June 17, 2013

Well, I made it to Campbell River and Gerald was there as I hoped.  We wasted no time getting Harmony underway for another four hours to Coulter Bay on Cortez Island.  The next day we made it to Port Neville, the farthest point north we have cruised in Harmony prior to this trip.  The trip to Port Neville was filled with adventure.  First we had to pass the three rapids, Yuculta, Gillard, and Dent.  Actually, Gerald is a superb navigator and timed our arrival at these rapids perfectly so there was only smooth sailing.  I wish I could say the same for the cruise up Johnstone Strait. The first two and a half hours were fine, but then the wind picked up, as it is often the case, and we were stuck in four to five foot chop for an hour and a half until we could tuck into Havannah Strait. Not fun! I was glad to get the anchor dropped.

Today we cruised through the most pristine passages and inlets.  And we saw our first grizzly today!  We hope to see many more of those amazing creatures.  There were lots of eagles to enjoy, as well.  The Broughton Islands are known for being wild and uninhabited, which is what I saw today.  There were occasional cabins for sale, which was much like seeing  dreams for sale.  Today was a lonesome day as I spied only one other sailboat and two fishing vessels on the water the entire day.

We were ready for a stop at Echo Bay Marina tonight.  Showers, garbage disposal, and Internet were a big draw!  The proprietors here are friendly and laid back.  A great spot for us tonight.