Friday June 21, 2019 Port Harvey to Port McNeil

Happy first day of summer everyone......you wouldn't know it up here, dark and dreary, but thank god the wind is now gone.  Spent a nostalgic night at Port Harvey.  Its all but shuttered until July 15 when I believe that Gail has someone coming in to manage moorage.  It was good of Lagoon Cove to answer the radio when we hailed Port Harvey to let us know what was going on.  Good to see that the neighbours (some of them) are looking after Gail's better interests.

This was our first visit since George passed away and we remembered all the good times we had at his and Gail's resort.  The most awesome pizza on the coast and great meals we have spent with friends (old and new).  If only we were 15 years younger, it would be a great place to set down roots and continue on with the tradition that they started.  Its the only respite from Johnston Strait weather and also a great destination spot.  Regardless of the neighbours oozing throughout the bay! 

Nature is taking its own back and quickly - the grass in their front yard is waist deep with game trails running through it.  Bear scat can be seen all around and the main docks are covered in shells from birds and otters and everything almost seems like it was left and not put away.  Gail if you are reading this, the restaurant sliding glass doors are unlocked and we fear that critters will get in and destroy the place.  Let whoever you have coming in know this and figure out a way to put a lock on it.

We tied up there yesterday afternoon and were followed in by two other boats.  It was quite snotty in Johnston Strait and we were glad to see the docks!

Thursday June 20, 2019 - Forward Harbour to Port Harvey

4 hours - 10 kn from Forward Harbour to Port Harvey

9:00 am Pull up anchor and head out to Johnston strait.

As we sit and watch all the other boats leave, we wonder if we shouldn`t leave ourselves.  The weather is unchanged, stating 20-25 kn winds in Johnston Strait.  From 5:00 am to 9:00 a steady stream of boats is lifting anchor and leaving, until all that is left is us.

We make the decision that we will poke our nose out and see whats happening.  Well...... its about 4 foot moderate and quite bouncy.  I Batten down our stuff and we shall see how far we get. 

Well it was lumpy and quite lumpy, I must say.All my geegaws, glassware etc. were on the floor and we were lucky nothing was broken. (I put them there! :) )

I empathize with the kids and the grandkids, it was not comfortable for them, trying to keep a car seat lashed to the seat and kids from bouncing around and one scared little boy crying.....I had forgotten what it must seem like through the eyes of the little ones.  CJ and Shannon were troopers and managed to make it in to Port Harvey with just a few stories.

Wed June 19, 2019 - Denham to Forward Harbour

4 hours to Forward Harbour @ 9 - 10 kn (with tide push included)

After a bumpy night of sleeping, we head out @ 930 to get up to Forward Harbour to wait out wind.  Its the lumpiest we have encountered running through Cordero Channel and out to Whirlpool rapids.

In Forward Harbour, there are at least 9 boats sitting waiting.  Very busy place to wait for the wind to die down.

Our first black bear sighting!  When we arrived, we saw a black bear sow and her cub on the beach.  The boys were pretty fascinated with this.  After lunch, grumpa took them out to the beach as the tide had come up and the bear had left.  No sooner had he said to the boys that there were no bears on the beach, Shannon yelled, Bear on the Beach and almost right in front of them was another bear (probably sow from the other side of the beach) Guess it was not a good time to run the dog and boys on the beach! 

Wind is howling like crazy and after a nice dinner, off to bed.  Prior to bed, we had decided that the weather channel had not changed much for tomorrow, and we would spend another day/night here.

Tuesday June 18, 2019 - to Denham Bay

Ruby all tuckered out after running and swimming

 3 Hours from Laura Cove to Denham Bay Lodge @ 8.5 - 9 kn

We arrived early afternoon to Denham Bay Lodge.  A school of Dahls porpoise greet us on our way in.

This is quickly becoming one of our favourite stops.  Not many boaters go here as their focus is on the cabins.  Nonetheless, we find it a nice stop with nice folks.  They have great cabins to rent, a full outdoor working kitchen (two of them, one for the cabins and one for the yachties.  Horseshoes, some sort of ball and rope game, small beach, walking trails, and fish cleaning station. (when the fishing is open!)  Eco tours are replacing the non-retention fishing here with lots of chatter on the radio about Orca and other things to see.

The wind is howling but good and the later the afternoon, the lumpier its getting, even tied to the docks.

The boys and Ruby spend quality time running off some of that energy and we chill-lax for the afternoon.

As the day wears on, the boats get tossed a wee bit more, but there aren't too many other places to go and anchor that aren't in the path of the wind.



Prince Harry enjoying the afternoon

Boys playing some sort of rope game!
 

Monday June 18, 2019 - Laura Cove

Powell River to Laura Cove - 3 Hrs. @ 8 kn

Short run from Powell River to Laura Cove....first swim of the year.  We are tucked in behind a little island with a bay all to ourselves.
A nice evening gunkhole around the bay with baby ducks, baby geese and 35 other boats.  Best time of year to be here, not crowded and no-one to yell at your for screaming kids and loud music.

A quiet evening and good sleep, Tomorrow off to Denham Bay.

Sunday June 16 - Powell River to Desolation

Stellar Sunset last night - view from our bridge

For those that know Mike, you will know that he is always hell bent on getting to where our destination is, therefore, it comes as a surprise that the "grumpa" in him suggested last night that instead of getting up at 6:00 am this morning to run the Dent rapids at slack tide, he said that the boys would enjoy a day of swimming in Laura Cove!  The old softie!  This was a good decision last night as Johnston Strait is this morning forecast to be gale force northwest winds.....yuck.  Hate it when salt gets on the windows!

Vancouver Island in the distance and the tip of Texada

So we let our lines go at the crack of 10:30 and are now headed to the rope swing in Laura Cove to let the boys swim off some of that energy.  It was so hot yesterday afternoon with the forecast to be the same today.  Check back in later.

Sunday June 16, 2019 - Leaving

6 hours 45 min@ 9 kn, North Vancouver to Powell River.



"Eye Candy"

And we're off!  6:00 am came too fast, but its now 9:30 and we are at Secret Cove going through Welcome Pass.  Eye Candy is travelling beside us and all appears to be well.  The grandkids (lack of sleep) have promised not to fight today!  Bonus! 

Busy morning in the Port of Vancouver

Failed Experiment

Weather is incorrectly quoted again, supposed to be northwest 10-15, its actually southeast 10.  Day late and dollar short again. 

A  failed experiment in the making.  I ran out of fresh veggie room in the fridge yesterday so decided to see how living is living....I purchased a living lettuce and due to lack of room, decided to plant it in my herb planter....working?  Not so much....guess the roots need a few days.  Will keep you posted.

We hope to be in Powell River early afternoon, let the munchkins run off some energy - gotta walk and run them just like the dogs!  Hopefully see sister Dorothy as well!

second of three we passed.

 

2019 cruise to point north

Another season is upon us.  What a great one it will be.  We will be travelling with family this year, an added bonus.  Set sail date is Sunday and I can hardly wait. Below is how I will feel on sunday.