New Territory

New Territory

Monday, July 20, 2015

                Sullivan Bay Marina is now my favorite marina.  It is well run.  Maybe we will catch it on the way back.  The cinnamon rolls came out at 0900 and are well worth the wait.  It’s a nice day, little wind, sunny skies to begin.  It is slow going.  The fishing boats are racing past us down Wells Passage.  When we round the point we are basically in Queen Charlotte Strait, but more accurately we are inside a group of islets which create Richards Channel.  The fog comes and goes.  The water is like glass, but with increasing long ocean swells.   The radar is working well, picking up rain and low flying aircraft.  We are entertained by the low flying flocks of birds, whales and especially by a trio of dolphins who jump simultaneously as if in a Sea World Show.  Up the coast we travel until we reach Bramham Island.  On the south side we pick our way through the islets and rocks to the secluded site of Skull Cove.  Not too big or deep we set anchor on rock in 30 feet.  The birds make the most sorrowful sound.  Engine hours 5.4, Nautical miles 37.2.  Our GPS coordinates:  51°03.077 N, 127°33.603 W.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

                By 0800 we say good-bye to Skull Cove and the sad sounding birds.  There is another sailboat anchored from which we never saw any signs of life.  We can sure feel the influence of the ocean.  Other than the crashing waves on the shore, there is the constant motion of the boat from the swells.  Both of us are feeling sick.  The bonnine we took is too little too late.  There is a breeze on the stern up to 12 knots.  The sky is grey with precipitation.  Our destination today is Rivers Inlet, Goose Bay.  As usual the sun comes out in the afternoon.  The bay is long with an old defunct cannery near the head.  We make three attempts to set the anchor.  The first one drags too far.  With the second the wind direction changes and puts us too close to some crab pots.  The third one is the charm.  Not long after a power boat comes and removes the afore mentioned crab pot.  Brad works on the water maker.  It has been leaking into the cockpit locker and then into the bilge.  The fuel filter get reprimed and so does the shower pump.  Engine hours 6, nautical miles 35.  Our GPS coordinates:  51°22.710 N, 127°40.085 W.