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North to Alaska – Day 9 Sunday

26 Monday May 2025

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May 25, 2025 Khutze Inlet to Klewnuggit Inlet/East Inlet

We left Khutze Inlet at 6:30 this morning. Along the way we checked out the waterfall at Butedale.

It was so chilly and rainy we finally turned the heater on for the first time on this trip. Mostly to keep the windshield from foggy up. But… no heat! Lucky for us we eventually got it to work or more like it got itself up and working. Yea!

Later in the day an alarm sounded on our boat that said the starboard engine was overheated. We poked along on our port engine to our next anchorage. Chris learned that the engine had run out of coolant – even though it was full a couple of days ago when he checked it. One of our cruising buddies had coolant so we’re back in business. We’ll look for a mechanic in Prince Rupert tomorrow to find out what happened to all that coolant.

We’re now tucked in to the end of East Inlet off of Klewnuggit Inlet. Very peaceful and perfectly silent…except for the pitter patter rain drops.

North to Alaska – Day 8. Saturday

25 Sunday May 2025

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May 24, 2025 Shearwater to Khutze Inlet

Left Shearwater at 6am for a long 69 nautical mile trek. Very rainy and chilly and no wind! I call these “knitable seas”. Great for just knitting to my hearts content. (I wanted to include the videos of us groovin’ on Red Hot Chili Peppers tunes but I don’t know how to include a video.)

In order to minimize our time exposed to the great Pacific Ocean we took a fun route through some narrow, rocky channels like this one.

This was our view most of the day.

We saw lots of waterfalls along the way. Here is the best one today. If you look closely you can see the waterfalls streaming down the granite cliff.

We are now quite settled in Khutze Inlet and enjoying our second dinner aboard ship – one of Chris’ famous concoctions. Yummy!

North to Alaska – Day 7 Friday

24 Saturday May 2025

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May 23,2026. Pruth Bay to Shearwater

Got underway at 7:30 sharp this morning. All three of us.

Here’s a sweet spot we stopped to fish.

Had a lovely cruise to Shearwater Marina, just across from Bella Bella. Light rain and light wind.

Just as we got to the Marina the wind and rain let loose. Incredible gusts.

Got gas and settled in to our dock space. I did laundry and showered while Chris charted out the course for tomorrow to Khutze Inlet. We’ll be spending the next three nights at anchor as we continue north.

Dinner at the restaurant here at the marina with the gang.

North to Alaska – Day 5 Wednesday May 21, 2025

22 Thursday May 2025

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May 21, 2025 Blind Channel to Port McNeil

We left Blind Channel Marina at 6am

and motored across the channel (a mile) so Chris could “wet a line”. Still hoping to catch the big one. By 6:30 we were motoring North toward our next destination, Port McNeil. At 9:15 we passed the early buddy boats and at 10ish Chris had found another spot to give fishing go again. No luck there either.

Here are a few sights along the way, very calm seas and a pleasant boating day.

Snowy mountains just behind the clouds.

This is what the shoreline looked like most of today. Pretty interesting.

On our way to Port McNeil Chris and I stopped at Cormorant Island/Alert Bay to visit Linda, a quilting friend of mine who lives here.

In addition to this visit, Chris and I walked to the U’mista Cultural Center.

This was an amazing and fascinating place. I highly recommend it if you’re ever in the area. Here’s an except from a brochure.

U’mista Cultural Centre is one of the longest-operating and most successful First Nations cultural facilities in BC, founded in 1980 as a ground breaking project to house potlatch artifacts which had been seized by government during an earlier period of cultural repression. The return of the potlatch artifacts not only provided U’mista’s name (‘the return of something important’), and sparked a general trend toward repatriation of First Nations and cultural artifacts, it caused the creation of a physical facility and human resources infrastructure which have been successfully operated for over two decades.U’mista now operates a modern museum and cultural education facility in Alert Bay.

North to Alaska – Day 3 May 19,2025

21 Wednesday May 2025

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Comax to Campbell River

Got underway at 9 am. The wind had been howling all day yesterday and last night. It finally died down early this morning. But by 9:00 it was starting to pick up again.

For the first two days of this trip we had some pretty choppy seas but today made those days look like nothing. For most of the way today the wind was blowing hard out of the south. The waves were four feet plus, pretty steep and tall across “the bar”. Once we headed North we were able to surf the waves which was also nerve wracking – I mean fun (for Chris). Thus, not many pictures today.

We got to Campbell River at 11:30 am and docked at Discovery Harbor Marina. The best thing about this delightful marina was the FREE 10 minute showers. Other marinas we’ve been to charge one loonie for 2 1/2 minutes.

By 2:30 pm the rest of the gang had arrived and were ready to hike. Today’s trek took us to the Museum at Campbell River, about 3 miles away. A very interesting display of the history of the local area and the First Nation Tribes.

Across the road from the museum was this Torii Gate. It was a gift from Campbell River’s Sister City in Hokkaido Japan.

Not a lot to report today. Good dinner at Nhau, a Vietnamese restaurant nearby.

North to Alaska – Day 2

19 Monday May 2025

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May 18, 2025 Nanaimo to Comox

This morning we left the dock by 8 am and motored 53 nautical miles to Comox. We’ve been traveling up the east coast of Vancouver Island. Having only spent time on the southern tip of Vancouver Island it continues to amaze me how different the island is up here. Just check out these mountains.

We were all settled in at the dock in the Comox Valley Harbour Authority – Fisherman’s Wharf Marina by noon. There’s a wonderful park right here by the marina.

We spent the afternoon walking around the town which was two blocks away. Then met up with the gang and all walked to the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park.

This is a nine-acre waterfront property overlooking the Comox Harbour in the heart of Comox, British Columbia and was once the home of logging industrialist Robert Filberg and his wife, Florence. As Mr. Filberg made his fortune in the logging industry, it was natural for wood to be an essential feature in his home.

Constructed in the early 1930s, the Filberg Lodge is a 4,000 square foot Arts and Crafts style residence that features steep gables, leaded glass windows and hand-hewn cedar shakes covering the exterior walls and roof. Inside, extensive use of local wood and stone by master craftsmen and antique finishing create an air of rustic elegance.

In 1979, the lodge and surrounding acreage were designated a municipal heritage site. The Park is owned by the Town of Comox and operated by the non-profit Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park Association since it was designated a municipal heritage site.

If you’re ever in Comox B.C. be sure to check it out.

North to Alaska – Day 1 – May 17,2025

18 Sunday May 2025

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Snug Harbor, San Juan Island, WA to Nanaimo, British Columbia

Greetings everyone. Chris and I are off on yet another great adventure. Our destination is Glacier Bay in Alaska. We’re traveling in our own little 28-foot Carolina Classic power boat. It’s name is Big Steam. As soon as we get home we’re changing the name to Altair (a navigational star).

We’re traveling with 2 other boats from San Juan Island. Chris and Alexis are on Lightwave, a very new 44 foot electric hybrid boat. Doug and Barb are on their 37 foot Nordic Tug called Island Dancer.

We left Snug Harbor at 10:06 this morning under drizzly, foggy skies.

Soon we passed by the little lighthouse on Stuart Island. Our favorite place to take friends for a picnic.

By around 11 am we started seeing a few sailboats in the distance. As we got closer we saw more and more sailboats. Hundreds of them! Turns out it was the Round Salt Spring Island race which attracts over 1,200 boats to this annual event. This race marked it’s 50th Anniversary.

At 1 pm we passed through Dodd Narrows.

Then it was on to Nanaimo, British Columbia. By 3 pm we were all settled in at the Port of Nanaimo Marina. Our little boat is tucked in between our friends boats.

A very lazy afternoon and dinner at Penny’s Palapa Mexican restaurant at the end of our dock. Here’s our whole gang.

After dinner we were invited to have Kailua infused brownies on Lightwave and to see a “slide show” of their recent trip to Egypt.

And last but not least Kitty is also cruising with us on Lightwave. This one’s for you Annabelle.

B.C. Cruising Adventure – Day 10

30 Friday Aug 2024

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Montague to Otter Bay on North Pender Island

August 27, 2024

After all that rain it was nice to wake up to another perfect cruising morning.

By 10:30 we were on our way to Otter Bay Marina on North Pender Island. This is a very nice Marina and Resort with two heated swimming pools, a cafe, showers and a small store.

Since we had nothing better to do today we decided to walk to the nearest grocery store three and a half miles away. We figured we’d take a taxi back to the marina. Here are a couple of sights along the way just to give you a flavor of the island.

Since Port Browning Marina was just another half mile down the road we decided to check it out. There’s a little resort there with camping and a pub.

As we were leaving we learned that the taxi didn’t run on Tuesdays so we started our trek back to the boat. Along the way we came upon this spectacular view.

Such a beautiful place we live in.

Just an FYI. We were able to hitchhike back and were picked up by a long time local. It’s amazing on these little islands that hitchhiking is a very common way to get around. Very friendly, laid back lifestyle.

B.C. Cruising Adventure – Day 9

30 Friday Aug 2024

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Montague on Galiano Island

August 26, 2024

Another (almost) perfect morning. Everything but the bright blue sunshiny sky.

The gray sky quickly turned into a torrential downpour and it rained all day. Rain or not we hopped in the dinghy and boated to the Marina restaurant for dinner. The only seating was outside. You should have heard how loud the rain was on the plastic corrugated roof!

Then it was a soggy dinghy ride back to the boat to dry off and get warm.

B.C. Cruising Adventure – Day 8

30 Friday Aug 2024

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August 25, 2024

Nanaimo – Montague on Galiano Island

To me this is what cruising in the Pacific Northwest is all about. Waking up to a quiet, peaceful, very still, bright sunshiny morning in a beautiful, magical cove. It’s the best way to start the day.

Not much to report today. After a lazy start it was time to turn around and start heading south.

Back through Dodds Narrow. Easy Peasy

Captain Chris again. Always on the lookout for logs floating in the water and crab pot floats.

And amazing geology.

Safe and sound at our mooring buoy at Montague Harbor Provincial Park on Galiano Island. Did a nice hike around one of the little islands nearby. And then – time to relax. A wonderful lazy day.