Travels of "Emma B" (JD powered Helmsman)

That’s another of the many places I’ve not gone and wished to go.
Thanks again for more excellent pictures.

Thanks for the great pics and descriptions of your anchorages. I've been looking up the ones I don't recognize and adding them to my list. You've found yourself some lovely locations!

Have you been dropping any crab or prawn pots lately?

Stay safe and enjoy!

haven’t been after them this season. Rarely fished actually... seemed always doing something.
Are you familiar with this area?

Trip to Johnstone Strait and down the Strait was pretty...

Love the photos, thanks for sharing your journeys!

HaHa didn’t catch a southerly .. lucky guy.
I’ve only done the Strait once. And it was southbound .. I was lucky re the winds too.
All other passages have been via the back Channels. But the strait may be more scenic.

I hate Johnstone Strait
Got my butt kicked a few times...
Was only on for the minimum hop...then inside again.

Enjoying your trip again this season - THANK YOU!

Durant F said:

I hate Johnstone Strait
Got my butt kicked a few times...
Was only on for the minimum hop...then inside again.

Click to expand...

Yup,
Most to many get slammed by strong NW afternoon winds northbound. Then there’s the tide.

The Durant, Is Fanny Is, reporting weather again?

Just checked.... yep, blowing 18 there now

Anchored by the derelict tug at the entrance to Forward Harbour, just before Whirlpool Rapids. Brighter and shallower there than inside. Always nice to have the solar panel functioning better at anchor.
Next day was through Whirlpool, nice putt down and on through Green
Point Rapids

Forward Harbour was very crowded the last time we were there.
We anchored in 85’ or water near shore to the east some.
Lotta line to pull up in the morning.

Pretty all the way down to Shoal Bay

Is that big rock up behind BigBay?
What are you using for heat?

I believe that’s the view on the turn just before Shoal Bay

Have a “bus heater” underway (engine heat)
A Wabasto forced air diesel in evenings
Electric if at marinas...which is rare up there..

Size? We have an Airtop 2000. The baby Wabby. It’s a bit small for our boat.
Don’t run the “bus heater” often as it’s too noisy.

We were just talking about getting another jug or two for the kerosene. At the last service we changed to a completely dedicated kerosene system. Far fewer starting issues (only one that I recall this last summer) but prolly only about 60hrs TT since total furnace service. Sure Marine were the ones that recommended changing to kerosene.
Haven’t kept records of fuel consumption .. have you? It interests me because my kerosene fuel tank is only 2.5 gallons. And I can’t remember if we’ve run it in cold weather.

I love my bus heater. Fan is noisy on high setting but very good on low or medium. Had it vented up to defrosters as well.
4000 I believe and yes, you’d be undersized with a 2000. I had a similar heater on my 23....
Fuel burn specs are on their site.
I turn down at night, reach over from my bunk and turn up in morning. Wait until I hear it blowing before crawling out.
As it runs off my diesel tank, I don’t know exact burn...
Again, check their website for specs

Such a beautiful area to pass through..

Had a bit of a foggy start headed back...
Visited from a sea lion along the way...
Still pretty out here

Well.... fall cruise 2019 is winding down. From those last pictures, I’ve anchored in Handfield Bay, off of Cameleon Harbour which is off of Nodales Channel. Very quiet and protected. From there, around the corner on Johnstone Strait and up Okisollo Channel, time the rapids and anchored in Octopus Islands. Then an early start to time Beazley Rapids onward towards Heriot Bay Inn. As we got closer to the Strait, I knew it would be worst than expected as the roll was already being felt a few miles up Hoskin Channel. I continued up past Dunsterville Island bit it was then obvious that it would be violent rolling after turning in towards a Heriot Bay so timed a 180 and retreated into the tiny anchorage behind Bold Island. Well worth it as it was a pleasant, calm evening and the next morning brought nearly flat calm headed into Heriot Bay. Boats and tight schedules don’t mix well.... I was thankful for the wait.
Picture is leaving Bold Island anchorage pre sunrise, then the sunrise out on the Strait

Spent a few days relaxing at Heriot Bay and getting several good walks in after being “boat bound” for quite a while. Nice to get off and stretch your legs. Treated myself to a good meal at the Inn as well.
From there it was the final trip of the season back around to Cambell River to prep for haul out and storage. It’s been a good season and the weather has generally been both warmer and sunnier than previous falls. No complaints.
Although nothing like the daily sightings during 2017, saw enough whales and Porpoises to make it entertaining.
It’s a nice morning to be at a dock with the electric heater on...
Looking out at the mist rolling through the marina and frost on the docks I knew it was cold. Just checked...yep...it’s cold : 17f which is -8C
Things will warm up nicely once the sun comes up higher and it’s promising to be a beautiful clear day.
It was bright and clear on the trip here as well and I was taken back by how beautiful things are this time of year. Nearly all the surrounding mountains are snow capped now... much prettier than earlier on.

Pics are
Stuffed Yorkshire at Heriot Bay Inn. Comfort food at its best
Looking out back just now

Frank

Thanks for the annual invitation to travel along with you. As usual, a very enjoyable trip, even for those of us thousands of miles from our own boat. Your choices of places to go and your excellent photography are not to be missed. I hope to see you doing something similar again next fall.

Thanks for taking us along for the ride. Nice to see so many places off the beaten path on BC’s south coast

Thank you Frank. Another great (off)season of photos you have shared with us. A testament to the beauty that surrounds us here on Canada’s west coast. Safe travels.
Doug

Frank,
You’ve done good and even better at sharing. Thank you
You’re making me think of going up that way in the spring. Ever done a comparison spring and fall weather? Seem’s to me the air is more unstable in the spring. Trying to fly ultralights in the spring was frequently dicy. And fog and stability was a thing in the fall.

But w so many places to go it really matters little. But like hurrycanes there is prolly a season for summer gales. Probably spring or fall haha.

Temps are getting down there early and I’m going down to LaConner to check on the boat. I’ll be looking for your posts. And the mini-trawler.

You scored, as far as weather goes. I don’t remember such a dry, sunny, calm fall as this year. I even have trees that still have leaves on them. Usually the winds have taken care of that by now. Cold...but sunny. I’ll take that over the depressing usual fall gloom/drizzle. Thanks for sharing.

Totally agree!
Last year with the cold and wet, by the end I could hardly sleep my arthritic should and knees were so bad. This year I’ve barely felt them.
Aging isn’t for the weak ?

I don’t remember how late you ran last year...what are your plans this time around?

We got out for a Puget Sound trip this weekend. Currently in Edmonds.

Thanks!

I’m somewhat later than last year, hauling out and to storage on Monday. It’s been a good run...
Enjoy yourselves!