Day 400 Wow!

Day 400!! So much has happened since I started this blog. We learned so much it's hard to think back to how green we were when we started and how much more informed we are now versus then. It's been quite the learning curve over the past 400 days. Each day brings more knowledge and insight for the coming journey.

We were up at 0445 to be fed and underway from Bottleneck Inlet before 0600 to see how far we could get. We knew how far we wanted to get but weren't sure Mother Nature would oblige. We studied the tides and currents for the next leg and thought we could do it.

We headed up Finlayson Channel and headed for Hiekish Narrows, another set of "rapids". The rip through isn't that bad but again timing is everything. We got there about 90 minutes before slack tide so we could ride the outgoing tide for the rest of the Narrows and into Graham Reach. Unfortunately, the tide in Graham Reach goes the opposite way so once we were out in it, it slowed us down and the wind got stronger(of course straight at us). We slowed down to the mid 5 knot range for quite a while.

The boat we had "buddied" with the previous day were about three hours behind us and radioed on VHF to check to see where we were. They had stopped the previous day South of Klemtu at Clothes Bay while we had pressed on to Bottleneck Inlet. We were just passed Swanson Bay on the East side of Graham Reach and still heading Norh(sort of). They had planned on staying the night in Swanson Bay. It was only just after 1000 hours and we wanted to press on as it was just too early to stop for the day. The next inlet was Khutze and then nothing for the next 34 miles--Bishop Bay. We checked the tides--slightly against us for a short while and then as we got just a bit farther North, they would be in our favor.

As I have said in previous posts, we are still learning tides. They just don't have them in Colorado. The odd thing is that as we went out Graham Reach toward Butedale Passage, we were being pushed by a flood tide heading North on Graham with it about to change to an ebb tide just as we reached Butedale. Well, the ebb tide reverses at Butedale and on to Fraser Reach at the North end of Butedale. So instead of ebb tide coming up against us when it changed, it ended up going with us help us make a bit more speed. Now how a tide can go one way during a flood and then shortly after that reversing it course and go the opposite way is beyond me but that is exactly what it did. We were still going into a good 15-20 knot(straight at us of course)wind but the current was helping us. We could make 5.5 to 6.5 knots.

On we pressed. As we reached the midway of Fraser Reach, around the corner ahead of us came the British Columbia Ferry Northland Explorer out from McKay Reach and about to head down our reach. We listened to them check in with the BC traffic control on channel 11. We keep two radios in the cockpit. One tuned to 11 for ship traffic and one on 16 for communications with other boats. I could set it to scan between the two but I've found it drains the batteries faster than running two radios. We keep one of one side of the cockpit and one on the other so we know what and who is transmitting when someone talks. Traffic control told them to watch out for a Northward bound sailboat heading up Fraser Reach. Hey---that's us!! Now how they knew we were a sailboat other than the fact we were only doing 5+ knots I don't know. Power boats tend to do a lot faster than that as they pass us by. The ferry stayed on his side of the channel and we stayed on ours. No problems other than a bit of wake shortly after he passed us. He sure was a big ferry.

Once we reached the end of Fraser Reach, we hit the junction of McKay Reach and Ursula Channel. We headed North into Ursula and made for Bishop Bay about 8 miles North. As always, the winds still came ripping at us at 15+ knots. We were lucky to make 5.5 knots the rest of the way. Bishop Bay was in reach.

We pulled in a bit after 1500 and headed into the bay. It's a good 3 miles to where we planned on anchoring. Bishop Bay has a hot spring and is one of the most popular places to stop along this route. They have even put in a dock for boat but most will anchor out. We figured there would be lots of boats as we rounded the point. NOPE!! We were the only boat!! We would have the place to ourselves. There had been no boats following us up the channel so we would be set. Al lwe had to do was pull up to the dock. Once, twice, three times we tried. I could get the bow in but then the wind would shift and blow the stern off the dock. Over and over. It was getting a bit frustrating but we kept at it. As we made our fourth shot, we see another boat rounding the point. So much for having the place to ourselves. This time we made it and got all secured. We were into Bishop Bay( 53 28.228N 128 50.196 W).

The next to come in had just as much a problem getting onto the dock. He came in on the opposite side and almost ran straight into the dock. We grabbed his bow and pulled him along side the dock. He jumped off and finally got dock lines and found some fenders and got himself all secured. Why he didn't have them ready when he got to the dock, it don't understand. His wife just sat below never coming up on deck to help. They told us one of their friends was coming and would be in shortly. We offered to have them raft up to us(tie another boat to our outside side). They said they thought they had enough room on their side of the dock.

We let them use the hot springs before us so we finally got up to them shortly after 1700. Tracy first. She loved it. It was just the right temperature. There is an outside bath area to wahing before your get into the main hot spring tank. A few years ago, a group of teenagers came in and built different tubs for the springs. A "bath" area. An outside hot spring tub area and another that is inside a nice building. There are causeways connecting the dock from the springs so it's really great. No having to go through mud to get to them. I went last and as I finished, I saw or "buddy boat" Sonnish Na Mara start to pull up to our boat to raft with us. They had planned on stopping at Swanson Bay but found that they could not get their anchor to set after several tries. So rather than staying, they decided to head for Bishop like us. They were here by 1800 hours and all rafted up.

It was great to see them again and swap stories of the trip as they were just a few hours behind us. They had face less winds and better currents so they made better time. Their boat is also a bit smaller and lighter which I'm sure also helped them make good time. We sat outside and chatted for a while and then they took off for the springs and their turn. Two more boats came in over the rest of the afternoon so we ended up with 6 for the night. Four on the docks and two anchored out.

We had traveled 55.2 miles and felt like spending an extra day here since we had pushed so hard to get here. So here we are for a second day. A few more chores to do and more time in the tubs. We're living the dream. Life is good.