Travels of "Emma B" (JD powered Helmsman)

I often wonder if putting the subject right smack dab .. as my mother would say .. in the middle of a composition is good.
But you seem to have an intuitive instinct.

Most days there’s not much interesting on TF. There’s always the “Whats the best radar” or equivalent. Like if they don’t choose brand X it would die in a week. Duhh

But I ALWAYS click on your posts.

Durant F said:

Every once in a while you take a picture that’s worthy of putting on a wall.

This one from Saturday will be printed and hung at home.

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Beautiful, serene.
Are we looking out the gap between William and Copplestone islands?
Thanks for allowing us to vicariously extend our cruising each fall!
Bill

Yes...that’s exactly where the picture was taken. I love anchoring there if the forecast is good. Easy to move back into Melanie Cove if the forecast changes.

Nomad Willy said:

We had more jellyfish than that at Patterson Inlet and I was afraid I’d bring them up on the anchor line. But (thankfully) they were a no show ... on the rode.

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Eric:

Those small white JF are never an issue. Many times, however, when hauling the prawn traps, I get the red JF sticky on the prawn line. Sometimes so much that my hands get tingly from the sting. The white ones only get a little sticky and hand washing (that would occur sooner or later) is hurried up.

Frank:

Thanks for being a dependable photographer on your annual winter cruise. We all enjoy! Keep it up.

A few years ago we spent several days anchored in Grebe Cove on Bonwick Island and we watched thousands of small JF go in and out with the tide. I was afraid they would get sucked up my generator, but they didn't. They looked like raindrops on the water, very pretty. Watching your travels almost makes me miss our Camano. Great boat.

Took a scoot to Squirrel Cove and checked out Roscoe Bay on the way over as the tide was up. Little waterfall is pretty.
Spent one night at anchor in the back of Squirrel Cove and another at the dock as I’d arranged for a close by RMT to pick me up in the morning for a treatment. I’d pulled my back lifting my Honda 2000 out of the aft locker. Not that heavy, done it a hundred times before, but just how I twisted as I lifted. Will be more careful here on in..
From there to Octopus islands around the back way through White rock pass.
Had Beasley rapids timed perfectly. Barely a ripple...
After going through Beazley, a small bird landed for about a 10 minute break, singing away the entire time.
Entering Waiatt Bay to Octopus Islands I was thankful I’d brought my Nikon along for the odd zoom shot. All the pictures I post are taken on my iPhone.
You’ll see the difference from full zoom on the iPhone compared to full zoom on my Nikon. Can’t compare.
It was a very peacenight... not a ripple, not another soul around.

Up early and left in the dark to get the final push on the ebb through upper hole in the wall rapids and down Okisollo Channel to Johnstone Strait. The Strait was close to flat calm and although the tide was to turn, I enjoyed an extra knot or so for a few hours. Had some visitors which is always nice. No set plan was in place other than head towards the Broughtons but with the extra push I figured I may try running straight up in one day. Things started getting bumpy at current pass- Helmchen Island but once past, seemed to settle a bit so I continued on. By Port Neville the wind was coming up but didn’t pull in as the thought of being stuck there for several days wasn’t appealing to me. The last several miles were a handful before turning off onto Havannah Channels calm waters. It felt like walking into your home from outside on a windy day....the difference was that dramatic. Timing was excellent on Chatham Channel and enjoyed an extra 2-3 knot push through the narrows. It had been a very long day and the last few hours not easy so it felt great to tie off at Lagoon Cove Marina and mix a celebratory rum. This was my first time doing it in one day.

Left Lagoon cove underway to Port McNeil. Stopped in to check out Potts Cove as a secure anchorage if ever needed in this area. Was very snug and secure. Turns out there’s history here with a small collection of float houses and in the past it was a busy spot. Carried on and found a little anchorage just before Whiterock Pass so I’d have a quick exit onto Blackfish Sound early in the morning. Enjoyed dinner, cleaned up and after looking at tides and forecast, decided on a “dark run” in that evening as the weather was to change late afternoon the next day. The 3 hour run on instruments went well other than one minor log bump. A near full moon lit things up slightly and it was enjoyable out there. Made Port McNeil just before midnight and tied at the fuel dock to be their first customer in the morning. It was a beautiful dawn at the marina. Fueled up, a grocery run unpacked and I was off again to beat the weather. Blackfish Sound seldom disappoints and saw multiple humpbacks in 3 different . Always such a treat. After my last “too close encounter” I stayed well away. With the strong winds forecast I went back to drop the hook in snug Potts Lagoon.

I’d been down Clio Channel a few days earlier and found it odd that 20-25 seagulls were following Emma B
Now, returning, it makes sense as I see hundreds getting scraps off this fish boat!
Here I thought they just liked the New Camono ???

Looking back... just shows how creatures become trained.
I remember years ago sailing into Spanish Cay midwinter and walking over to the lit fish cleanig station on the empty dock. Went ashore, grabbed some stones and went back to drop in from the cleaning station. Sure enough... bull sharks, trained to associate “splash” with scraps of fish showed up to see what was for dessert. Sadly... that night... only rocks.
I’m sure the seagulls felt the same following Emma B

With 2 sunny days forecast, I thought one last trip up towards Thompson, Bond and Kwatsi was in order before starting to putt southward.
The scenery up there is incredible and gets better with snow..
Last picture is the evening view from Kwatsi dock.

Durant F said:

Looking back... just shows how creatures become trained.
I remember years ago sailing into Spanish Cay midwinter and walking over to the lit fish cleaning station on the empty dock. Went ashore, grabbed some stones and went back to drop in from the cleaning station. Sure enough... bull sharks, trained to associate “splash” with scraps of fish showed up to see what was for dessert. Sadly... that night... only rocks.
I’m sure the seagulls felt the same following Emma B

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You would think that a carp with their limited operating brain capacity - more nature than nurture in their behavior - would be incapable of being trained. However, I have been at more than one dock where Asian carp are present, where a shadow will induce them to rise to the surface and float with their mouths wide open, like a trained porpoise waiting for her treat. Yep, people feeding them. It's rather creepy, much like witnessing a piranha school. Here's a random photo of the phenomenon from the INterwebs, taken at one of my old duty stations on Lake Powell.



I learned relatively recently that carp happen to be one of the "smarter" members of Osteichthyes. Supposedly

Beautiful weather.

I see Kwatsi Bay Marina is now “sale pending”. Hopefully Max and company can start the next chapter...

http://www.bcoceanfront.com/listing/central-bc-coast-kwatsi-bay-marina

Such nice folks!
His arthritis got the best of him.
They’re building a home on Sontula

IRENE,
Most of these rough resort like places are for sale most of the time.
But some that interact w people and are good at promoting a good time last much longer.

Since we bought our current house with a large koi pond, I've been very impressed with the intelligence of koi (a variety of carp). They have personalities, habits, food preferences, and can recognize different people, or different shadows on the water anyway. Fascinating creatures.

After a cold night, the next morning awoke to sunshine and a bright day to return..
One cold evening certainly changed the look from just the day before ...
It’s simply more beautiful late season with snow on the peaks!

I passed the Sedan up in the Broughtons headed N on Dec 1st and again yesterday, 10 days later, much further S on Calm Channel headed north again. Hailed him on VHF and found out he was also cruising late. Thought I was the only silly one ?
Didn’t catch the boat name... I should have. Not sure if he’s a member or if someone knows the boat?

Had to wait another few days for Johnstone Strait to settle down. Spent a night back at Lagoon Cove and another couple anchored in Port Harvey.
Finally a decent forecast for the next morning and it turned out just that... the morning. (Typical Johnstone Strait) started out flat calm and fog.
When I began the turn up at Yorke Island towards Wellbore Channel it was already starting to kick up at 10:30 am.
Was too late to time Whirlpool Rapids so I tied alongside the old tug again.

Just a heads up for everyone...there was a landslide in Bute Inlet recently, Calm Channel, Hole in the Wall, Okisollo channel are all VERY full of wood. Be careful out there.

I got this information from another group I belong to. There was a video of masses of debris and a warning that the video made it look better than it really was.

Yes..
Crazy!
I had Dent Rapids times to do all 3 and the logs started about a half mile before Dent. Never saw so may before!
Took a video but can’t post videos here.
Nothing like dodging log whirlpools forming as you pass through the rapids..
Sure know you’re alive tho!
This is from another site,

Durant F said:

Yes..
Crazy!
I had Dent Rapids times to do all 3 and the logs started about a half mile before Dent. Never saw so may before!
Took a video but can’t post videos here.
Nothing like dodging log whirlpools forming as you pass through the rapids..
Sure know you’re alive tho!
This is from another site,

Click to expand...

I was out buddy boating with a dock neighbour a couple of weeks ago and there were logs everywhere (we were mostly in Sutil Channel). I'd assumed that the recent king tides had lifted them off of the shore, even though there were many more than I'd seen in years. This makes sense of it.

Durant F said:

Yes..
Crazy!
I had Dent Rapids times to do all 3 and the logs started about a half mile before Dent. Never saw so may before!
Took a video but can’t post videos here.
Nothing like dodging log whirlpools forming as you pass through the rapids..
Sure know you’re alive tho!
This is from another site,

Click to expand...

LOL.
Yup! That's the post I cut and pasted from.

GS

After a night rafted to the tug, it was whirlpool rapids, down to Green Point rapids and docked at Shoal Bay as Dent couldn’t be timed before dark.
There was no sign of logs yet but I was treated to 2 female orcas that swam straight at my bow before diving under the boat.
The view of Philips Arm across from Shoal Bay is ever changing as clouds alter the landscape. Marks writing skills are evident..
From there it was timing Dent, Gillards and Yuks...
With the surprise logs showing up just before Dent.
It was crazy! I took a video of logs forming into a whirlpool just after Dent. Not a situation you want to be caught in. The typical “stay to the right” run through was impossible as the right side was plugged with logs.
I’m always amazed at the size of the lodge at the Yuks.. Must have cost a fortune getting both men and material in there!
Calm channel felt calmer than normal after that..

I'm glad you survived Logmageddon/Lognado! I continue to envy your stunning scenery.

Too funny!
It was crazy though...
I’ve never saw anything like it!
Just did a screen shot from the little video I took.
This was shortly after the light house at Dent
You’ll see a log Whirlpool forming..
Certainly had my heart rate up!

Spent a very nice evening at Heriot Bay Inn.
Was able to go up to the grocery store for both food and rum.
Now re stocked, treated my self to a few “dark matter” beers in their bar before calling it a night.
Awoke to overcast and drizzle but the Strait was calm so decided to cross over and have one last peek at Desolation Sound before carrying on more southward.
I’ve seen it year’s before with snow on the peaks and hoped to see it again but the day didn’t hold much promise.
As luck would have it, the closer I got, the more the clouds opened until finally, now in Desolation Sound proper, it was blue sky’s and provided a back drop for some of the best scenes I’ve ever snapped. It was a nature lovers paradise.
A quiet, calm but cool night at anchor and the next day awoke to dull and overcast.
No mountains were visible as I continued on towards Lund.
I felt blessed to have saw what I did the afternoon before!
Pics are the marina lights from Heriot Bay Inn
and Desolation Sound in it’s December beauty.

From my little ship to yours... MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hope everyone makes the best of these crazy times.
Thanks goodness for FaceTime, Messenger video and so many other ways of connecting virtually and sharing good times during the season.

Let’s all hope the new year brings us normalcy on many levels.

Best wishes to all

Hope you are hunkered down someplace safe, as it sure is blowing/raining down here at the south end of the strait..........MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and the mighty little ship.....stay safe!

Loving the virtual trip, keep the photos coming.