What a busy day! With a beautiful, calm morning we started off in slow-boat mode, cruising at a slow 8-9 mph while we marveled at the scenery and the fresh snow on the Vancouver Island mountainsides.
Our first stop was Telegraph Cove, a cute little port with all the things a tourist could want. We just stopped for half an hour to wander through the historic buildings and stretch our legs. The marina was mostly empty, and businesses weren’t open that early in the day; but I can imagine the hustle and bustle once summer really kicks in.
After Telegraph Cove, we motored north to Alert Bay, where we stopped for an hour at the U’Mista Cultural Centre. The main display there is a collection of cultural artifacts seized in raids on potlatches during a period when potlatches had been outlawed by the Canadian government in an effort to repress the native cultures. U’Mista actually means “the return of something important”. The artifacts were fascinating and beautiful.
After Alert Bay, it was on to Port McNeill to get provisions for the trip north. While fueling up at the port, we ran into Brian, a friend and fellow boater from Bainbridge Island. He is taking a working holiday through the Inside Passage, working remotely from his boat using his own Starlink satellite dish. We had a nice lunch with him at a local brewery, picked up some fresh produce at the IGA, topped up the water, and we headed off!
The plan was to cross Queen Charlotte Strait and spend the night in Skull Cove just south of Cape Caution, so we could cross the rough stretch of water that’s open to the Pacific first thing in the morning. Well, halfway to Skull Cove, Ryan decided we should just keep going and make the transit today, so that’s what we did.
It was a rather long, bumpy afternoon, but we have transited Cape Caution and are snug tonight in Fury Cove.
The pace should slow down now that we are into the wilder coastline. Good night!
What a splendid way to come fully awake in the morning seeing you two happy faces with your friend Brian. We watched Downton Abbey last night at Clyde followed by a beaut meal at Post Office cafe, crowded out--until we left.