Travels of "Emma B" (JD powered Helmsman)

Made it out of Heriot Bay but headed to Desolation Sound. Easy trip with just a bit of left over roll on the strait.
Passing the bell market at Sutil Point, Cortes, always reminds me of “Jaws” and with the sloppy roll today it was dinging just like the movie
Watched a humpback feed near Mink island along the way..
Anchor is down in Predieax Haven and there are NO OTHER BOATS here or in Melanie cove. To anyone thats been here in season... a miracle.

Rained most of last night and this morning. The typical “room with a view” anchorage was dull with limited visibility.
Went for a very slow “putt” around and ended up through Refuge Cove and a stop at the Squirrel Cove dock to stretch my legs before idling over to Squirrel Cove to anchor for the night.
Batteries charged, water hot.... bit of boat clean up, a hot shower, dinner and after dish’s, a Netflix show or two before crashing. Sometimes dull “putt around” days are great!

Last few days have been kinda miserable. Dull, rain and cool. Cold in the morning. Heh...was a really good run until a few days ago and it is fall in the PNW!
I’m nestled in Squirrel Cove and was going to move again today to charge batteries and heat the water but once outside, it was wet and choppy and with no need to be anywhere, I turned back in, anchored and grabbed a book.
I rarely if every see another boat as it gets later on...
Desolation Sound and Melanie Cove were empty a couple of nights ago. There would be pushing 200 combined during summer months I’m sure!
When I do see the occasional other cruiser this late it’s always a trawler.
You can imagine my disbelief as I look up to see about a 36ft sailboat coming in... blowing a bit out there, rain and all...
He (I assume) exposed at the helm
Her (I assume) at the bow waiting to drop the hook...
After about 15 minutes, hook down and set, they are still out side and the rain has picked up.
I’m a long term sailor first but oh my..... for fall cruising out here... I love my little trawler!

After a few rather boring rain days, awoke to fog. Once it started to lift, there was the sun! Had to get underway to enjoy it!
Funny how a mood improves with a bit of sunshine.
Pic was as fog lifted in the back of Squirrel Cove.
Was thinking I should make a calendar with the better pics but no one uses them anymore.
Our phones have become “everything”

I see sun in your forecast - looks like a lovely weekend ahead. Do you encounter much in the way of commercial fishing operations during your fall travels? The Puget Sound area is thick with commercial seiners right now.

Enjoy your sunny afternoon!

Yes! Long range is sun for a while!
Moved the boat to Copeland islands yesterday to charge batteries and heat water. Short hop to Lund today so I could get off and walk. Have been “boat bound” too long...
Tomorrow to Powel River. Clean and provision as crew arrives Saturday. The sun will be a bonus!
As to do I encounter the fishing fleet this time of year.. simple answer is I rarely encounter any boats at all! Honestly... some days pass and I’ll be the only boat moving. It was a big deal to see a sailboat come into Squirrel Cove the other day.

Hey there Frank, sorry we missed each other last week. Wasn't the best weather for sure, although we had a break last Friday where we managed to be feted by a pod of Dall's Porpoises just off of Thurston Bay in Nodales Channel. Pretty amazing to experience. We're heading back out again tomorrow but at this point I'm not sure where we're going.
Still heading north?

Awesome you had that experience!
Lucked out in 2015 with Dahl’s Porpoises like that, then last year with a huge pod of dolphins. Amazing when it happens isn’t it!!
I’ll be heading up that way from Octopus next Thursday to Shoal Bay, then to Big Bay (across from Gillards), then Heriot Bay for that weekend. Wind and weather look great!
Have fun!

AKMary said:

Dull days are the best. I never get tired of dropping the kayak and poking about the shoreline or just lazing in the sun. Next year I hope to stay out later and enjoy some off-season cruising, Emma B style.



You've inspired me to start doing some serious research on adding solar. I'm no accomplished handyman, but I can read and follow directions and I'm excellent at sleuthing out how-to videos.

Thanks for the gorgeous pics. Enjoy those dull days!

Click to expand...

Good looking boat AKMARY

Note they are really trying at the Lund Hotel!
A few years back they closed in the off season. Now they’re open and have daily happy hour specials. Today was 25 cent wings!
Haven’t seen that in a while ...

Had to...
From the Copelands yesterday

I guess when I don’t want to take her picture it’s time to sell..

I remember Lund.
In 2003 we got some fuel there on our way to Alaska.
I yelled at my to be wife while making a landing in breezy conditions. She was being slow and it looked like the wind was gonna win.
That’s all I remember about Lund.

Frank,
They’re mooving the boats around at the marina (dredging) and I’m in a slip w a Camano Troll .. I think. It seemed small. Went fore and aft and realized the 31 foot Troll is a foot or two smaller than my 30’ Willard. Do they call out their boats pulpit to swim step??

Yep...
28ft x 10.5ft hull
Ad swim platform and pulpit

Your boat is way bigger ?

Eric
Do you remember Neptune on the south side of Lund harbour?

Although it’s full size, sometimes missed

Left Lund after coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Nancys
Passed the eagles on the cross at Dinner Rock, Saw 2 humpbacks at Atrevida Reef marker underway to Powel River. That never gets old..
Had seals feeding around them to ad to the scene.
Going to blow a bit tomorrow so glad to be tucked in at Westview Harbour
Our phones take amazing pictures now. Just wish for more zoom. (Eagle pic)

Had a humpback video but not allowed upload..

Back up to Lund with an early start in near flat seas and full sun.
Lovely fall day, nice evening with memorable sunset.

On to Prideaux ...
Simply beautiful evening!!

Durant F said:

Eric
Do you remember Neptune on the south side of Lund harbour?

Although it’s full size, sometimes missed

Click to expand...

No
Though it was 17yrs ago and Chris was mad at me and it was just a fuel stop. I have no idea why I was buying fuel at Lund. Well we were running the little Albin then w far less fuel capacity than the Willard. Were probably planing to get more at Shearwater. With the Willard as a stunt we could go from Seattle to Prince Rupert w/o refueling or carrying jerry cans via direct route .. not anchoring and runnung at night to avoid anchoring detours. Went to Juneau (where I was born) and Hhoonah on Icy Strait.

Boating season? There's no such thing as a boating season!!

Thanks for the photos and grand tour

We made the 4 hour run from Kitimat down to Kitsaway Anchorage on the weekend. It's pretty close to the Inside Passage treadmill so usually has boats anchored over night, but this time we had it to ourselves. There was a 50' Nordhavn anchored near the entrance when we came in, but they saw that they were totally outclassed by Badger, so moved along smartly as soon as we showed up

Durant F said:

Left Lund after coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Nancys
Passed the eagles on the cross at Dinner Rock, Saw 2 humpbacks at Atrevida Reef marker underway to Powel River. That never gets old..
Had seals feeding around them to ad to the scene.
Going to blow a bit tomorrow so glad to be tucked in at Westview Harbour
Our phones take amazing pictures now. Just wish for more zoom. (Eagle pic)

Had a humpback video but not allowed upload..

Click to expand...

nice pic of your boat

That is some staggeringly beautiful scenery!

Came upon 2 humpbacks feeding while underway yesterday.
Always a pleasure...

It's been incredible weather for boating the last week. Got out a few times. Humpbacks and Dall's porpoises have been busy out front this fall. Sorry I missed you on the weekend. Had a Halloween party at my house which consumed way too much time in preparation.

Agreed!
The weather has been awesome!
After the whales, spent a night a Gorge.
Then off to Octopus Islands though Beazley Pass.
Did the trail at the end of Wiatt Bay before anchoring for the night.
After a longer hike, sure is nice to see both the boat and dingy waiting for ya ?
Simply beautiful!

Next was onto Johnstone Strait and up Nodales Channel.
Had Dahl’s Porpoises swim along twice underway to a stop at Shoal Bay.
From there I timed Dent rapids for an easy pass at slack and checked out the Sea Lion colony on Jimmy Judd island on the way to the docks at Big Bay, Stuart Island. Fun to watch the waters build from there...
The forest trails are so different from home back east..

Last few nights were at Heriot Bay.
Just love the place...so laid back.
The view out front isn’t too bad..

Durant F said:

Last few nights were at Heriot Bay.
Just love the place...so laid back.
The view out front isn’t too bad..

Click to expand...

Heriot Bay was a standout for us as well when we paddle through. There's something about being in a little town on an island off an island. We've always said that if Kitimat gets too squirrelly in an industrial sense, Heriot Bay or Cortes will be worth a look.

Not cheap there Murray.

Nomad Willy said:

Not cheap there Murray.

Click to expand...

Lower latitude equals higher price, for sure.

Im a small town NE Ontario lad and can’t believe real estate prices here!
Think you need a remote Broughtons lot to come close...

In Cambell River tonight. “Big city life” ?

Several other Camano’s here!