July 1, 2017, Saturday — Wahkana Bay to Waddington Bay, Bonwick Island —

The wind blew itself out during the night, leaving beautiful flat calm waters this morning.  I spotted a bird way off in the distance and decided to take a look through the binoculars to see what it was.  The binoculars weren’t powerful enough to figure out what it was, so I zoomed it in with my camera to 200X and discovered it was a Red Throated Loon. 

 

 

 

Kwatsi Bay, just across Tribune Channel, was to be our destination when we pulled the anchor this morning.  But when we saw how many boats were in Kwatsi, we decided to keep on going to  Waddigton Bay on Bonwick Island.

We used to spend a lot of time cruising in this area years ago, so it was interesting to see what changes had transpired during the last twenty-some-odd years. 

We couldn’t believe the building that has gone on at Echo Bay on Gilford Island, since Pierre and Tove Landry bought the place.  They’ve done an amazing job of revitalizing the place.  The marina was full of boats.  Apparently, you have to make reservations well in advance in order to get a slip….not our kind of place, but good to know that there is a lodge, grocery store, liquor store, fuel, floatplane services, post office, WiFi, cellphone service, laundromat, and restaurant,  should we need any of that.  And, every Saturday they have a pig roast!  Al was not impressed.

 

 

 

 

There seemed to be people and boats moving everywhere.  I spotted some kayakers hauling out on the beach at the head of the bay.

 

 

 

This was way too much civilization for us, so we continued on to Waddington Bay.  We were hoping to have the anchorage to ourselves, but no such luck.  There were three boats anchored in Waddington.

As soon as we got anchored, I went for a paddle around the little islands and islets that dot this area.  With my poor sense of direction, it’s amazing I didn’t get lost. 

There were lots of summer wildflowers, but not much else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the very head of the bay is a large midden, indicating that this anchorage was a favorite anchorage for the First Nations people who lived here many moons ago.   

 

 

Finally, I spotted this lone Marbled Murrelet.

 

 

 

I had just read about a local naturalist who gives tours in the Echo Bay area, collecting native edible plants and then making a delicious meal from them.  This seaweed looked like it might be tasty.