Ten Weeks: Discovery Passage
Date: June 11, 2016
Time Start: 9:15 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Campbell River
Cruise To: Turn Island
Engine Hours Start: 423
Engine Hours Finish: 426
Weather/sea conditions: Light winds increasing, seas calm increasing to rolling waves in Johnstone Strait, cloudy day, low 60's with wind chill.
Conditions sound good on this gray morning to make the push through Seymour Narrows as we continue north to the Broughtons, our ultimate goal of this cruise. The Narrows will take us from the Strait of Georgia to Johnstone Strait. Dan mounts the Go-pro camera on the bow hoping to take videos. We are on our way, leaving Campbell River behind and entering the Narrows at 10:30 a.m. So beautiful! So far, things seem calm, even though there is a current pushing against us, as we have arrived about a half hour early for the slack. Currents typically run 16 knots on the flood and 14 knots on the ebb, making hitting slack a necessity for a safe cruise.
Time Start: 9:15 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Campbell River
Cruise To: Turn Island
Engine Hours Start: 423
Engine Hours Finish: 426
Weather/sea conditions: Light winds increasing, seas calm increasing to rolling waves in Johnstone Strait, cloudy day, low 60's with wind chill.
Conditions sound good on this gray morning to make the push through Seymour Narrows as we continue north to the Broughtons, our ultimate goal of this cruise. The Narrows will take us from the Strait of Georgia to Johnstone Strait. Dan mounts the Go-pro camera on the bow hoping to take videos. We are on our way, leaving Campbell River behind and entering the Narrows at 10:30 a.m. So beautiful! So far, things seem calm, even though there is a current pushing against us, as we have arrived about a half hour early for the slack. Currents typically run 16 knots on the flood and 14 knots on the ebb, making hitting slack a necessity for a safe cruise.
We eye Browns Bay Marina and Plumper Bay as we pass them, almost across from each other and good pull-outs if conditions are rough. Good to know where these spots are! The Narrows are between Vancouver Island and Quadra Island and seem wider than we expected.
So much for calm, the predicted north westerlies kick in. We are now going against the wind, and the chop is getting us wet as the wind waves increase in height. We are also on the lookout for logs, as there seem to be plenty that get hidden in the waves. We pass the Chatham Point marker on Vancouver Island, the official start of the 54 miles of passage known as Johnstone Strait. We have successfully cruised Seymour Narrows! Now we face the challenges of Johnstone Strait.
Knowing that the wind and waves will continue to build into the afternoon, we decide to tuck in behind Turn Island and wait until morning to continue. Turn Island sits just off of E. Thurlow Island and is a good spot to drop anchor. We are protected from the winds out in the Strait. Several seals are playing along the shore, and we have views of the mountains on Vancouver Island. A sailboat has also dropped its anchor here.
We hear their sound, eagles, and then we see them, at least five eaglets soaring in the skies around us. How fabulous!
A major catastrophe! Our can opener breaks as we prepare dinner! Oh, no! Out comes the Swiss army knife. Catastrophe averted. Evening brings some nice lighting, and we see our first cruise ship pass by out in Johnstone Strait.
Date: June 12, 2016
Time Start: 8:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 2:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Turn Island
Cruise To: Port Hardy, E. Cracoft Island
Engine Hours Start: 426
Engine Hours Finish: 432
Weather/sea conditions: Gray, calm morning, south westerlies building in afternoon, upper 50's
It is a quiet, calm morning at Turn Island. Seals are lazily floating in the bay. We are continuing north in Johnstone Strait and facing a flood current for a few hours. We start alongside E. Thurlow. Blind Passage joins the Strait, and then we follow the shores of W. Thurlow Island. Clouds are hugging the hills and mountains today, giving us occasional glimpses of snow topped mountains. We never anticipated so much beauty in the Strait!
Time Start: 8:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 2:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Turn Island
Cruise To: Port Hardy, E. Cracoft Island
Engine Hours Start: 426
Engine Hours Finish: 432
Weather/sea conditions: Gray, calm morning, south westerlies building in afternoon, upper 50's
It is a quiet, calm morning at Turn Island. Seals are lazily floating in the bay. We are continuing north in Johnstone Strait and facing a flood current for a few hours. We start alongside E. Thurlow. Blind Passage joins the Strait, and then we follow the shores of W. Thurlow Island. Clouds are hugging the hills and mountains today, giving us occasional glimpses of snow topped mountains. We never anticipated so much beauty in the Strait!
Helmcken Island sits between Vancouver Island and Hardwicke Island. Passage is possible on either side. We choose the Current Passage side along Hardwicke. Tugs and barges can be seen out in Race Passage on the other side of Helmcken. We make a stop to check out Billygoat Bay, as it is a potential stop when conditions are rough.
What a lot of water in Johnstone Strait! Our depth sounder is overwhelmed, it is deep, over a thousand feet, and wide, with hills and mountains rising from the shoreline. A part of the Inside Passage, it is scenic even with clouds hiding the mountains.
The waves are with us today instead of against us, making for a pleasant ride. We turn toward Port Harvey at the Broken Islands, making our way to the marina dock. We are seeing our first "floating" homes and buildings, a hallmark of the Broughtons. We have arrived!
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