May 7, 2016 to Lagoon Cove
We reluctantly said our goodbyes to George and Sabi (his dog) at 1000 and headed back towards Johnstone Strait. We endured a few minutes of chop and wind as we turned the corner into Havannah Channel and then into calm waters. Transiting Chatham Channel on a flood tide we arrived at Lagoon Cove via The Blowhole at 1154. We were the only visiting boat at first and were greeted by Jean Barbour who has been operating Lagoon Cove since her husband Bill died three years ago. By 1700 happy hour time there were 4 boats and we all gathered at Jean’s house for spot prawns provided by Jean and other snacks provided by the other boaters. Jean is being assisted by a young couple, Dave and Jam for the time being. Lagoon Cove has been on the market for some time and Jean has accepted an offer from a company that intends to continue the marina and fuel dock operation.
May 8, 2016 – Mother’s Day to Pierre’s Echo Bay
Ted and Patrick had set out prawn pots soon after we arrived, but the wind reappeared and it was not safe to retrieve them that evening in the rain. The next morning the winds were still more than 25 knots, but Ted and Patrick were able to get the pots up and we had more than 100 nice sized spot prawns in just one of the pots. Due to technical difficulties, the other two pots only had a few spot prawns,
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| Low Tide at Lagoon Cove |
The commercial season starts in just a few days, so that is probably our last prawns until Alaska.
We departed Lagoon Cove at 1102 under sunny skies, but windy conditions. As we headed west in Knight Inlet the winds and seas continued to build, reaching more than 40 knots.
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| The True Wind in Knight Inlet, moire than 40 knots |
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| Pierre’s is normally packed with yachts during the summer, not know |
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| Spirit enjoying the solitude of an empty marina |
All the work of several days ago to remove salt spray was negated in just a few minutes. The winds, seas and currents combined to make for a sloppy transit of Spring Passage, but the seas smoothed out as we headed up Cramer Pass and docked at Pierre’s Echo Bay. We were the only visiting boat. The store was closed, the power was not yet on, nor the wifi. The store has been repainted inside and a new deck extension has been added to the pavilion. Nonetheless we were treated to a sunset bugle concert from Don and Karen, the caretakers while Pierre is in Port McNeill. The sound of Taps floating out over Echo Bay was beautiful and haunting as Mother’s Day came to a close.
May 9, 2016 – to Port McNeill
The wind abated overnight and at 0747 we eased gently from the dock at Pierre’s and worked our way back down Cramer Pass to Arrow Passage and across to Donegal Head on Malcom Island. The large ebb tide slowed us to a crawl for about one hour, with our speed over the ground down to 2.4 knots at one point.
After finally rounding Donegal Head and entering Cormorant Channel, our speed picked up and we docked at North Island Marina in Port McNeill at 1137. We have travelled 338 nautical miles since leaving Anacortes.
A parade of Roche Harbor Yacht Club yachts followed us in, a separate flotilla also heading to SE Alaska. Everyone was washing the salt off from their experience in Johnstone Strait and buying last minute provisions before heading to Cape Caution and beyond. We chose to remain in Port McNeill at least one day longer to allow the weather to improve.
We celebrated the end of this part of the voyage with Ted and Lisa Marx at the Northern Lights Restaurant followed by an epic game of Mexican Train.
May 10, 2016 – Port McNeill
The RHYC yachts began leaving before 0700 as Ted spent the morning washing the salt off of Spirit and then all of us drove to the Port Hardy Airport so Ted and Lisa could pick up their rental car. Miriam and I stopped at the IGA on our return and picked up enough fresh produce to last until Ketchikan.
After a burger at Gus’s Bar and Grill we said our goodbyes and returned to Spirit to finalize our preparations for crossing Cape Caution. By 0800 in the morning we will be out of cell phone range until we approach Prince Rupert. in about one week.
