We traveled over 500 miles by water to reach the Hot Springs Cove located 1/2 way up the outside of Vancouver Island. This side of the island is on the Pacific Ocean and faces Japan. It is impacted by fierce storms during winter coming out of the SW. There are over one thousand documented ship wrecks that earned this area the name "Graveyard of the Pacific"
Happy to report we saw a bunch of wildlife along the way. We were acutely on the look out for whales. No Orca's were spotted but we did see one solitary Gray Whale off of Ucluelet on the outside and two huge Hump Backs off Victoria on the the return leg.
Most of the ride from Victoria both ways was in swell and bumpy but "My Orca" handled the task well. Thank God for hydraulic suspension seats!!! The boat pounded thru as we floated along in our comfortable seats. We were able to average 25 mph and burned 240 gallons of fuel in the process.
We had a great time and are already planning the next adventure.....most likely to Alaska!
It that case we'll go north along the inside of Vancouver Island and return motoring down the west coast the island which will make it a circumnavigation of Vancouver Island. Of course we'll have to explore each of the 7 inlets along the way.
It will be first for John and second for me!