Henry Bay

I continued going South today and saw 5 different groups of humpback whales while underway in the Strait of Georgia, but didn’t manage to get many nice pictures. Tonight I am staying in Henry Bay off Denman Island. There is some smoke from the many forest fires obscuring the sun, but it is still quite hot and I went for a long swim. The smoke is forecast to be blown back East again tomorrow.

Our friends from Blue Yonder are here as well and we plan to have dinner together.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=49.599635&lon=-124.836558

Only worthwhile picture from seeing quite a large number of whales

Waiatt Bay and Open Bay

I spent three days in Waiatt Bay, removed from all but the occasional Iridium signal. I hiked up to Newton Lake one morning (early), swam there and the other days kayaked around Waiatt and the Octopus Islands. I swam around the boat every day because the weather was very hot. Afternoons were lazy seeking shade in 30 plus degrees. Reminded me of the summers in the Med..

Waiatt Bay: http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=50.265095&lon=-125.249660
Open Bay: http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=50.136885&lon=-125.213057

Anchored close to afternoon shade in Waiatt Bay

Up the hill at Newton Lake for a morning swim

Open Bay on Quadra Island

Back in Prideaux

I came back into Prideaux Haven today, which is very busy with over 50 boats in the main basin. Friends from Fan Tan helped me with the shore line and invited me to their boat for a cup of coffee. Great welcome! The afternoon I went kayaking around the harbour and swam around the boat. The weather continues to be hot and sunny.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=50.141387&lon=-124.690530

My view from the foredeck

Refuge and Squirrel Cove

We pulled into Refuge Cove this morning to do some shopping, get rid of garbage from the last four weeks (Dave runs a barge from there, charges a fee but very welcome service!), and to do some internet stuff. Sheila flew back to Vancouver in the afternoon and I went to Squirrel Cove to do some boat work for the next few days.

Prideaux Haven

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Laughing Oyster last night and today came into Prideaux Haven. This is a very pretty bay, but also quite popular. There are close to 50 boats anchored in the various places, only one boat with people we had met before (in Juneau). Great day for taking the kayak and paddle board around the neighbourhood.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=50.140313&lon=-124.687130

Grace Harbour

Yesterday we came into Grace Harbour and took a short walk to a nice little lake (picture). Today we moved on to Okeover Inlet as we have a dinner reservation at the Laughing Oyster Restaurant. The weather continues to be mostly sunny and nice and warm.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=50.051572&lon=-124.742092

Squirrel Cove, Desolation Sound

We went further South and are in Squirrel Cove for the night. Beautiful sunshine, air temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius, water 23, great!

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=50.142280&lon=-124.921190

Dent Island

We made it to Blind Channel yesterday and enjoyed a nice afternoon and good dinner there. Today was a shorter trip, to Dent Island Lodge. We took a walk in the woods, enjoyed the hot tub with a view over a small inlet and very much look forward to dinner tonight, their kitchen has an excellent reputation.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=50.407297&lon=-125.183750

Farewell Harbour

We spent the night in Farewell Harbour, and said goodbye to our friends on Blue Yonder after a wonderful birthday celebration yesterday evening. Today we are heading south for sunshine and warmer weather.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=50.601778&lon=-126.672683

Village Island and Potts Lagoon

Today we stopped at Village Island to visit the abandoned village Mimkwamlis of the Mamalilaculla First Nation. We phoned for permission first and deposited the required fee in a drop box. The village is set on a very beautiful location, but only fallen buildings and a few posts of the Bighouse remain (Sheila is standing in the entry to the Bighouse in the picture).

We then went on to anchor in Potts Lagoon, a well protected but for us busy bay with 4 boats here today.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=50.559095&lon=-126.450078