Photo: A raft of sea otters at the entrance to Nichols Bay.

Islands protect the entrance to this long narrow bay, giving several options for anchoring. We first anchored in a small cove between two islands about half-way into the bay. It was the sort of anchorage boaters use in places such as Desolation Sound: tight and protected. But I’ve become so used to the big coves in Alaska that the little cove seemed almost too confining.

A narrow little passage led between two islands. I pumped up my kayak and paddled through it, skirting past some rocks and skimming along the shore, then paddling around one of the islands. But when I got back to Osprey, Steve announced we had to leave. We were anchored over a rock and the tide was dropping fast. The rock wasn’t on the chart which showed only one sounding, 3 fathoms, for the little cove. I quickly hauled my kayak on deck and we motored around to a larger anchorage in a bight around the corner. It was a relief to be able to see a greater distance but I was glad I got the chance to paddle around the island.

We shared the anchorage with three salmon trollers that night.

Nichols Bay turned out to not only be a good place to wait for a morning crossing of Dixon Entrance but also a good place to wile away a few hours on a summer afternoon.