Notes about Port McNeil and beyond

We have left Port McNeill, which I have to say is one of the nicest stops we have ever had the pleasure to make.  If all marinas were this clean and nice and easy to negotiate we would make more effort to stay in them.    You no doubt noticed the wifi was rockin, we all got caught up with correspondence.  

Sunday May 11, This is the last leg of our journey where we will be on the east side of Vancouver Island. (Inside Straights) Tomorrow early, like 6:30 am, we head across the Queen Charlotte Straights around Cape Caution to Fury Cove off Penrose Is. This is a real calculation since waves can be high and wind can be either helpful or horrible. We will be up against the middle to upper coast of Canada and there are many barrier islands but weather wind and wildlife are much more abundant up there.

Mid way along the sun has come out and while it is really cold on the front of the boat it is just wonderful on the back porch area. We have been putting the jib sail up, off and on to see if it helps us move faster. The guys really like doing this....see picture!

It is neat how fast a leg of the journey can pass when there is sunshine. As we approached Port Alexander, 3 Dalls porpoises joined us and were swimming and playing ahead of us when suddenly they were diving in front of the hulls and jumping out of the water like they were saying hi! They were zig zagging all over...then as quickly as they came they were gone.

Once we had anchored in Alexander Harbor It was time to re organize the charts and guide books, put away those from Vancouver Is, desolation Sound and The Broughtons, and to take out the ones that will move us beyond 50' 53.374" north bound  for Rivers Inlet, Fitzhugh Sound and Calvert Island.

Now we are anchored and resting. No phone service no surprise. And yes I know all the anchorages are starting to look alike.... Lol I'll take a sunset shot tonight.




Oh!
Just a note, we were visited by a bald eagle around 6:00 p.m. as we were preparing dinner, he came and sat and posed in a tree about 200 yards away. We might not have noticed except he did a fly by first and the screech they make is becoming recognizable. We have seen many of them this year so far. Hopefully they dignify blessings.

We are now waiting for a weather report on waves and wind for tomorrow.





Monday morning bright and early, the sun starts it's day around 5:40 so at 5:30 there is light...

Anyway we got a favorable weather report, light winds fairly calm seas and favorable currents with an ebb that would push us up away from Vancouver Island...so we grabbed a cup o coffee pulled anchor and headed out.

It has been raining but the seas are only 1-2 feet. That said it was enough to disguise a flotsam of logs until we were right up on it. A few bumps , nothing too serious. Thank the good Lord!

We basically set a course ( for those who like to google) from Pine Is BC.  WNW to Cape Caution then a slight turn to Egg island BC we passed storm islands to the west and came only within 3 miles of Cape Caution. 

By 10:30 am the ebb has started turning to flood and we are hoping it will push us N NE into Fitzhugh Sound.  Lots of water moves during the tidal changes so it is imperative to have a tide and current reference for this area.

Port McNeill IGA was great for provisioning, lots of goodies for this passage. Crackers, hummus, cream cheese, peanut  butter.