Day 47 - McMcKing Inlet to Shearwater

The weather is changing so we opt to go as far south as we can. Although the sea is a bit rolly, it's a head sea (we are going into it) and we make good time to the bottom of Aristabel Island. To cut about 20 miles off of the trip and get out of the waves, we take a route not recommended for many. Our trusty books notes that Higgins Pass has a drying channel at at 5' tide. So in order for our boat to get through, the pass must have a tide level of at least 9-10 feet. We draw 3.5 feet and in order for all of our "under the water" parts to clear the bottom we need this 3.5 feet to pass through without incident. Since math is my weak subject, it helps to write it out - bottom dry at 5' tide, plus 3.5 feet = 8.5 feet of tide to squeak through. to be on the safe side, we like to have a few extra feet. We arrive at the drying point at 11.5 feet of tide and sigh a huge sigh of relief when we go through. This is surely a "pucker" factor of 8. With Haley on the bridge watching the depth sounder and tracing the route from the paper chart in the book and Betty on the bow rock spotting and Captain Mike steering on the helm, we all smile a little bit bigger when we make it through! its always an adventure when you are with Mike. Thank you for good instructions in your book Mr. and Mrs. Douglas!

It's raining cats and dogs and we make it into Seaforth channel to calm seas and Shearwater. In the meantime, on the radio we hear the other three boats who have popped out from the inside passage without incidence and we all get help on moorage from Cap't Bob who helps to make the arrangements for us all to get securely tied to the dock. A great birthday dinner in the restaurant to celebrate Pat's Birthday.