We chose an excellent day of single-digit wind for our motoring. A sunny day for traveling the Straits of Juan de Fuca, we forecasted an ebb tide of 2 knots against us until 2pm. Then the incoming tide boosted our travel by 2 knots. Finally the wind picked up to 16 knots from behind us, allowing us to use our genoa in addition to our motoring and the incoming tide: 10+ knots speed over the ground. We pulled in to Griffin Bay by 10pm. And then in the morning, we were able to check into US Customs. This finished our circumnavigation around Vancouver Island for 2024!

Our son-in-law Steve flew from Seattle to Tofino, and taxied to Ucluelet, to be on board 'Julia Max' for a few days. The penultimate reason for his visit was going salmon fishing!! We enjoyed his company, his help in crabbing, and his anticipation towards charter fishing in the Broken Group Provincial Park a few miles away. We left the harbor at 2pm and fished until 7:30pm with calm winds and sunny skies. Our fishing guide, Tyler, successfully plied the familiar waters, and we came away with 4 Coho, 1 Ling Cod, and one King Salmon. All-in-all, we came away with a great time and wonderful memories.

Lucky Creek deserves to be enjoyed within one hour before or after high tide. A motorized dinghy ride up the creek one half-mile, is sufficient depth for a safe ride if the driver pays attention, and stays on the outside bends of the creek. There were many sections that were only 3 feet deep. The goal is a series of waterfalls that cause you to stop, tie-up, and climb up some difficult fourth class rock. On this sunny day we certainly enjoyed our outing.

We are spending our third night in Effingham Bay in the Broken Group near Ucluelet. We chose an anchorage where we continued to have wind for running our wind generator. With the wind and sun (for our solar panels), we continue to keep our batteries charging. Sue has been in her kayak each day. We launched our dinghy, and went fishing near the kelp today, and caught two fish. We will use fish heads for crab pot bait. Maybe there is a crab or two in our future? We sanded half of our cap rail around the boat perimeter, as well as one of our hand rails, and our starboard rub rail. Then we applied a coat of Captain's varnish which turned out stunning! The reason we have stayed here three days was in part for 2-bar cell coverage!! Who would have guessed!

After gunkholing in anchorages such as Bottle Neck Cove and Bucchante Bay, watching an adult black bear eat 'grass salad after salad', and seeking out new sightings of wild flowers to identify, we weighed anchor this morning and headed for Tofino, one of the two main towns on the Vancouver Island West Coast. We were fortunate to find space at the Tofino Resort & Marina, home to a featured restaurant, and laundry services that we always seem to need. We walked to the Co-Op Grocery Store and replenished our supply of fruits and vegetables, dairy, and fill-ins to our food pantry.

Leaving Friendly Cove, we headed for Hot Springs Cove for a dip. After heavy seas and moderate winds, we sailed for the last five miles. The walk to the Hot Springs is 1-1/4 miles on a new boardwalk through old growth forest. We had the Springs to ourselves and our friend Janet Williams for a relaxing half hour. As we were stepping out of Hot Springs (50 degrees Centigrade), the tidal waters started coming in from the ocean. We were out in the nick of time!