Photo: Steam from a fish processing plant on Prince Rupert’s waterfront.

Prince Rupert had been bustling with fishboats the day we arrived. Gillnetters were heading west through Venn Passage, trollers tied up at the docks and sieners milled around the fuel dock.

“I hope they’re gone before we have to leave,” said Steve. “We really should get fuel here. We’ve done a lot of motoring since we fueled in Craig.”

In the next morning the fishboats were gone, the docks empty. But that night as we were getting ready for bed, Steve looked out the window and said, “They’re back.”

When we woke up the next morning there was already a fishboat at the fuel dock waiting for it to open. By 8 am, when we planned to leave, we counted four boats taking fuel and another five milling around waiting their turn. We were looking at least an hour of idling time.

“Let’s just go,” said Steve. If we do any sailing at all we’ll have enough fuel to get to Klemtu. And there’s always Hartley Bay.

As we left Prince Rupert Harbour I caught a strong whiff of cooking seafood.