Warden One

Posted under North to Alaska

The word of the day is “storm warnings” all up and down the coast. Seas to five metres and winds 50 to 55 kts. Not only is it the word of the day, but the next several days.

Taking advantage of some flat water in Chatham Sound prior to the storm, we leave Prince Rupert and make our way south. No storm ,but heavy rains. First night Klewnuggit, second night Khutze. Next day we cross Jackson Passage to Matheson Channel and down to Reid passage, still trying to keep ahead of the northwest winds and even uglier weather. Now as we have had nearly constant rains for most of the summer and this trip southward, my windshield wiper, at the helm window, decided to go on strike. This would take place as we approached the south end of Matheson, which is a rock strewn jumble of hazards, awaiting to do injury to unsuspecting boats destined for Reids passage. At about this time, my Nobletech decided to go into slow motion. As this would show my vessel position moving along where we had been, not where we were at present, it made for tight sphincters and a nervous, actually very nervous, Admiral. Employing the age old skill of dead reckoning, we made our way into Port Blackney, and threw the hook.

The following day brought some periods of lighter rain, which allowed me to take the wiper assembly from the galley window and exchange it with the totally non-working helm unit, and voila, our ability to see is restored. Add to this the fact that after re-booting the helm computer, and threatening it with a booting of a more physical nature, our Nobletech decided to give us back our navigation system. Had the spare system loaded on the laptop, and paper charts as stand-by, but is nice to have things work that are supposed to work. Bonnie looks to me in the same fashion.

On to Codville Lagoon and an extra day of just doing nothing. Not only that, but we have had the occasional glimpse of blue sky, less rain and varied winds. Things are looking up.

A better report for the Nor’wester and we make our way down Fitz Hugh Sound, to Frypan Bay, which we had to ourselves. Woke up to sunny skies and flat water in Frypan, and as our weather report was not well received in the Bay, we ventured out into open spaces with the intention of possibly taking a stab at Queen Charlotte Sound. Not to be as the dreaded swells were still coming in from the Sound, and the Admiral made the seniority decision that some time in Fury Cove, where we could watch the outer water from our anchorage, would be prudent. Good decision, as the next AM brought glass smooth water with a low westerly swell. Time to go.

A great crossing, although admiral Bonnie would have preferred no swell at all,  and we carried on down to Port McNeill. As it was late in the day, we were not able to get moorage so, once again dropped anchor in the harbour. Got good slip space the following morning allowing for a few provisions and some water. This in case we wished to shower again at some point. The need becomes apparent when Bonnie and I keep trying to “up-wind” ourselves from each other.

With tears in my eyes, we make our way over to the fuel dock and a top-up of diesel. Just about to the point where it would be cheaper to burn whiskey, but then one would run the risk of fighting with the engines for an appropriate share. I have found that if I keep the engine RPM’s under thirteen hundred, the fuel economy is not actually that bad, and gives us about 7.5 knots. It is in this proud fashion that we head towards Johnstone Strait. We are on flat water, but the forecast is for the perpetual gale warnings for the Strait. Some time it will actually happen and catch a bunch of boats unprepared for rough water.

As we neared Robson Bight we moved to the mainland side of the strait, as the Orcas like to frolic in the Bight, and scrape their bellies on the gravel beach. Because of this activity, the area has become a whale-watchers haven. Unfortunately it has also become a haven for “granolies” for as we made our way southward an inflatable boat approached us at a fairly high rate of speed. In the boat was a member of the” KGB whale saving society” who we were to find out was known as Warden One. As she approached our vessel she commenced to flap her arms in what appeared to be an attempt at becoming airborne. I quickly calculated that, given her body mass, (we ain’t talking no tiny Warden One here) her arms would need to be in the range of forty feet across, and thus assumed that she actually wanted us to stop. Now having been informed by Bonnie that I should just stay where I was, ”as I can be ignorant”, and she would handle the situation at hand. Warden One meets Admiral One.!!! Now after assuring us that she was just doing her job, we received a lecture about going too fast in a whale watching area and that we should keep our speed to 7 knots. Now this is a most discerning eye on Warden One, as when I once again brought us up to thirteen hundred RPM, we were doing 7.6 knots. However, I suspect that there may well be some tax payer funding involved here, and in order to build the bureaucracy an ever increasing quota of nasty perpetrators must be apprehended and scolded. Next year we may well have a Warden Two and Three as well. Plus I suspect that there may have been something of a personal motive involved with the protection of the whale as there was a bit of a family resemblance involved with the Orcas and Warden One. Oh well, I am certain that at the end of the day Warden One sleeps well with the thought that the world is a much better place because of her. Actually, Warden One does not realize just how close she  came to “poking the bear” during her discussion with Admiral One.

Winds are once again building as we make our way to Forward Harbour and our next anchorage.

Look after yourselves and enjoy each day.