Sum It Up Sunday
the Discovery Islands
the Inside Passage
Cortes Island at a Glance
Sunday, December 21, 2014TheCambrians
When
it comes to Cortes Island Manson Bay Gorge Harbour Carrington Bay
The first big
storm of the fall season was on its way and we wanted better protection than
Gorge Harbour offers, so we left Saturday afternoon and harbour-hopped up the
island, stopping in the often overlooked Carrington Bay for a night. The protection and holding aren’t very good, but
we like it there: It’s quiet. It’s beautiful. And there’s plenty to do, starting with
hiking along the well-maintained trails and exploring the saltwater
lagoon.
.jpg "Carrington Bay, Cortes Island")
.jpg "Carrington Bay, Cortes Island")
The weather was
forecasted to take a turn for the worse early Monday morning as a group of low
pressure systems were due to hit the area and neither David nor I were in the
mood to have our sleep disturbed, so we moved up to Von Donop Inlet – a
veritable hurricane hole – for a few days.
This wasn’t our first visit to Von Donop. We stopped in several years ago during a heat
wave and found the anchorage stifling. That,
along with warnings of aggressive wolves and a shallow entrance that required a
rising tide to get in and out, landed Von Donop in our “not worth the effort
basket”. But we were wrong. It’s a lovely, quiet spot outside the busy
summer months and an excellent anchorage to ride out bad weather . . . and get
some more hiking in.
There’s been a
definite change in the weather over the past week and we’ve gone from hot,
sunny days to cool, wet ones which helped lead to our next major decision: Instead of spending time in Desolation Sound,
we’re going to head south where it’s a bit warmer. Neither one of us is interested in hiding
from storms every few days only to bash our way down the Strait of Georgia –
something we’re famous for doing – so we’re going to go while it’s nice enough
to enjoy a few stops along the way, starting with a trip back down to Gorge
Harbour on Thursday to meet back up with our buddy-boat, Salubrious.
.jpg "Gorge Harbour, Cortes Island")
Unfortunately,
David hurt his knee when we were in Von Donop Inlet and spent most our time in Gorge Harbour Hague Lake
.jpg "Hague Lake, Mansons Bay, Cortes Island.")
Desolation Sound
Sum It Up Sunday
Sum It Up Sunday: September 14 - 20
Sunday, December 07, 2014TheCambrians
Our
week started off much like the previous one ended – with us anchored off Rebecca Spit Marine Park Quadra Island
Through the
wonders of Facebook and a private group I belong to, David and I were able to
re-connected with a gal we met several years ago in Princess Louisa Inlet who
spends the summers cruising with her two sons in a cuddy cabin boat. As luck would have it, they were in the area enjoying
the last of the beautiful summer weather and stopped by for a visit Monday
afternoon.
On Tuesday, we had
a visit from friends who live in nearby Campbell River
.jpg "Rebecca Spit Marine Park, Quadra Island.")
.jpg "Rebecca Spit Marine Park, Quadra Island.")
By Wednesday, it
was time to more on. The barometer had
been steadily falling and we wanted to go to a more protected anchorage. So, after a really enjoyable week we started
the engine for the first time and upped anchor.
With the hope of seeing Salubrious again, we motored across the
water – a whopping 9.5 nautical miles – to Gorge Harbour Cortes Island
Rebecca Spit was
Sally’s favourite anchorage and I was concerned that being there was going to be
difficult but, as it turned out, it was the complete opposite – I left feeling
closer to her and more at peace with her loss than I had for months. Sally’s death isn’t something David and I can
talk about much, just the mention of her still brings tears to our eyes, so
anything we can do to help ease the pain is welcomed. I wouldn’t say we found closure there but,
rather, a little bit of peace that I hope will carry us through the coming
days.
Destinations
the Discovery Islands
the Inside Passage
Octopus Islands Marine Park
Friday, December 05, 2014TheCambrians
The Octopus Islands Marine Park Quadra Island Waiatt Bay Newton Lake
So, what’s
the downside?
To get there, you have to transit one
of three tidal rapids – Beazley Passage to the south, Hole in the Wall to the
east, or Upper Rapids to the north. And it’s not the easiest anchorage to
enter.
The most straightforward approach is
from the north through what the Dreamspeaker cruising guide calls “Tentacle Pass
.png "Octopus Islands Marine Park Chart")
Once inside, you’ll find plenty of
anchoring opportunities. We like to drop
our hook within the park boundaries; but if it’s too crowded, adjacent Waiatt Bay Waiatt Bay
A trail at the head of Waiatt Bay Quadra Island Newton Lake Waiatt Bay Granite Bay
.jpg "Octopus Islands Marine Park")
.jpg "Octopus Islands Marine Park")
The many rocks, reefs, islets and
islands inside the park boundaries make for interesting kayaking. If you go out at low tide, it’s not uncommon
to see raccoons foraging along the shoreline.
And don’t forget to stop at the kayakers’ cabin for a look around. Over the years, passing boats have left their
(very artistic) marks behind and the cabin has grown into a wilderness museum
of sorts.
.jpg "Octopus Islands Marine Park")
.jpg "Octopus Islands Marine Park")
.jpg "Octopus Islands Marine Park")
Waypoints of
Interest:
50°16.979’
N, 125°13.359’W (northern approach)
50°16.104’
N, 125°12.816’W (southern approach)
50°16.310’
N, 125°13.417’W (kayakers’ cabin approximate)
.jpg "Octopus Islands Marine Park")
