Vessel Name: | Schooner Windjammer |
Vessel Make/Model: | Pete Culler - Integrity Schooner |
Hailing Port: | Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia |
Crew: | Ashley & Cathie Kerr |
About: | We set off in December 2010 to continue our cruising adventures around the world after 25 years owning and operating a yacht charter company in the Whitsunday Islands - Australia |
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We are currently sitting in Bishops Bay which is about 80 miles south of the Alaskan border. The weather prediction is for 30-40 knt winds for the next couple of days so have decided to tuck up here until the front passes. There is a natural hot spring ashore so went for a nice warm bath yesterday. Weather up until now has been pretty good so can't complain. The scenery around here is just awesome. Still lots of snow on the mountains. Hoping to see some of the "spirit bears" which are cream coloured black bears, only found in this region.
Arrived in Port Harvey after a long day through Johnstone Strait. Came through Seymour Narrows, a narrow passage into the strait where currents can run up to 16knts. Came through at slack tide and rather a non event, however further up the strait through Race Passage water was really moving and swirling, whirlpools everywhere. As Jonke would say " we were caught in the grips of a fearsome current".
Spent 3 night at Campbell River doing business things and reprovisioning
Left Lund to cruise Desolation Sound. Tied up at the Vancouver yacht Club reciprocal dock and went aqshore to collect our first lot of clams. Wow! Clams galore. Brought them back to the boat and promptly had fresh Spaghetti Vongole. What a treat.
Left Princess Louisa Inlet for Lund which is the entrance to Desolation Sound.
A detour to Princess Louisa Inlet. This has to be one of the most stunning places we have visited to date. 30 miles up Jervis Inlet to the Malibu rapids which we crossed at slack tide into Pricess Louisa Inlet and to the end of the inlet where lies Chatterbox falls. Absolutely breathtaking scenery. Snow capped mountains, sheer cliifs - stunning. There were avalanches coming down the mountains as we looked ou the companionway. Collected mussels and oysters from the shore and cooked them on an open fire. Doesn't get much better than this. Saw our first black bear . Spent 2 nights here.
On our way to Princess Louisa Inlet. Ashley caught his first fish since arriving in the Northwest. A Ling Cod. Had him for dinner. Vey tasty
Arrived in Garden Bay, Pender Harbour last night. Weather is warm and clear. Fanatstic inlet with lots of meandering bays. Got up early this morning to the sound of some busy woodpeckers ashore. Heading out for a cycle to see the sights.
Overnight in Secret Cove. A local guy gave us two dozen prawns for dinner. YUM
Just arrived back from 4 days skiing up in Whistler. Had an awesome time. Stayed at "Chateau Chardonnay" compliments of a contra that Suzette did 10 years ago. Stayed with Ernie and Lori, really fun and interesting people. However body is feeling some unused muscles. It's great to be alive!!