Day 394 Way off the beaten path.

Still no internet so when you get this one, you will be getting quite a few. We haven't had internet now in three days. We passed a Tellis tower this afternoon but it didn't let either my phone nor the computer get on line. Oh well. Another day of solitude.

We took off from Millbrook Cove about 0945 just a short while before low tide and slack water. The areas farther in the cove was turning into mud flats yet we had no problems getting out of the cove and into the Fitz Hugh Sound for the way North. As we passed the South tip of Calvert Island, we were passed by no less than 6 other power boats all heading North. They had all just gone past Cape Caution and we figure were heading for Bella Bella farther North than we had planned on going today.

We'd planned for the incoming tide to push us up the Sound which is why we left at 0945 and made over 7 knots most of the way. Every little bit helps when you're having to use the engine.

We were told by several friends a stop at Pruth Bay(51 39.28N 128 07.37W)on Calvert Island was a "must". It's right at the West end of Kwakshua Channel. As we entered the channel, the winds came barreling at us at 15 to 20 knots and slowed us down to the mid 5 knot range. We'd checked the weather and found that there is a front coming right at us from the Southwest with winds expected to hit the mid 30 knot range. The chop in the Charlotte Sounds is supposed to hit the 2 to 3 meter range with rain by noon on Thursday. Pruth Bay may be a wonderful place to stay but it is surrounded by rather low slung hills that funnel the winds right down the channel. We'd be exposed to that funnel effect if we stayed there. We checked Keith Anchorage on the South side of the channel and it was the same. As much as we wanted to stop there, we decided it just wasn't safe with what was coming our way in the next 24 hours, so we took off North through the channel and across the Hakai Passage heading for Lewall Inlet on Stirling Island. It's supposed to have great holding for our anchor and be very well protected from just about every direction. Tracy always plans for at least two different places for the night. If we don't care for the first, we head for the backup. In this case, she had three picked out. She'd also looked into Sea Otter Inlet just off Fitz Hugh Sound on the East side of Hunter Island as a "last resort" stop.

We got into Lewall Inlet(51 46.064N 128 06.262W)about 1630 and found it to be perfect. The winds died down to just about zero and the anchor held just fine once it hit the bottom. We made 41.4 miles today on the way North. We're in for a while we think. The last forecast we heard was for ugly weather over the next several days. Time will tell I guess. We're only 23 miles as the crow flies to Bella Bella so we may just head there at the next break in the weather. It's civilization for the area--grocery stores and electricity!

The kids did well today. As I brought up the anchor this morning, Shadow was walking around the deck having a leisurely stroll. Snowshoe was in the cockpit with Tracy and Blue was below being her normal huffy self. She did come out later into the cockpit. Tracy made sure she got an anti seasickness pill this morning before we took off and it worked great. No drooling and no "accidents" any where. Shadow is coming out more and more and that's great to see. He had shut himself off from going outside for most of last year but now, he is out and really seems to be enjoying it. His rear legs aren't that steady, but her gets up and down the stairs just fine. For 17+, he's doing just fine.

Well, that's about it for today. We may be here for a while. Only Mother Nature knows for sure. With the forecast being 20 to 30 knot winds and 2 to 3 meter seas, I think we could be here for a few days.