there are a few people still live here.  They have a great little marina for visiting boaters with power on the docks and all the water you can use.  Talked with one of the local fellows who said they have had some problems with wolves.  Seems there are now a few less cats in town.  Will need to keep the dogs close to us when walking.  We have put out the crab pots and on the first pull came up with four nice keepers.  Not so lucky with the shrimp pots.  Only four shrimp the first pull.  Will leave all the pots out over night and see what happens.

Ocean Falls

Docks at Ocean Falls

Monday, May 20,2013.  Went to breakfast this morning at the local one and only restaurant.  Dell was a little shocked when he paid the bill.  I tried to tell him about not going to places where there are no prices on the menu.  Pulled the shrimp pots and got 45 more really big prawns and the crap pots were full of big crab.  Guess what's for dinners this week!!

Full crab pots and a bucket of prawns

The new crew after a hard day of catching crab and prawns

WE ARE FINALLY UNDERWAY!!!

Seems like we have been waiting forever for May 1st to get here. Hopefully all the bad winter storms are behind us. We are ready to start a 5 month voyage that will take us to some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere in the world. On board with us for the trip North are Del and Orlaine Clifton from Silverdale, WA.  For the past five years Del has pestered me about wanting to see the Inside Passage to Alaska.  I thought I better not go up there again without asking if they wanted to go along.  They didn’t even need to think about it.  They said they would love to go.  This should be a real treat for them.
Traveling in a small boat like ours versus a cruise ship is like the difference between night and day.  We can stop most anywhere we want and spend as much time as we want.  After we get anchored up we can set out the crab pots and or shrimp pots and catch some fresh seafood for dinner.  This year we have the new fishing boat with us, so we plan on using that quite a bit.  The neat thing about the kayaks is you can get much closer to the wildlife than when in a boat without a motor.  I am hoping to get some great bear photos.  Of course there will be dinners to make and dishes to wash.  Also laundry and grocery shopping to do when we stop at a town.  And I’m sure we can find some daily chores for Del and Orlaine to do.
It should take about four weeks to get to Alaska if the weather co-operates and we just take our time. One of the fun things about a trip like this is meeting new people along the way, going our separate ways, and then meeting up again unexpectedly in another harbor.  Sometimes we might even travel together for a few days if we are going to be using the same route.  We still keep in contact with people we met back in 2009.

Del and Orlaine Clifton.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013. Today we cruised to Prevost Harbor State Park on Stuart Island where we will spend the first night.  We found a place at the dock along with one other boat.  The next morning we were up early and headed for Bedwell Harbor to clear customs into British Columbia.  When we got there I walked up to the head of the dock, picked up the phone, and we were cleared in about five minutes.  From there we cruised up to Montaque Harbor and anchored up for the night.

Friday, May 3, 2013.  This morning we left early because we needed to be at Dodd Narrows when the current was slack.  This is the first  of several rapids we need to transit on the trip to Alaska. Because our boat only cruises at 7-8 knots we need to pass through these when the current is barely running.  The entire trip we had a headwind of nearly 20 mph and waves of 3-4 feet.  No big deal for us except its hard to see all the crab pots and shrimp pots in the water.

When we got to Nanaimo we stopped outside of the harbor to reel in the fishing boat we are towing and I noticed a line trailing in the water behind us.  I pulled some of it in but not all of it as I could tell it was wrapped around something under the boat.  So I  let it pile up on the swim  step on the back of the boat, and pulled in the tow line and let it pile up on top of it.  Big mistake!!!  When I started under way again the crab line wrapped up in the prop and pulled the tow line in with it.  So now both were wrapped up in the prop.  After we got tied up I was able to get a diver to remove the lines but the tow line was ruined.  So off to the nearest marine supply for a new one.

Deland Russ with a big mess to untangle.

Del has been assigned window cleaning detail.

Saturday, May 5, 2013.  This morning we moved across the bay to Newcastle Island, anchored up and began the wait for the wind to settle down so we could cross the Straits of Georgia.  It is about 18 miles across and this water is usually crossed early in the morning when the water is the calmest.  As the afternoon went on the wind died down so at 2:00pm we started across.  It was dead calm by the time we were to the other side.  We anchored up in Pender Harbor for the night.

Del's turn at the wheel

Sunday, May 6, 2013.  On day 5 we got under way at 9:30 to once again be at Malibu Rapids at slack tide.  It was about a 40 mile cruise up Jarvis Inlet to Princess Louise Inlet.  This is one of the most beautiful places in the Northwest and people come here from all over the world to see it. The weather has been very warm the past week so there is a lot of snow melt and there are waterfalls coming off the hillsides everywhere you look.  We tied up to the dock here and will stay for the next two days.  The mountains are so high surrounding us that the sun does not shine on us until 10:15 am and it is gone by 6:00 pm. On Monday Del and Russ spent the morning fixing one of the side doors that was damaged when we landed at Nanaimo. After dinner we took a little boat ride in the small boat and saw our first black bear on the beach.

The view on the way to Princess Louisa

A beautiful day to ride up top

Lots of free dock space with a view

Chatterbox falls.

Out for a ride after dinner

Tuesday, May7, 2013.   Left Princess Louisa Inlet this morning and saw the most amazing sight on the ride down the inlet.  We came across a pod of over 100 White Sided Dolphins.  They were all swimming together in one huge school.  They spent about 15 minutes swimming under our boat and riding our bow wake.  I hope the video turns out.  It was a long ride back out Jarvis Inlet but we made it just fine.  Tonight we are anchored out in Ballet Bay and will continue our trek North tomorrow.  We need to stop at a store along the way and get a few supplies and we haven’t had any internet service since leaving the US.

Wednesday, May8, 2013.  Left this morning for Desolation Sound.  The wind is blowing a little but it is behind our back.  Stopped at Lund for an hour and bought a few supplies, than continued on to Melanie Cove in Prideaux Haven.  We are the only boat here.  Put the shrimp pots out just  outside the cove and caught about 30 on the first pull.  The weather is still perfect.

Thursday, May 9, 2013.  We left the shrimp pots out over night so we checked them first thing this morning.  Had about 30 shrimp again.  Guess what's for dinner tonight! We cruised over to Squirrel Cove to spend the night.  After we anchored up we all hopped in the small boat and went to Refuge Cove than over to the dock in Squirrel Cove so we could walk up to the store for more supplies.  It’s so early in the season that the stores are not stocked up yet and one wasn't even open yet.

Pulling shrimp pots in Desolation Sound

Russ and Orlaine checking out the catch

Friday, May 10, 2013.  This morning we need to transit 3 sets of rapids so we left at 8:30am to be at the first one at 11:33am when the current is slack and not running.  All three rapids are close together so we can go thru all three at the same time.  We saw a small pod of Dall’s porpoise but they were going south and we were going north.  We are now tided up at Blind Channel Resort and it is the first time in 10 days we have had internet service.  We are doing the laundry today and will refill the water tanks. The odometer on the navigation computer says we have travelled 290 miles to date.  The trip has been great so far and Del and Orlaine seem to be really enjoying themselves.