Through the rapids

We are finally through the rapids which block southern Vancouver Island from the northern section. Our track through the quiet back-eddies in the islands and fjords to the east of Johnstone Strait took a while to do, but we missed the 25-35 knots that Johnstone Strait was dealing out at the time, and we saw some beautiful scenery.

From Blind Channel Resort we went out to Cordero Channel and anchored for the night in a small bight formed by the Cordero Islands. That was right next to Greene Point Rapids so we could get an early start the next day. It was nice and quiet there, very peaceful, and the Greene Point Rapids and Whirlpool Rapids cooperated the next day, when we made our way to Forward Harbour.

Forward Harbour is quite deep except for one spot in the northwest corner where several boats anchored in 60 feet of water. All the boats are in transit, nobody is there just for the scenery. Many of the larger power boats have small fishing boats dragging behind, festooned with downriggers and rods. They are here with a purpose, and from what we saw, the salmon were cooperating.




After a night of deep sleep, we awoke to discover that most of the boats were gone already. We weren't in a rush, the last of the rapids were behind us. We headed out north at our leisure, down Sunderland Strait, and the final few miles of Johnstone Strait. It was a glorious day, sunny and warm and with the tide with us.

We ducked into Port Harvey for lunch, decided it wasn't nice enough for an overnighter, so spent another three hours finding our way to the Pearse Islands, just south of Alert Bay. We anchored in a very narrow inlet on the south side with a view down Johnstone Strait, had dinner and collapsed into bed.

Sometimes this cruising thing can be hard work, eight to ten hour days looking for logs in your path is very tiring. We had an easy day yesterday, going to Alert Bay for a look at the U'mista Cultural Center with their collection of returned potlach goods, then to Port McNeill where we are on a dock for the night, and for long enough today to do provisioning and laundry. Then it's off to Beaver Harbour, just south of Port Hardy. Hopefully the wind holds off long enough for us to get there. It's only a 2-hour run but the forecast is for 25 knots on the nose this afternoon, and that's pushing it a bit in Queen Charlotte Strait. We will hope for the best.

Paradigm Shift at the crowded public dock in Alert Bay

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