Codville Lagoon to Shearwater

This will probably be our last blog entry for a while. Once we leave here tomorrow (probably) we won't be around towns or villages that have wifi again until we arrive at Prince Rupert in two weeks or so. From here we'll head out Seaforth Channel to turn by Ivory Island light and spend the night in Oliver Inlet. Then, it's around through Oscar inlet and Findlayson Channel to Klemtu Channel where we'll overnight at Clothes Cove just before Klemtu. From there we'll head up Tolamie Channel to Green Inlet and Horsefly Cove for the night. From Horsefly Cove we'll have a long day to Bishop's Hot Springs where we'll probably spend at least 2-days soaking away the stiffness and soreness from the past week's travel. From there it's up Grenville Channel to Lowe Inlet for the night then, if we can catch the tides right we spend one more night in Grenville Channel before making our way to Prince Rupert.

I'm comfortable telling you all of this as, this is the highway most traveled on the Inside Passage. Other than the places we're stopping, there's not much else to distract us. The Channels are long, straight, and without crossings. Since the islands on either side are so tall and the sides so steep, you as the boat-driver, just put it in gear and try to keep from falling asleep from boredom.

An interesting thing happened this morning. I was up at 0630 making coffee for the day's travels. It was already pretty warm (70's) so I had the hatches thrown open as well as the sliding window over the stove and also, had the companionway doors open. As I waited for the water to boil, I heard this loud buzzing sound. I looked up and what should I see? A hummingbird had flown into the cabin and was hovering above the galley. He banked this way and that til he finally, turned and flew out into the cockpit and was gone. This was the second time a hummingbird has visited us. When we were heading out the Straits of Juan de Fuca last year in the fog a hummingbird stayed with the boat for quite a while before heading off into the fog and (hopefully) shore.

We left Codville Lagoon at just after 0800 and headed for Lama Passage. Just before we got there I heard the Alaska State Ferry Columbia make a 'Securite' announcement that they'd be heading down Lama Passage past Bella Bella. We were going to meet in Lama Passage. I worked on the Columbia for two seasons with the US Forest Service giving classes to Elderhostel travelers. This was my ship!

Here we were, two great Alaska vessels meeting in the wilds of northern British Columbia! I was jazzed. (See pic above).

We arrived here in Shearwater just before noon and pulled up to the fuel dock to try (once again) to top up the tanks and cans. This time, the attendant let us know that he was closing in about 10-minutes for lunch. We tied up there anyway and took to Sibs out for walkies. Like sailors everywhere, as soon as we reach an new port, they want shore leave. Sonny has even begun to let out a lusty howl once the anchor's down to let the locals know that a 'new dog is in town.'

We walked up into the woods just past the Shearwater boatyard and found a Geocache located near an old WWII bomb shelter. A quick, fun find and, we were back to the fuel dock in time.

After fueling up we anchored then, went ashore in the dinghy to do some shopping: dog food, tortillas and, wifi access. That, pretty much brings you up to date with our journeys.

David and Christine and Sibs
SV Raven
Juneau, AK

Currently lying: Shearwater, BC