Day 19, Monday July 11, Port McNeill

After fiddling with Jerre's generator and our auto-nav we finally left Port Harvey around 9:30 heading up Johnstone Strait toward Alert Bay to fill up with fresh water then on to Port McNeill.
There was only room for one boat at a time at the dock in Alert Bay so Jerre went in and filled up with water first while we circled then it was our turn. There are only a few places where you can get good water here, and we anchor out so often in little coves that watching our water consumption is a biggy. You know, camp showers, get wet, turn off the water, lather, wash then hurry up and rinse.
After topping off the water tanks it was just a short trip up the Strait to Port McNeill. We'll spend a day or two here, they have laundry, groceries, a place to offload garbage and the boys can pick up a few parts before we head across the Queen Charlotte Strait toward the Broughton Islands.

Day 18, July 10, Port Harvey

This morning we did not have to leave at the crack of dawn like we normally do to catch the tides and currents, we headed out of Owen Bay around ten and headed up the Okisollo Channel and out into the Johnstone Strait. The tide was with us and although we were going around 9 to 10 kts it was still a good 7 hours till we made it to Port Harvey, our next stop for the night.
When we pulled into the bay we were surprised to see the Gina C, Bob and Carol Nelson's boat anchored here. They are members of our yacht club. Small world here in Canada.
We once again anchored out and tied up with Jerre and Uti, although there isn't a store here it is a nice sheltered bay.
Our auto pilot went out yesterday so it looks like we will have to go into Port for repairs somewhere up the line.... Again...
The weather was a bit cloudy but calm, Ben and I were both tired from the trip and called it an early night.
Tomorrow we head for Alert Bay to stock up on fresh water then to Port McNeill for the night.

Day 17, July 9, Owen Bay

What a beautiful day! Ben and Uti put out some crab pots last night and they both caught a half dozen or so nice big crabs. Yum!
Uti and I took the dogs for a nice walk around the bay on Sonora island. I don't know if the folks live here year around but some of these cabins/shacks are set up pretty nice with solar panels, generators, gardens and such. We saw an old portable sawmill for cutting logs, I guess way out here you make do with what you have.
Ben caught his first ever Lingcod and boy was he excited! His fish was 32" and about 12lbs. Uti said it is a really good eating fish. Yum!
I spent the afternoon sinking on the fly bridge reading a book. I guess tomorrow we head out again to continue our adventure. I hope the weather holds!

Day 16, July 8 Owen Bay

The weather wasn't AS bad this morning, 15 to 25 kt winds, but I think we were all so tired of the wind and waves here at Hariot Bay that we decided to Heck with it we were going to chance it regardless!
Once we got out into the Strait it seemed we may have been a bit premature... The waves knocked us up and down and side to side. I thought I had stowed everything that could possibly come crashing down securely..... But I forgot about the fridge! So about half way across the Strait during a particularly nasty roll the fridge FLEW open and everything came tumbling out. I tried to pile it back in but as the boat rolled from side to side the stuff was falling back out faster than I could stuff it back in! What a mess! I finally got the door shut and latched, the worst mess was the dozen eggs that did not survive the ordeal. Yuck!
Anyway.... We DID survive the Strait and once we were in the shelter of the. Hoskny Channel the wind calmed down and it was smooth sailing.
Our timing and the tide was right to get us through the Surge Narrows, a tiny little hole in the wall where the water runs like crazy when the tide is coming in or out. We then went on up through the Okisollo Channel and Cooper Point rapids into Owen Bay.
I was never so happy to see this little peaceful bay. The weather here is sunny and warm, no rain, no wind. There are no amenities here, just a few homesteads and an old government dock but that's okay. I'm just glad to be out of Hariot Bay!

Day 15, July 7, Hariot Bay

Holy cow did the boat rock and roll last night!
Took the dogs over to the inn to let them go potty, now we just wait to hear on the parts.
Around noon we heard that the exhaust parts got put on the wrong ferry to the wrong island, after some creative manoeuvring we were able to get the parts on the correct ferry, delivered to the shop on the other side of the island and delivered by taxi to the Hariot Bay Inn around 2pm.
It didn't take Ben long to repair the exhaust and everything seems to be working correctly. No water leaking into the bilge.
Looks like tomorrow the tide and current will be with us to go out into the Strait of Georgia around 7am. IF the weather cooperates. We will see in the morning and make our decision then if it's safe to cross.

Day 14, July 6 , Hariot Bay

The morning dawned cold and rainy with winds gusting hot and heavy. The boat was rocking like crazy!
Ben discovered we had a leak in our exhaust from one of our diesel engines... RutRow Astrow! In other words, when we ran the engine water was leaking into the bilge so we are dead in the water till we get it fixed. Fortunately we are in a harbor that had at least some amenities. First he went ashore and talked to some of the locals to see if anyone had any spare 5" exhaust pipe that he could use to fix the problem, one guy did have some but it turned out to be 4" not 5". There is a marine supply on the other side of the island so Ben called them up and they said they could order what we needed from another island and have it shipped over by ferry in the morning then sent over to us by taxi. So we are here for another two nights at least. Won't get the parts in tomorrow until afternoon and by then it will be to late to hit the tides to cross the Strait of Georgia. The weather is to nasty anyway to cross right now, we would be tossed like drift wood in the waves. The weather channel says the storm is supposed to blow over by Thursday or Friday. It's been interesting taking the dogs to shore twice a day in the dingy.... By the time we get there we are all four soaking wet from the rain and the waves. Fun, fun, fun!

Day 13, July 5 Hariot Bay

After a very short night at Hornby Island, we left at 6 am... We headed out into the Strait and up the coast of Vancouver island. Instead of going through Discovery Passage, we turned toward the outside of Quadra Island and anchored in Hariot Bay. Today was a long day, it took us about 8 hours to cruise up here. But the water was calm and no winds. I guess the Strait can get pretty scary. We are now across from Cortez island and beginning our trek into the channels and inlets of the inside passage and the Broughton Islands. How exciting... But I still have not seen any whales!!!!!
Hariot Bay is a little resort community with a small grocery store, restaurant and bar. They have a nice beach and a campground that is packed with campers. There is also the cutest little ferry that shuttles between the islands.
We had some bad news with our engines, looks like our exhaust is coming apart... Our something like that. Wet are stuck in the water until Ben can get it fixed. Fortunately there is a 'boat shed' on the other side of the island and in the morning he is going to call and try to get some parts delivered. Shoot!@$__$_5//!@/
At least we ain't sinking... Yet!
And Jerre and Uti have been so kind and patient. I just love those guys