24 Feb, Monday 1000 The wind increased and shifted overnight at our Alert Bay anchorage, making things uncomfortable and freaking Ol' Rusty a bit. This morning it was clear the SE gale had shifted to NE arctic high outflow -- which can create 50+ knot winds in the channels. Rowed the dogs into the shore, did their business and rowed back. Dorothy had fresh baked bread/toast for us and we've decided to head up to Port McNeil (2 hours) where we can get alongside a dock; deal with some maintenance issues that have revealed themselves and see what's happening with the weather and decide our strategy for staging and crossing Queen Charlotte Sound.

QCS is one of three "openings" that must be contended with in making the run up to SE Alaska. I'll discuss this a bit more, probably this evening. Now, it's time to get underway.

By the way; to the reader it may appear that this trip is arduous, not fun and that is not accurate. There are un-fun moments for sure, but this trip, like the winter run in 2011 is challenging, an adventure, done in great company and when the skies clear, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!