We have made out way to the Indian Village of Lax Kw' Alaams, just within the Canadian Border. It is a gorgeous sunny afternoon and we are the only pleasure craft docked at the public float. Lots, and lots and lots of stern pickers. The folks are very friendly and helpful, just not a lot to take in around this community. The streets are all paved with sidewalks and gutters, plenty of stray dogs and every young woman we saw was pushing a baby carriage.

Back to the time machine. You see I have to use my data set-up for the sat phone to upload these posts and sometimes I get too cheap and too lazy to write a post as frequently as I would like to. So we go back in time, and catch up. After the Naughty Doggie evening in Yes Bay we set our course for Rudyerd Bay, and specifically "The Punchbowl" considered by the cruising guides to be the "quintessential" Misty Fjord experience. The picture in the previous post is a view of the steep, sheer granite and basalt walls that enclose the fjord. There was a wonderful beach and camping area, and off to the left was a well maintained Forest Service Trail that indicated it would take you to the Lake that fills the waterfalls from above. Okey Dokey. Off we go, up, up, up, it gets narrower and narrower, and steeper and steeper. Pretty soon it is basically an endurance test for rock climbers. After about a half hour and probably a thousand feet, Rob called it. I wanted to see the view and make the summit, but I also know my strengths and weaknesses. Getting back down this sheer face was going to be pretty tough, and it was, but I didn't hurt myself. For those who know me, this is a major accomplishment. I went paddling later in the afternoon and encountered two paddlers coming into the bay; they are kayak forest service employees who are assigned to kayak around the various islands and answer tourist questions. No kidding. And the cruise ships stop and take them on so they can give interpretive talks to the tourists onboard. And then it really started raining, so our plans for a beach fire were drowned out and we spent a quiet evening catching up on the fourth season of Weeds.

The next day we rose and worked our way down Behm Canal to Foggy Bay. On the way we encountered some of the spank coming off of Dixon entrance. Green water over the bow and all. But it was all on the nose, so the motion wasn't too uncomfortable. We tucked into Foggy, following a charted course carefully plotted around rocks and shoals. We dropped our hook and were soon joined by three other larger boats, including Teal, a refurbished 1930's era trawler about 65 feet that we had encountered in Juneau during our stay there. That seems like months ago. Maybe because it was.

Today we rose early and followed the others out and have made our way here to Port Simpson, aka Lax Kw' Alaams. The crossing was as smooth as a baby's behind, with the sun shining bright. Tomorrow, Prince Rupert.

Did I mention the frustrating hour I spent on the phone with AT&T. I wanted to switch my air-card to ATT while in Canada and had even had a new sim card shipped to Zac's house in Pburg. I needed to activate the card and then sign up for "Canadian roaming". Guess what? I have to FAX a PHOTOCOPY of my passport and a recent utility bill to ATT before they will consent to charge me $109.99 a month for roaming. And I only have ten days to do it, or I will have to wait 90 days to apply again. And we wonder why the American economy is in the state it's in. I forgot to pack the Fax.