Leaving Quait Bay and approaching the fog bank off Meares Island If the wind blew Friday (which it did), we weren’t aware of it: Inside Quait Bay, all was quiet and calm.   It did, however, rain down in buckets . . . . All. Day. Long. With a break in the forecast before the next round of weather hits, we were able to leave Saturday morning on...

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The approach to Bedwell Sound One night in Ritchie Bay was enough; even in the calmest of conditions, the anchorage isn’t the most comfortable.  But we chose it solely for its convenience to Bedwell Sound and Matlset Narrows, and it served that purpose well. Reputed to be one of the most beautiful fjords along the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Bedwell Sound didn’t disappoint.  Despite the heavy logging...

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Ahousat General Store We could have stayed in Bottleneck Cove forever, but time and tide waits for no man so we reluctantly left yesterday after two fantastic nights and made way for Ahousat*, in Clayoquot Sound, where we tied upto the dock at the general store. Owned and operated by Hugh Clarke, whose father donated the land at Hot Springs Cove to the BC government, Ahousat has a...

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Bottleneck Inlet From Hot Springs Cove, we rounded Sharp Point yesterday and travelled up Sydney Inlet to our next destination: Bottleneck Cove.  It was only an eight nautical mile trip, but a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the previous four days and I fell in love immediately.  After navigating through yet another narrow entrance that tapers down to less than 60 feet, the anchorage opens...

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The view from the hot springs One night anchored in a place as busy as Hot Springs Cove would normally be enough . . . normally.  But I can be somewhat obsessive and was bound and determined to get my fill of hot baths without the additional company of fifty strangers.  The weather did its part to help my cause:  Day after day of approaching frontal systems, weakening...

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I’m not really sure how or why, but the website’s a task that’s fallen to me since its inception.  I’ve asked David to contribute here and there over the years, but it hasn’t been something that he’s been interested in doing . . . until now.  So, without further ado, I give you David:  Solitude at anchor:  Cambria alone in Rae Basin At anchor in Hot Springs Cove:...

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We departed Rae Basin this morning, running into heavy fog as we exited Hesquiat Harbour, and made way for our next destination, Hot Springs Cove.  With less than 100 feet of visibility, it was a little nerve wracking, to say the least, but something we’ve grown accustom to in the month that we’ve been cruising these waters.    Once inside the cove, it was sunny and warm.  And busy. ...

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Cambria at anchor in Rae Basin looking back towards Estevan Point  With a good forecast for rounding Estevan Point, we upped anchor this morning and left Friendly Cove behind for our next destination:  Rae Basin at the head of Hesquiat Harbour.  The bay itself is shallow throughout and requires transiting a bar but, because the conditions were calm (a one to two foot swell with one to five...

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Cambria at anchor in Friendly Cove with Nootka Light in the background We left Bligh Cove this morning and made our way over to Friendly Cove on Nootka Island.  As far as anchorages go, it’s not great.  The holding is good in sand in mud, but it’s shallow and you’re exposed to the swell from the east as well as the wake of passing boats.  What it is,...

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Leaving the sunshine of Bodega Bay behind . . . it's difficult to see, but somewhere at the head of the inlet is the entrance to the anchorage There’s a lot of history along this section of the West Coast and we were anxious to get to it so, with Sally feeling better, we said our final good-byes to Cool Change and left Bodega Cove for Bligh Island Marine Park in Nootka...

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