Author: wall2wallblue

We were up fairly early this morning, hoping to make Ocean Falls before the wind comes up.  The current was running against us, so it took us a couple of hours to make 14 miles.   There was plenty of room at the dock when we arrived, but within a couple of hours the dock was full of boats.

Al put the crab trap out, while I checked out the WiFi connection.  Unfortunately the WiFi was as slow as last year.

 

It’s raining again this morning when we pull the anchor, headed for Forit Bay in Gunboat Passage.  The wind is light, and we’ve only got 10 miles to go, so it’s no big deal.  Were actually enjoying the cooler weather.

The weather is still too nasty for me to go paddling.  Late in the afternoon, however, the wind finally died down to about 10 knots and we were able to pick up our prawn trap.  There were 93 shrimp and 3 prawns, not great, but enough for a couple of meals.

July 15, 2017, Saturday — Codville Lagoon —

A rainstorm came in last night with gale force winds.  This morning the wind let up long enough for Al to check our prawn and crab traps.  There were only 38 prawns and zero crabs.  But, 38 prawns is enough for a meal, so it wasn’t a total loss.  And, Al got a good workout.

This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we decided to cruise on up to Codville Lagoon, hoping to get some prawns.  It’s only 8 miles to Codville, so within an hour we were putting our anchor down at the south end of the outer bay.  We had the anchorage all to ourselves, which was lovely.

Al got busy and put out the prawn and crab traps, while I went for a paddle.  I paddled for a couple of hours, until the rain became too much for me.  The only photo op was these Sandhill Cranes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was on the water early this morning, headed for the northern entrance to the bay when I spotted this Kingfisher.

 

 

A pair of Murrelets suddenly popped up in front me.  I think they were as surprised as I was.   After paddling all over the bay in pursuit, I was eventually able to get this one shot of them.

The wind was still calm, so I headed outside the entrance and followed the shoreline, checking out the rocks for any interesting sea creatures exposed by the low tide.

An unusual color caught my eye and I went to investigate.  At first I thought it must be a colorful piece of rope  washed up on the rocks.  But, when I zoomed in on it with my camera, I discovered it wasn’t rope, it was sea anemones (anthopleura xanthogrammica).  I’d never seen this sea anemone before.  It was the most beautiful shade of green, like jade.

 

I also spotted this interesting critter, about the size of a very small abalone.  I haven’t been able to identify it yet, but it looked like a delicious piece of Sees dark chocolate caramel.

Once inside the bay again, I spotted Harlequin Ducks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Al was probably wondering what happened to me, so I started paddling for the boat.  But then I spotted this Kingfisher just begging to have his picture taken.

 

 

 

 

 

The weather was looking good for traveling, so right after breakfast we headed for Kisameet Bay, just about 16 miles north of Kwakume, up Fisher Channel.  There was one boat in the anchorage when we arrived, but we were able to get our favorite spot tucked in behind one of the islets.

 

We hadn’t been anchored very long when I spotted a Merganser, the first one of the year.  Unfortunately, by the time I got my camera out, he was taking off.

 

 

 

I got suited up, launched my kayak and headed for the creek. My first subject was a Kingfisher perched on the branch of a tree near the mouth of the creek. 

               

Then, I paddled south along the shoreline, looking for starfish and whatever else I could find exposed by the low tide.  The early morning light was magical, transforming ordinary seaweed into exotic flowers.

The mussels growing in bunches along the limbs of fallen trees looked like grapes ready for picking.  We would be feasting on mussels linguini tonight if we didn’t mind risking paralytic shellfish poisoning.  Oh, well.

 

We’re finally in an area with purple sea stars.

There are so many beautiful clam beds here in Kisameet.  But, like the mussels, paralytic shellfish poisoning makes them a risky meal.

The wind started picking up, and it looked like serious rain was on the way, so I decided I’d better head back to the boat.  Luckily, the wind would be behind me.  When I got within sight of the boat, I spotted a little exposed rock covered with little birds. I was only able to get a shot of this oyster catcher and a pair of Goldeneyes.  The wind made it difficult to get into position to shoot, and then stay there long enough to get the shot.  I had a feeling the birds were finding me very entertaining.

 

 

 

 

Another beautiful day in paradise.  I was up early, hoping to get some flat seas for paddling, and was rewarded with beautiful paddling conditions.  So, I headed back to the entrance. 

Just inside the entrance, I came upon a Blue Heron intently fishing for breakfast.

 

 

 

Then, I decided to check out the rocky point where I’d seen the Harlequins yesterday.  I was in luck.  They were back.

 

 

 

 

When I spotted a tug coming up the sound, pushing a good sized wake, I thought I probably should head back inside.  I didn’t want to wind up smashed against the rocky shore. 

But, as I was taking one last shot of the Harlequins,  a huge white mass appeared in my lens, just above the Harlequins.  “What the…..”  I immediately tucked my camera inside my jacket, turned around, and started paddling for the entrance for all I was worth, all the while waiting to be bashed up onto the shore.  Once inside, I turned around to take a look and saw what the “huge white mass” was.  It was the white superstructure of a huge barge tug was towing.   Because I was zooming way in to get a shot of the Harlequins, the barge which appeared behind them in my lens, looked way closer than it actually was.  You had to be there.

 

On the way back to the boat I spotted a small bird busily hopping from one seaweed covered rock to another, looking for goodies.   When I zoomed in on it I discovered it was a very colorful Robin Redbreast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have another good traveling day.  I could get used to this.  And, we only have 6.5 miles to go to Kwakume Inlet.  In less than an hour, we’re anchored in our usual spot just south of the little islet at the North end of the inlet.  A sailboat is anchored on the other side of the islet, hidden from our view.  Very nice.

We’ve arrived early enough that I’m able to get a paddle in before dinner.  I headed for the lagoon at the South end of the inlet.  Unfortunately, it’s low tide, and because it’s a spring tide, there isn’t enough water for me to get into the lagoon.  So, I headed for the entrance to the inlet, hoping to find some interesting birds.

I spotted this huge log just inside the entrance. 

 

It was such a beautiful calm day that I decided to venture outside into Fitz Hugh Sound in search of photo ops.

 

 

 

I didn’t have to paddle very long before I spotted these Harlequin Ducks resting on the rocky shore. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’d just got back to the boat, and was down below changing out of my kayaking gear, when I heard Al shout, “We’ve got company.” 

 

 

It was Bernadette and Larry, off the sailboat, Airloom.  We’d met Bernadette and Larry a couple of years ago in Kisameet.  They were the sailboat anchored behind the little islet.  We hadn’t recognized their boat.  What a nice surprise.  Bernadette and Larry had been out fishing and brought us a nice little cod fish.  They were on their way south to meet up with their son in Rivers Inlet. 

 

 

It had been a busy day.  So, after a delicious dinner of fresh cod, we sipped a glass of wine and enjoyed a spectacular sunset.

 

 

 

 

 

We were up at 0415 hrs this morning checking the weather and lighthouse report for Egg Island.  Everything sounded excellent.  By 0500 hrs we were underway.  If our luck holds, we’ll be rounding the dreaded Cape Caution today.

The seas were smooth as glass, and we could see for miles

 

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We got passed Slingsby Channel without even a ripple.  I think Al was actually a little disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to try out his new strategy for getting across Smith Inlet when the seas are nasty.  He’d been planning strategy all winter on a way to take the pain out of rounding Cape Caution, and had come up with a plan to go up Smith Sound after rounding Cape Caution just far enough to lose the rough seas, and then cross over to Millbrook Cove, where we’d anchor for the night.  Oh, well, there’s always next year.  I wasn’t a bit disappointed as we cruised straight across Smith Sound, which was like a lake, and Rivers Inlet, which was just as calm, headed for Fury Cove on Penrose Island.

By 1030 hrs, we were entering Fury Cove.  There were boats anchored everywhere.  I’ve never seen it so full.  We took one look and headed  back out, on our way to Green Island Anchorage in Fish Egg Inlet, just about 12 miles farther north. 

I spotted the lighthouse at Addenbroke just about the time Al yelled “Whale ahead!”

 

 

I grabbed my camera and hurried out to try to get a shot.  I spotted humpbacks close to shore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hadn’t been to Green Island Anchorage in quite a few years, and had forgotten how pretty it is.  And, what made it really nice was that there weren’t any boats in the anchorage.  We anchored near a little islet which is covered with blackberry bushes.  They are so perfectly rounded, that they look like a gardener must be tending them.

 

 

It was early enough that I was able to get a paddle in before dinner.  I looked at the chart and discovered a creek not too far away.  I decided that would be my destination.  The current and a light breeze would be going with me, so the paddling was easy.  I spotted a couple of Red Throated Loons and set out after them.  They paddled just beyond shooting range for about 2 hours.  Finally, just before we reached the creek, I was able to get into a position where I wouldn’t be shooting into the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I suddenly noticed that the wind was coming up.  I was going to have to paddle against the wind and the tide all the way back to the boat.   It was a real workout.   I got there just in time for one of Al’s delicious spaghetti dinners.