Travel
 

Travel Adventures - Cruiser's blog on an adventure trip to Alaska
By Shirley Shannon

Follow the adventure of Shirley and Grahame Shannon aboard the yacht
TANGLEBERRY on a three month expedition trip along the Inside Passage from Vancouver to Alaska.

Page 1 - The Boat and the Crew
Page 2   Provisioning for the boat
Week 1    Week 2    Week 3   Week 4   Week 6  
Week 7    Week 8     Week 9  Week 10   HOME AT LAST

Week 10 August 18 to August 24
August 18  Monday   Cloudy, Foggy and Cold - Storm warning for Tuesday with winds up to 30 knots
We were anchored at Kliktsoatli Harbour, across Shearwater Marine Resort when we heard from our travelling companion, Skylark II at around 10:30 am as they approached Shearwater Marina.  They planned to stay here for the next two nights seeking shelter from the forecasted storm. Captain felt that Shearwater' Marina is somewhat exposed and decided to anchor at a more secluded bay.   Meanwhile, our water supply was getting low, and we needed to get water.  Shearwater's water supply was  under boil water advisory, but 2 miles away lies Bella Bella, a First Nations village, with a multi-million dollar water treatment plant, and a well-stocked, competitively-priced grocery store.  So we visited Bella Bella and did some shopping. The fishermen on the dock were very friendly and full of advice as to where we can seek shelter.  


We tried to be quick with our shopping as we could see the dark clouds coming, and the winds blowing harder.  At Bella Bella's grocery store, we met the captain of Lady May, who travelled from Swanson Bay since 2:30 am this morning.  He was also in a hurry to find a secluded anchorage.  We both agreed to go to Fancy Cove,  a  peaceful anchorage about 5 miles away, situated along Lama Passage.  (above photo is Lady May travelling alongside us on our way to Fancy Cove)


above photo - Fancy Cove
We were very pleased when we got to Fancy Cove.  We just knew that this would be a safe place as the water was just glassy calm.  There were no boats at all when we arrived at this little anchorage, although later in the night, another powerboat "Fleet" joined us.


This is the boat "Fleet" who also anchored  at Fancy Cove.
We had our VHF radio on all night so that we can communicate with Lady May in case the weather gets really nasty, and one of us need help.

　

August 19 Tuesday   Calm, beautiful and sunny
It was so quiet at Fancy Cove, it was hard to believe that the winds would be blowing hard out there in the open water.  G was tempted to go out on a dinghy, take a poke out there to see if it's really blowing, but common sense prevailed.  By afternoon, we could hear the winds out in the channel, although our boats hardly moved.  We spent the day, reading, cleaning, and just lazed around.

August 20  Wednesday    Favorable NW winds, Light winds, cloudy
The day after the storm- when we got up this morning at 8:00 am, Lady May has already left.  (All these senior citizen-sailing retirees have amazingly abundant energies).  We quickly lifted up our anchor and  followed.  When we got out to the main channel, we saw several boats travelling south, all taking advantage of  today and tomorrow's favorable weather.  Determination, Rhapsody, Irish Dreamer, Hocus Pocus..... every boat connecting with one another on the VHF radio.  We need to position ourselves for another major crossing - CAPE CAUTION - that stretch of water that is exposed to the Pacific Ocean - just north of Vancouver Island.  Today, we aimed for Fury Cove, as close as possible, north of Cape Caution.

Fury Cove- known for its beautiful white sandy beaches

August 21  Thursday   Intermittent Sun, Clouds and Fog - No Rain
We simply had to cross Cape Caution TODAY.  More stormy weather forecasted for Friday and Saturday.  If we don't, we'll have to sit and wait for several days.  We had approximately 60 miles and 10 hours of travel time.  It was a good feeling to see all our boating buddies travelling.  Everybody's heading home.  Gitana, Determination, Irish Dreamer and Osso Blanco headed to Port Harvey.  Skylark II - to Dickson Island, and Tangleberry - to Port McNeil.  It was 5 pm when we arrived.   Now we are about 220 sea-miles away from home.

August 22 Friday -  WIND, RAIN, WIND RAIN
August 23 Saturday -WIND UP TO 30 KNOTS, RAIN AS BIG AS GRAPES
We stayed at Port McNeil for the last three nights.  Our boat rocked all day and night.  The rain poured, and the wind blew hard.  We could hear our boat fenders and mooring lines groaning and squeaking.  During the day, we shopped, went to the library, got a BC One card which allowed us to borrow and return books to and from any BC library.  We sat at a cafe all evening until the winds diminished. 

August 24 Sunday - CLOUDY, no rain
The day after the storm.  Two storms in one week.  While there's no more rain, everything was wet.  The cockpit's wet, the sky's heavy with dark clouds.  Yet the ever optimistic boaters, they're all out there having fun.  We saw the Canadian Tall Ship out with a whole bunch of youngster sailing.
  A group of kayakers paddling. INSPITE OF THE DARK CLOUDS.
Brave kayakers waving and letting us pass.

The Norwegian Star cruise ship.  BC Ferry sailing. Tugboats.  Freighters.   Back to normal.  Even the whales came out and performed for us.  All in all, it's been a nice DRY day.  We drove 40 miles for 6 hours and arrived at Port Neville at around 4 pm.  Here we met more sailors, from California, Washington, Wisconsin.  They've travelled even more miles.

Tangleberry, safe and secure at Port Neville - a historic place with the oldest continuing operating post office since 1895.

Page 1 - The Boat and the Crew
Page 2   Provisioning for the boat
Week 1    Week 2    Week 3   Week 4   Week 6  
Week 7    Week 8     Week 9  Week 10   HOME AT LAST
　

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