It is 7:15 and the sun has fallen behind the tall ridges that form a 360 around our anchorage. The horseflies are gone now and the air is brisk. The sound of fresh water falling from a nearby brook into the bay is all that I hear, mixed with the salt water lapping at the sides of the boat and distant voices from the huge 70+ foot sailing vessel anchored by us. The Kwatsi Marina (small and rustic) is accross the bay with huge power boats tied to her...many American making their voyages to and from Alaska.
Today was a day of contrasts. We lifted anchor at Cutter Cove after a long windy scary night. Lyle set his watch for the anchor and was up every two hours moving checking and eventually setting out a second anchor. He later remarked if he had a can of Spam he would of tied a rope to it and sent it over the side too. It was an unsettling sleep and we had drizzle along with the gusty west winds that whistled and hammered in the rigging and banged anchor against locker.
When we rose at about 8 a.m. the wind had calmed and there were lots of clouds, early fog and light drizzle. Anxious to find a quieter more sheltered spot we set out for Shoal Bay and Echo Bay down the wide Tribune Channel. The sun came out and we shed our clothes and sunny mountain vistas opened around us; many with traces of snow at their upper reaches.
Just after lunch we were greeted by a pair of dolphins playing around our bow and diving back beneath the stern. Eventually we saw fins and backs of 30-40 dolphins headed past us up the channel. Apparently they are plentiful here and like Tribune Bay. It was a great sight. There were even 4 playing in Kwatsi Bay as dinner was cooking. I bought a sailcloth shirt here for Lyle with the lat and long on it. I like it on him. Weather on the Queen Charlotte Strait seems to be to 35 knots so we plan to drop to Alert Bay and Sointula by Wendesday or Thursday making our way south now after we round Gilford Island.
The holiday has been good and I have enjoyed nature, peace and learning about the boat with Lyle. Ir reminds me much of our old camping days.
Today was a day of contrasts. We lifted anchor at Cutter Cove after a long windy scary night. Lyle set his watch for the anchor and was up every two hours moving checking and eventually setting out a second anchor. He later remarked if he had a can of Spam he would of tied a rope to it and sent it over the side too. It was an unsettling sleep and we had drizzle along with the gusty west winds that whistled and hammered in the rigging and banged anchor against locker.
When we rose at about 8 a.m. the wind had calmed and there were lots of clouds, early fog and light drizzle. Anxious to find a quieter more sheltered spot we set out for Shoal Bay and Echo Bay down the wide Tribune Channel. The sun came out and we shed our clothes and sunny mountain vistas opened around us; many with traces of snow at their upper reaches.
Just after lunch we were greeted by a pair of dolphins playing around our bow and diving back beneath the stern. Eventually we saw fins and backs of 30-40 dolphins headed past us up the channel. Apparently they are plentiful here and like Tribune Bay. It was a great sight. There were even 4 playing in Kwatsi Bay as dinner was cooking. I bought a sailcloth shirt here for Lyle with the lat and long on it. I like it on him. Weather on the Queen Charlotte Strait seems to be to 35 knots so we plan to drop to Alert Bay and Sointula by Wendesday or Thursday making our way south now after we round Gilford Island.
The holiday has been good and I have enjoyed nature, peace and learning about the boat with Lyle. Ir reminds me much of our old camping days.