Pacific NW

Expeditions

A fierce easterly wind funneled into the bay last night. I was awake for the greater part of the darkest hours, monitoring our position in the harbor. It was spitting rain in the grey morning, and it came down on the deck in thundering waves. The crab trap produced many more fine specimens of large Dungeness crab. I threw them all back, however. Justin and I have eaten our fill of crab (never thought I’d ever say that!) for now. Plus, we’re still revelling in the glory of last nights “triple crown” meal. Justin and I turned the last of the halibut into an incredibly gourmet dip. Restaurant quality for sure. We’re very proud of consuming the whole fish and of catching so many crab and other fish with its entrails. Toward afternoon we became restless and decided to make a run down Fitz Hugh Sound to an inlet, that would get us closer to our big crossing jump-off point into Southern B.C. I have never experienced such a rain! Squall after squall rolled up the sound. Visibility was reduced to near zero, and the whole surface of the sea began “smoking”. It was a true flash flood, and every brook and stream exploded from the mountainsides in violent torrents of brown water, tearing through the trees. The tide remained permanetly high all day! Winds and seas rose sharply until we heard light-house reports of 35 knots with 45 knots expected. Fitz Hugh Sound became a windswept seascape of smothering foam and vertical chop, and waves started breaking over our bows. We sought the immediate shelter of Philip Inlet, which was calm and complete. What an incredible feeling it is to come into a safe harbor in a storm! There was scarely a ripple to be seen as we watched the clouds scuttle across the sky at incredible speeds above the mountaintops. We hunkered down and built a hot fire in the stove to dry the boat out. In the evening we were pleased to see Vic and Matt pull into the anchorage, too. Vic recommended this place in a storm. Thanks Vic! We pulled our anchor and rafted “Silent Partner” to “Galaxy” for the night. We all sat on Galaxy’s deck and enjoyed a bottle of port while watching an Osprey hunt for fish. Justin baked a remarkable batch of tortes in the dutch oven. It was a most excellent evening of good company, good food, drink, and being safe and comfortable in a calm anchorage.