9/1-4
Hi All,
Yea….2 rapids down with 5 more to go. We left Forward Harbor at 10:30am trying to time the Whirlpool Rapids in Wellborne Channel and the Greene Point Rapids in Chancellor Channel as well as arrive at Blind Channel marina at slack….well, no can do. We had about 17nm to go to Blind Channel. (BTW, Forward Harbor was nice….a good overnight stop. Lots of evidence of logging, a few local cabins but no critters) We have 3 tide tables, Nobeltec, Ports and Passes and Total Tides…..of course, all 3 were off by as much as an hour. Why do we care you ask….well, these rapids can have severe whirlpools, boiling water and overfalls that can turn Mystic 90* if we are not careful. Plus we have Spring tides now so some of these rapids are running up to 6-8 kts….whoa!!
We timed Whirlpool to be early….and it was…maybe 2-4kts foul current….our speed got as low as 4.4kts….but, we made it through and headed for Greene Point Rapids….12 miles away….along the way we saw another Black bear in Wellborne Channel….nice….and then had to pass a 2 tug log boom just before the Greene Point Rapids….well, if the tugs can do these rapids, so can we:))) We did time Greene Point about right….about a 0.5kt favorable current….yea!!! Then John-boy got to try and dock in swirlies as Blind Channel is right after the Rapids and can have a 1-3kt back eddy. The nice dock lady thought the current was moving north to south so I planned accordingly only to find it going the opposite….1st try we got way off so backed out and tried again….2nd time made the double wide slip and attempted to move to the port side tie with the thrusters and found we moved over to the starboard side…wow….the dock lady said not too worry, happens all the time….so
glad there was not a boat next to us at the time:))))
We really liked Blind Channel marina and restaurant….first up was a blind wine tasting….3 whites, 3 reds….wines from Australia, New Zealand, California, British Columbia and France….ok, we are in. The test was to pick which varietal….yikes…we both scored right 4 out of 6….the winner got 5 right, but he said he just guessed:)))) Not too bad, but for John-boy….who only drinks reds….I got all 3 whites right and only 1 red right…really, go figure…ok, I’ll just have to keep practicing:))))
Dinner was excellent, the restaurant was renovated a few years back and is full of various art and has great views of the marina and channel. Kathy had the schnitzel….just as good as we had in 2006….and John-boy had the ribeye with blackberry sauce….outstanding. We also had an LFNG bottle of red wine….Laughing Stock Winery in Okanagan BC….excellent as well and quite a story. These guys were stockbrokers who founded the winery and were told they would be “The laughing stock….”…..they recently sold for mega bucks…who’s laughing now:))) Blind Channel has a rich history and we were able to meet the current sons, grandparents and kids….a very delightful time!!
https://www.laughingstock.ca
https://www.blindchannel.com/
Sept 2: We are on our way to Dent Lodge but need to time both the Greene Point Rapids again as well as a ferocious rapid at Dent….again hard to do at the same run so we decided to overnight in Shoal Bay….7nm away….yep, strenuous passages:)))
https://trailertrawlerlife.com/shoal-bay/#.XW1lnihKiUk
Shoal Bay was outstanding….what a great view of Phillips Inlet with Mt.Gardner and Mt Pratt …each ~6k’ high and part of the Coastal Mountains. Two other sailboats came in right behind us and tied up along side us at the Government dock….Dragon Fly and Azulita. Mark, the Shoal Bay Pub owner and wharfinger, opened the small outdoor pub and we all sat outside looking at the gorgeous view drinking cold beer for several hours….a very relaxing Labor Day!!!
Sept 3: Up early and out by 7am to time the Dent Rapids and Devils Hole right before the Dent Lodge…..another big run of 9nm!!! We timed it perfectly at the end of the flood tide but still found many whirlpools…whoa….but Mystic did just fine and we tied up to the docks at Dent Lodge by 8:30am. Wow, Dent Lodge is lovely….still owned by the Nordstroms and the Lodge underwent a complete renovation 2 years ago. What a luxurious place….we checked in, had coffee and pastries in the new lodge, spoke to several very friendly staff, did some internet (not fast but doable), made some Bloody Mary’s and in the hot tub for a good long soak next to the rapids in Canoe Pass between Dent Island and the mainland….LIG!:)))
https://www.dentisland.com/
A good video of Devils Hole in the Dent Rapids….it was pretty calm when we went through: https://vimeo.com/269243659
Dinner was excellent….wow, 2 great dinners in the same week….Blind Channel and Dent, but the edge goes to the Dent chef…yea, must be getting close to civilization:)))) Kathy had the beef tenderloin and I had a crab and prawn hotpot over a saffron risotto….ODG….both dishes just melted in your mouth:)))) We included a bottle of Cab from the “the Edge” winery in Alexander Valley CA….yummers as well!!!
The Plan: We will leave Dent on 9/4 and head to the Octopus Islands, through 2 more rapids….fun!! We will most likely spend 2 nights, then head through Surge rapids to Rebecca Spit for 2 nights. Then onto Campbell River for a few nights to reprovision and do some cleaning!! After that it will be heading to Princess Louisa and then Sidney to pick up Les and Rose for a few days!!
Critter Stats:
Dungeness Crab: 91 total; still not crabbing:(((
Prawns: 156: 96 Spotted, 14 Coon Stripe;
Whales: 234 total; 205 Humpbacks; 11 Orcas; 18 Minke:
Salmon: 14: 3 King, 11 Cohos:
Halibut: 1; 48-lbs off Lowe Inlet entrance
Bears: 93 total: 74 Browns, 19 Black; 1 Black bear in Wellborne Channel
Wolves: 10; About an hour viewing a large male in Pruth Bay, north cove; then 3 more wolves the next day….wow!!!
Otters: 982
Sand Hill Cranes: 4
Mountain Goats: 42
Dall’s Sheep: 3
Moose: 3
Alaskan Husky sled dogs: 60
Stellar Sea Lions: 900
Hope all is well,
John
Mystic Moon
GO MYSTIC GO!!
Position: 50 15’54.95 N, 125 14’55.38 W
Course: Stopped.
Position: 19-09-04 17:32:09 -0700
http://maps.google.com/maps?&ll=50.26526,-125.2487&q=50.26526,-125.2487&z=16
—
