cruising: shoal bay
Date: July 11, 2019
Time Start: 10 a.m.
Time Finish: 2:50 p.m.
Cruise From: Rebecca Spit, Quadra Island
Cruise To: Shoal Bay, E. Thurlow Island
Engine Hours Start: 1012
Engine Hours Finish: 1017
Weather/sea conditions: Calm, morning clouds, low 60's
It's flat calm in Drew Harbour this morning, with low clouds drifting by as we prepare to continue cruising. We're heading to narrow passages and rapids as we make our way to Shoal Bay, so our timing is important. Our route takes us through Hoskyn Channel to Whiterock Passage, then into Calm Channel and the Yaculta and Dent Rapids, followed by a stretch of Cordero Channel to Shoal Bay.
We start in Hoskyn Channel between Quadra and Read islands in satin smooth water. At the entrance to Whiterock Passage, we are greeted by a pod of dolphins. The range markers guide us into the shallow and narrow waterway, between Read and Maurelle islands, with the deepest section only ten to fifteen feet.
Time Start: 10 a.m.
Time Finish: 2:50 p.m.
Cruise From: Rebecca Spit, Quadra Island
Cruise To: Shoal Bay, E. Thurlow Island
Engine Hours Start: 1012
Engine Hours Finish: 1017
Weather/sea conditions: Calm, morning clouds, low 60's
It's flat calm in Drew Harbour this morning, with low clouds drifting by as we prepare to continue cruising. We're heading to narrow passages and rapids as we make our way to Shoal Bay, so our timing is important. Our route takes us through Hoskyn Channel to Whiterock Passage, then into Calm Channel and the Yaculta and Dent Rapids, followed by a stretch of Cordero Channel to Shoal Bay.
We start in Hoskyn Channel between Quadra and Read islands in satin smooth water. At the entrance to Whiterock Passage, we are greeted by a pod of dolphins. The range markers guide us into the shallow and narrow waterway, between Read and Maurelle islands, with the deepest section only ten to fifteen feet.
Depths drop to 500 feet in Calm Channel, and the water is the color of glacial runoff, steely blue-green and milky.
Sonora Island is to port and Stuart Island to starboard as we ride the rapids at almost slack to Cordero Channel. A lot of boats going through all at once means lots of wakes, and there are a few logs to avoid as well. It is quite a ride today! We briefly notice eagles, not a bit camoflaged with their size and striking white heads, lined up in the treetops, ready to do some fishing in the stirred up waters.
Lots of extra hands await us on the dock at Shoal Bay, ready to assist with our lines as we get a prime view spot at the end of the dock, looking across Cordero Channel and up Phillips Arm to the mountains of mainland B.C.
It's shore time to check in with Larry, who is filling in for Mark and Cynthia while they are away. He owns a pizza restaurant in Campbell River, making him the perfect substitute. He can keep the pizzas coming from the wood fired oven located in the new outdoor bar. Sadly, this isn't a pizza day. Cynthia is a talented potter, and her work is everywhere on the grounds. Beyond the bar is the vegetable and flower garden, and her artistry makes it a very special place to visit. Boaters are invited to help in the garden, and produce is available to pick for a donation.
A few more photos of picturesque Shoal Bay, we really love visiting this place!
A short walk into the forest at Shoal Bay:
And our fantastic view from the tip of the dock:
So much beauty here!