Travels of "Emma B" (JD powered Helmsman)

Hello DurantF,

As usual, enjoying your adventures.

Are there any others cruising up there, or do you have the place to yourselves?

Best Wishes!

Thanks.
Alone the entire trip to that point.
No one at anchorages, Lagoon Cove or Kwatsi Bay.
That’s why I love fall cruising up here. The mountains are typically more beautiful as they get snow capped as well.
Frank

After a relaxing thanksgiving weekend anchored, we had plans of heading to Lagoon Cove or Port Harvey on our way back S towards Desolation Sound.
At times the best plan is no plan... I’m not a fan of Johnstone Strait having had my butt kicked there several times previously.
With winds forecast to build, favourable tides and a relatively calm strait, we made it a long day and carried on right through to the anchorage at Douglas Bay just before Whirlpool rapids. The Strait was now behind us and only 6 rapids to deal with the next morning.
Just before dusk this beautiful classic cruiser came in and anchored.
We were both awakened by strong winds in the middle of the night but our anchors held and after a couple of sleepless hours on “anchor watch” I was able to go back to sleep.
Morning dawned to the promised sunshine
All good

Pic is the cruiser that anchored at dusk

Leaving in morning sunshine, we were through Whirlpool Rapids by 9:15am.
Green Point Rapids was next but then we had time to kill to time Dent, Gillards and the Yuk’s next. This extra time was a blessing as not only is the scenery phenomenal in this stretch, but we were treated to a dolphin encounter that lied about 30 minutes and envolved well over 50 dolphins. Was one of those magical afternoons!


Magical times...

After timing Whirlpool, Greenpoint, waiting on Dent, Gillards, the Yuk’s...there was only ‘Hole in the wall’ left!
So late in the day, it was a relief that we passed close to slack and only 20 minutes from both sunset and anchor down back in Octopus Islands

After a calm night, we awoke to sunshine again. Always feel snug anchored in Octopus Islands. Took a trip to the end of Waiatt Bay for a hike up the trail. Certainly has that “rain forest” feeling.

Hey Frank - were you able to stop in at Port Harvey at all this season? I was wondering how Gail was going after the loss of George this summer.

She closed it Aug 7th.....
She is back home now, no mention of future plans.
Sad.....


On the lighter side, hope you had a great summer Conrad! Hopefully see you mid Nov in CR

Thanks Frank; I knew she’d closed it while dealing with George’s passing but I also heard she was planning on continuing with the resort.

Had a good summer! Hope to be back at the dock around mid November so hopefully we can catch up.

Follow up to the “BigFish” encounter at Hole in the Wall.
I sent a detailed incedent report off to the the vessel’s operators and transport Canada.
Later received a brief apology from the captain by email. (I’m sure he was told to send it)
Surprisingly, I also received a follow up from the RCMP West Coast Marine division!
They requested even more info and were following through with a full report.
I’m certain both the company and captain will hear from them. The officer was himself a boater and knew these waters extremely well.

Always find it pretty in and around Octopus Islands. The trip out headed to time Beazley pass was beautiful in the sun.

The top picture, although taken for the scene, shows the great job Helmsman did with my “defroster” outlets.
Also shows a seal head carving from the lady at the art gallery in Lund. It’s neat watching her carve them out of soap stone.

Hello Frank,
I have been reading your thread since you began posting last year. I want to thank you for the effort you have taken to share your wonderful experiences with others. A very gracious thing to do! Your pictures and written descriptions are fabulous. Thank you.
Bill

Thanks Bill
Just love the PNW and hope to show others the beauty here and benefits of late season cruising. You often feel like this paradise is all yours!
Glad you’re enjoying it.

PS...your boat is one of my all time favourites!

Ironic that you get praise from Little Fish after all of your grief with Big Fish!

I read the boat name twice too... ��

Those seal heads are really nice, very expensive also. That is a great shop she has. Great following your travels.

Thanks
I had her not polish mine... I liked the look best with the etchs from carving showing. To me, looks better....more like hair.

Once we left Octopus Islands to time Beazley Pass, we had a rare occurrence... we passed another cruising boat!
I believe it was an American Tug 34 and was out of California.
Some days you see no boats at all. The days you do, they are water taxis or work boats.
The Tug and I crossed close to slack at Beazley.


The Tug
Beazley near slack

Once through Beazley Pass, it was a relatively short hop to Heriot Bay marina on Quadra Island. I’ve mentioned before that I love this place. It’s a funky spot with older docks, an old bar, nice restaurant and an awesome little grocery and liquor store just up the hill behind. As our plans from here through the next several days were anchoring out, we stocked up the fridge and bar.

From Heriot Bay Inn, our plan was to slowly work our way into Desolation Sound with stops all around Cortes on route. VonDonop, then Gorge, Manson’s Landing, Cortes Bay, Squirrel Cove Store/dock and Squirrel Cove.
First night was anchored in the end bay of VonDonop. VonDonop Inlet is almost 3 miles long and very well protected. At the end, there is a walking trail to various parts of the island including a 3 mile walk to the Squirrel Cove store if you’re up for it. We settled for a nice hike looking at the moss etc in this rain forest setting. A couple of sailboats came in later and I loved the smoke emanating from a wood stove on one of them.

VonDonop is one of the many places that I've wanted to get to, but haven't yet. Thanks for the pics.

Thanks Dave
It’s an interesting Inlet with several bays to anchor and the nice trails as well.
Well worth the stop.

Von Donop is our favourite all time place to stop. So many different spots to anchor and even the sort of wide open areas are only 50' or so with mud bottom so nobody will ever get skunked.
Our favourite spot is the little nook about three quarters of the way in on the left (Not the lagoon indent) which also features trail access to Squirrel cove. A gorgeous little nook; more than once we've been greeted by a deer as we pulled in. A bit too small for Blue Sky, but our previous and smaller boats fit right in.
Kids and grandkids always go swimming in the warm summer water.

We took a slow, sunny cruise around to Gorge Harbour, touring Whaletown Bay on the way. Gorge Marina is such a fine spot with its extremely well built concrete floating docks, simply beautiful grounds, small but well stocked store, fuel and even propane! It’s a nice, longer walk over to Whaletown or simply head out the road and keep turning right for a nice shorter loop.look to the right about 2/3 way up to Whaletown road and there’s an old grown tree.
We are really getting spoiled with this fall weather!

We looked again on the way out and sadly, the eagles that typically sit atop the small bald rock islands just out from the entrance to Gorge weren’t there. In 4 pass’s, I’ve yet to see them this year so hope they are ok and simply moved elsewhere.
On our way to Squirrel Cove we did a “once around” Cortes Bay.
June Cameron, a local sailor and author retired there and I was lucky enough to meet her and have her sign a book before she passed on. An amazing adventurous lady! Her book “26ft to the Charlottes” is a great read if your plans are further N
The beautiful classic cruiser below was on a mooring in the bay.
On to Squirrel Cove with a stop at the classic “General Store” before carrying on into the cove to anchor. The store has a bit of produce, hardware, dry goods, fishing tackle, post office and liquor store all wrapped into one.
I like anchoring at the NE end of the Cove close to the tidal pond out back. With its narrow entrance, it can’t keep up to the tide changes so creates a mini waterfall in both directions.
A busy place in season, we had it all to ourselves.

I’m jumping ahead here...
Currently in Lund, it’s a beautiful,warm and sunny day. Boat is cleaned up, laundry in. Just came down from the flybridge to mix a rum..
It has been about 2 months and a thousand miles since I launched this year. One month was solo, this last month with Claudia aboard. I can’t help but think what a great little cruiser these Camano’s are. So easy to dock solo yet we find it lots of room for 2. If you’re like me, hard not to “dream about boats” and the next one is always being played out in my mind.... yet as I sit here today, in the sun, gotta say I’m feeling pretty contented.
There is an old saying:
“Happiness is wanting what you already have”
In this moment...I’m pretty happy!

That wouldn't be a 43 you are dreaming about would it?

That extra leg room is dreamy.......

Lund is a nice little town. Some great places to eat there overlooking the marina.


When I was in squirrel cove last, I seem to remember counting about 75 boats from where we were anchored and we couldn't see all of them from where we were. Must be a nice place when empty.

It’s awesome this time of year!
I started fall cruises here 10yrs ago on a friends trawler for “boys week” (read:eat, drink, fish and be merry)
Have been spoiled ever since, although I did get a taste of “busy season” last summer bringing Emma B up from Seattle.
I’ll take the fall cruises anytime!

PS.. Big John, the lad that got me out here on his old trawler back then is the new Helmsman 43 owner I was with a few weeks ago in Vancouver. Great guy and super knowledge of the area.
Boys week starts this Sunday...... pray for my liver ��

Re Squirrel Cove the bottom must be like a plowed farm field.
Could be very loose seabed w poor holding.