June 13, 2020 - Shearwater to St. Johns Harbour

A 15 mile run to St. John's Harbour for a few days of fishing.  Weather is flat (just cloudy) with no wind.  Should be a great day.  Will check back in a few days with you all.  Out of range for about a week.

July 12, 2020 - Smith Inlet to Shearwater

A long run from Smith Inlet to Shearwater for the night.  Cloudy and sunny and the rain appears to be chasing us.  Fairly calm but still quite a bit of a swell from the winds of the past few days.  Lots of sea otters, humpback whales, and Dahl’s porpoise.

Happy Birthday Shannon and Dorothy!  We hope to get some phone calls out to wish you a happy day!

Well, it is certainly a different Shearwater than we know.  But is anything the same these days?  There is only one pleasure craft at the docks in Shearwater.  It starts to get crazy just after we enter the channel past Old Bella Bella.  A small boat comes whizzing out to take photos of the names of our boats, nothing untoward, but after we arrive, we understand better.  Can't say as we blame them!

We arrive and the dockmaster grills us on the radio as to where we're from, citizenship etc.  We fill out two large sheets of paper and give up our first born (sorry CJ....) There are no precautions that were not taken (I know - double-negative!) Apparently, the situation is quite fluid up here, with the rules changing every day.  The Helsiuk are taking no chances in getting Covid up here.  There were apparently a couple of American boats and there was holy hell to be paid for that.  No flags, and no port of  registry on these boats.  - there are about 100 fishboats (small gillnetters) tied up to both the fisherman's dock and to the Shearwater docks proper.  They are obviously waiting for an opening!

July 11, 2020 - Smith Inlet

After the quiet of Finis Nook, we head up to see the head of Boswell Inlet.  A sea lion, a few sea birds and a Grey-throated loon.  Nothing much to see here.   We anchored in a bay in Boswell that the books seem to call Boswell Bay.  Lots of crashing around in the bush, we suspect there is a bear in there.  With all the rain, lots of waterfalls and new creeks have sprung up.  A quiet night in Boswell Inlet.

July 10 - Smith Inlet

We wake up to rain and low cloud. We have spent one other night in Fly Basin, way back when we had the 34’ tollycraft “Big Easy”, at that time, when we got up in the morning, the whole front deck of our boat was covered in flies.  This place lived up to it’s name, or perhaps it was aptly named for the flies that are attracted to the white boats.

There is one other small 32’ sailboat in the bay but we don’t see or hear anyone. The rain is starting again and there is a fresh breeze in the bay.  Uneventful night in Fly Basin.

Anchors up, and off to another bay in Smith Inlet.  This time to Finis Nook.  There is a sunken boat in one corner of the bay and at the back of the bay there is a fisherman’s float, piled high with prawn traps and other assorted paraphernalia.   Lots of herring in the bay and three seals.  A wet day and night, but no wind.  Certainly is a good hurricane hole for any winds that might howl up.  Can it rain any harder?

July 9 - Port McNeil to Smith Inlet

One of the new Hybrid Ferries running from Pt. McNeil to Alert Bay

Early up this morning to take Ruby for a walk.  She goes absolutely nuts toward a boat that is parked two in front of us and I see why, there is a newborn baby harbour seal in the cockpit.  I am wondering if it was born there last night?  Its 5:30 am so too early to wake up the owners.  Around 7:30 am I walk over there (minus Ruby) and knock on their boat to see if they are aware that this baby seal pup is caterwauling for its mom.  It still has part of its umbilical cord hanging on.  Such a cute little pup. So sad that momma couldn’t hear the yowling of her young.

The owner of the boat wakes up and tells me they hauled him out of the water last night as he was barely clinging to a log and kept sinking.  They managed to get some milk into him and started to get a hold of wildlife rescue.  No such thing in Port McNeil, so I asked when he was leaving and where was he heading….to Vancouver he says.  Well, there is the Aquarium sea mammal rescue, perhaps he could drop this wee one off there.  No one knows where the pup floated in from and if the mom could hear him, don’t know why she wasn’t swimming around the marina.  So rather than see the pup die, he took it with him to Vancouver.  Thank you sir whoever you are, was a nice gesture you showed by doing this.  Nature would have taken the pup away or the flock of bald eagles would have had their way with the pup.

So a few top up groceries, a load of laundry.  Well, things just never go the way you plan.  I was planning on taking the dark brown speckled bananas and making muffins and that was going to be the extent of my afternoon.  Maybe a nap.  Was not to be.  Gayle and I get a call at the laundromat that the winds are a coming and we are leaving.  Forecast gale-force winds SE 20 – 30 knots have us making the long run around Cape Caution.

We headed out at 2:00 pm and made it into Smith Inlet – Fly Basin for 7:00 pm.  Seas were relatively calm with no chop, but a long and low swell.  We head into Fly basin for the night.

July 8 2020 - Desolation Sound to Port McNeil

Steller Sea Lions at Dent Rapids

Work Boats are the only ones we are seeing out here.

Up an at ‘em early, we depart at 6:00 am to run the rapids at slack tide.  Dreary, overcast and sprinkles of rain......  but...but...the water on Johnson Strait is very calm and we are on the receiving end of about a 2-3 knot push up to Port McNeil.  

Lots of Dahls porpoise and a pod (4) of humpback whales. I am guessing they are all enjoying the quietness in this heavily used summer recreation area.  A "raft" of Stellar Sea Lions in the middle of the Dent Rapids....  Apologies but the photos are a bit foggy as I just didn't want to go outside and get wet!

No Americans this year, so the area is very desolate…..hmmm “Desolation Sound”. It was good to see that the pod of humpbacks had a baby with them.

We managed to make a great run up Johnson Strait to Port McNeil.  We showed up and they had so much room at the North Island Marina we were almost sad for them.  Dinner was takeout from Gus’s Bar.  Great fish and chips, wraps!

July 7, 2020 - Attwood Bay

ShamanII, Reunion, Gulf Island at Attwood Bay

The four boats head up Homphrey Channel to a dock that was put together by some good folks out of Powell River.  We asked for permission before hand and received the okay to tie up for the night.  

What a great spot they have and we know from experience with other outstations, what a lot of time and effort has been invested.  There is a little covered area with a fire place and running fresh water.  Not many boats out there both at anchor and in the way of traffic.  Covid has kept many boaters at home.

Tony and Gayle, Dan and Doe are out fishing, no luck, but a good day to try their luck.

Monday July 6, 2020

The contented look of building your first fire of the vacation!

Dan and Tony swapping stories with a rod in the water.

Tony and Gayle chillaxing!

Awesome little fire place!

The Allure (Dorothy and Dan) come up from Powell River and spend the night rafted to us in Desolation Sound behind our little island of Scobell.  Nice and cozy and a bit of sun and cloud.

Lots of bird song, a little raccoon and Ruby running loose all day on the island.  Ahhh….just what the doctor ordered. Lots of laughs and the summer drink of a pitcher of Sangria.

We were quite surprised when we toured around the bay how few boats there were and we started a new game – looking for American boats.  None were found but a sure telltale sign might be that they are not flying any flag (at least the smart ones aren’t). 

In the afternoon, we head across the channel to a little bay with lots of oysters.  A couple of buckets and we have us a feast.  I shucked about 20 of them and froze them for oyster burgers later in the trip.

A night of Chinese food (made by yours truly) and after a good night of chatter, off to bed.

Sunday July 5, 2020

Our little slice of paradise "Scobell Island"

Powell River Sunset Last night

Ruby in her happy place, out for a gunkhole.

The sun continues to shine, so we head up to Desolation Sound where we meet up with friends on the Reunion (Paul and Jane).  We anchored behind a little island outside Prideaux Haven (A Marine Park) and have the little bay to ourselves.  We end up as a three boat raft.  A pitcher of Sangria and all the fixings for Lemon Drops….ahhhh…just what the Doctor ordered.  It finally feels like the start of a vacation.  We think that it takes a minimum of one week to unwind and get your holiday groove on.  

Saturday July 4, 2020

Leaving behind some rain clouds

Calm and Sunny Leaving Vancouver - Sunshine ahead!

Leaving Vancouver

For the first summer in a long time, we left for our annual trip north a few weeks late.  The sun is shining, wind is light and we manage to make the run from Burrard Yacht Club (Home base) to Powell River in just over 6 ½ hours.  (@100 miles)

We meet up with Gulf Island (My brother, Tony and Gayle)and my sister Dorothy and husband, Dan.  They live in Powell River and are also boaters, they walked down for a short visit.  Early night to bed and after a restful night up to Desolation Sound.

Friday July 3, 2020

Summer 2019 "Papakea" with us at Sandy Island, Comox

With nothing being normal this year (so far) we have finally picked a date to head out.  The boat is 2” down in the waterline with all the supplies I have packed on.  My little deck patio with lettuce, herbs, and a bucket of strawberries is planted. The heavy items like pet food, kitty litter, and beer is not something we want to fuss with while out and about on the coast and is now all loaded on the boat.  For starters, we won’t know at this point who is open and who is excepting shoppers due to the “no visiting” rules in some smaller coastal towns.  I see the squabbling on line with the different points of view on where to travel and where not to travel.  We will be respectful and stay out of those that we know don’t want visitors and we will continue to support those that do want us to spend money in their towns. 

It's been a long six months during the covid period.  Vacations cancelled, working from home and being isolated from my grandkids, family, and friends.  Although we are quite adaptable, its been difficult not hugging people, socializing, and playing with my grandkids.  As things slowly come together and our leashes become a little longer and our masks are fitting a bit better, we are emerging to a different type of life.  To date we have not been to a restaurant or bar, only heading to grocery shopping and as of June 1, back and forth to the office.

Our social bubble has expanded to 12 people and we have been fortunate to have a few barbeques outside and resumed our weekly card ritual with a few of the couples.  I never in a million years thought that the safety of my car was something I would behold.  Breathing a sigh of relief everytime I come from a store or come back home from work.  I bet I don`t tailgate anymore, the habit of 6`has spilled over into my driving….probably a good thing.  I sure am not taking my outings for granted anymore.  And those outings consist of liquor store runs and grocery runs!

Here's hoping that you stayed safe and continue to stay safe for the rest of the year.