After a great evening with Allan & Anna on BlueAnTeak we prepared to get underway about 9am with the fog breaking up - but not before retrieving the crab trap. Two nice sized keepers! (must have liked the dinner leftovers)
The seafood bounty has really been an embarrassment of riches so far this year, it's amazing! Approaching Tofino can be challenging with the ubiquitous crab trab floats and shallow sand bars, it pays to keep a keen eye.
We continued on past the town of Tofino and up Lemmens Inlet to an anchorage in the northwest corner known as God's Pocket, where it was another feast. The next day saw us return to Tofino and anchor off the town (there was no room on the docks and they really aren't very accommodating to cruising boats as there are usually commercial fishboast and charter vessels tied two abreast). We did spend time ashore and enjoyed all the acoutrements of a bustling tourist town at the height of the season.
I would really be remiss if I didn't talk about the anchorage off the town of Tofino - it's terrible!! As I said the docks aren't really very welcoming to cruisers especially when compared to Ucluelet; the only place to anchor near the main part of town is across from the main docks and east of Arnet Is. and, as we found out, the current can really run here!! - plus, there is a constant flow of fast moving traffic which throws wakes on top of those currents. So make sure your anchor gear is sturdy and your comfort level sufficient... Although the sunsets from this anchorage can be beautiful.
Dance Lightly and BlueAnTeak were anchored nearby and Propinquity managed to find a spot rafted at the town docks, where Mary rejoined her hubby for the remainder of the trip around to Nanaimo. In any event we had another great potluck dinner on Silhouette!
On the following day we left Tofino on Silhouette with Dance Lightly about an hour after 'BlueAnTeak' bound for Ucluelet, (Propinquity stayed for and extra day, exploring and anchoring up one of the inlets). The forecast had called for a possible gale force, but it appeared to be much less, and in fact 'BnT' reported winds more in the area of 8 knots.
BnT had called on the radio and warned us of the hundreds of crab trap floats dispersed for miles down the coast and in the waves and swell they were hard to see! Once again the seas were relatively calm other than the large swells and with only about 5-8 knots of wind it was a motor sailing passage. It's amazing that so far this trip the higher winds usually encountered on the west coast of Vancouver Island have not been present making sailing sketchy at best. On the other hand the thick fog usually present this time of year has been absent allowing us to experience mostly sunny and warm weather! So, no complaints here!
BnT had called on the radio and warned us of the hundreds of crab trap floats dispersed for miles down the coast and in the waves and swell they were hard to see! Once again the seas were relatively calm other than the large swells and with only about 5-8 knots of wind it was a motor sailing passage. It's amazing that so far this trip the higher winds usually encountered on the west coast of Vancouver Island have not been present making sailing sketchy at best. On the other hand the thick fog usually present this time of year has been absent allowing us to experience mostly sunny and warm weather! So, no complaints here!
Ucluelet is much better suited for cruising boats as far as moorage and facilities. We were greeted warmly by the harbour master on docking and told of where to find everything. Dance Lightly rafted alongside and BnT anchored out (Anna's son has come on board to visit and explore the Broken Is. group with them.)
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| Rafted in Ucluelet Hbr. |
The annual "Ukee Days" were in full swing and we enjoyed a few moments of the logger sports and an ice cream cone! Barb & Harv (from D.L.) and us from Silhouette; had dinner that evening aboard the Canadian Princess Restaurant.
At this point I will just quote the story from Barb & Harv's blog -
(http://retirementbh2013.blogspot.ca/2013/07/summer-of-gales.html ):
"Story...Saturday night Silhouette and Dance Lightly decided to go out for dinner to the Canadian Princess...but we were a bit worried about Murphy, you see when left alone Murphy decides to serenade everyone around... (http://retirementbh2013.blogspot.ca/2013/07/summer-of-gales.html ):
A decision was made...Skye and Murphy are getting along very well and seem to like each others company so we put the two dogs on Dance Lightly and zipped up the enclosure.! Linda let the boats around know that we were leaving and Murphy might sing a few tunes....we walked away...no noise...Skye you are doing a great job of babysitting!!!!l
Well.....we came back two hours later and saw a note pinned on Silhouette saying that Murphy was on their boat...'Dream Weaver' from Washington. It seems Murphy did not make a sound but was Houdini...the people from Dream Weaver were coming back from walking their dog to find Murphy running on the dock....not sure how he got out... put him back onto the boat but noticed a few minutes later he was back out again!!! This time they saw that he was crawling out from underneath the canvas...Harvey had not snapped down the enclosure...this still was a major undertaking because the enclosure is so tight with all the zippers down up!!! So, the kind people took Murphy on board their boat while they played cards and we came back from dinner. We asked how Skye was and they said she just laid there taking in all the excitement....way to go Skye...some babysitter you are!!!! "
So, the fun and excitement never ends, along with the stories... :)
The following day, July 28, Silhouette along with D.L. left Ucluelet and did a little fishin' outside the harbour and saw a grey whale, then proceeded up Barkley Sound to Cataract Cove in Pipestem Inlet and after anchoring took the dinghies up the river and explored 'Lucky Creek', the waterfall and the swimming pools as noted in the guidebook.
Well, to be honest, the girls swam in the pools; Harvey and I stayed back to watch the dogs and clothes - contrary to popular belief it had nothing to do with the ice-cold water!!
The next several days were enjoyed in the Broken Island group and exploring. Tuesday, July 30th, D.L. and Silhouette visited Bamfield and the beaches
and then spent the night in Dodger Channel - a good jumping off point before making the passage down Juan de Fuca Strait. While in dodger Chnl anchorage, Howard had the idea of having a bonfire on the sandy beach (as it will be our last chance before hitting "civilization". So we gathered firewood, invited Barb & Harv on D.L. and another couple on a sailboat (Jerry & Kathy on 'New Sensations') that was anchored alongside.
Well, got the fire started!
View from the beach.
Food and beverages!
Somebody was eating beach scraps!!
After the bonfire it was early to bed - because we had another "break of dawn departure" to transit the sometimes-daunting Strait of Juan de Fuca.
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