Day Two on the Hard

We got the forestay down and to the rigger.  Disconnected all the rest of the wires off the Cranse Iron and removed the Cranse Iron.  This all had to be done upside down 17 feet above ground.  Not an easy thing but done.  Got the bobstay fitting to the fabricator to drill the new holes.  He also is making the three pieces that dropped overboard from the roller furling.  Finished off the day scraping more paint and purchased a 20 foot extension ladder to get after more topside prep work.  Not bad progress for day two, running up and down ladders twenty times a day is getting old!

We are on the hard

 Well we were hauled out today.  Everything went smoothly.  We got our exhaust riser/ mixing elbow out and to the shop for a rebuild.  We got the bobstay fitting off and will hopefully have that to the machinist to drill the holes in it within a day or so.  We have the roller furling off and the forestay ready to come down and get replaced and we have scraped off a lot more paint.  Hope to get the forestay down tomorrow and off to the rigger.  Do some more scraping and wait a couple of days for things to dry out.  Then it is sand like crazy and begin reversing that which we are taking down now.  Mark did make a mistake when he measured the bobstay fitting and it affects one bolt.  He is pretty sure he has a work around for that.  He just needs to find a welder who is happy enough to do the work around.

Reunited with our car

We are reunited with our car but it took a whole day to do that.

We had an adventure planned today to pick up our car in Seattle.  We booked a ride on the Greyhound Bus that would take us from Port Townsend to Seattle and were scheduled to leave at 0655.  We woke at 0500 because it takes Pauline about 20 minutes to walk from the boat to the road, to catch a taxi to the bus station.  Well, we waited and waited and waited at the station for the Greyhound but it did not materialize.  We tried tracking the bus and calling with no success.  There were a few other people waiting as well and they were going to catch flights at SeaTac Airport.  By 0900, we were making alternate plans to get to Seattle and there was still no news on the delayed bus.  So we got on a bus (no charge) to Poulsbo, another bus ($2 for the both of us) to Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal and walked on to a ferry (no charge) to Seattle.

 

While we were on the bus to Poulsbo, we received messages from Greyhound that our bus was delayed for 240 minutes and if we do not want to wait, we can cancel.  We canceled but they would not refund the total amount to the credit card and would only give us a voucher for future travel.  The cost was $71.55 but the refund was only $67.56.  The silver lining to that was we only paid $2 compared to $71.55.

 

The car will come in handy to run around for provisions and parts, etc needed for the dry dock.

Port Townsend

After nearly 1,000 nautical miles, we are here in Port Townsend.  We were initially worried that we would be rushed to get here but ended up a few days early because we skipped Victoria, Canada.  Oh well, lots to do before we haul out on the 26th.

Drank the cider that the mystery donor gave to us in Ladysmith.  Thanks again whomever you are.  And yes it was nice!

We Arrived in the USA

Position Friday Harbor, Washington

We left Ladysmith Marina this morning bound for a port closer to Victoria.  The plan was then to head to Victoria tomorrow.  The weather would keep us there for about four days.  Normally we would welcome that.  This time however Pauline being hurt, couldn’t really enjoy seeing the sights.  We also got word that our car was ready and we had until the 20th to pick it up without additional charges.  So after a few miles of discussing it we opted to change course for Friday Harbor.  And 40 miles later we arrived and cleared customs here.  We are now anchored out and will cross the Straits of Juan de Fuca tomorrow to Port Townsend before our weather window closes.  This will also give us a few extra days to knock out some jobs on Sari Timur before she gets lifted and we are up to our ears in it.

By the way we don’t know who but thank you to the people who put a bottle of cider on our deck in Ladysmith.

Ladysmith Community Marina

After the long day yesterday, we made our anchorage in Old House Bay.  However, we were so tired from the early morning start that we did not take any photos nor wrote about it.

We left the bay this morning at 0600 to make our way to Ladysmith Community Marina, for which we had a reservation.  To get there we had to go through Dodd Narrows.  Boats have to wait for slack tide to pass through and since it is very narrow, they have to go through in single file.  Well, somehow our timing was perfect, we got there right on time.

 

Almost through Dodd Narrows

Looking behind at the entrance

Some good looking real estate along Dodd Narrows

 

There were about 6 sailboats with us and they all put up their sails, so we did likewise, even if it was just the headsail.  Beautiful sunny day and warm.

 

 

only the headsail but it is still sailing

 

This marina is very pleasant and it is run by the Ladysmith Maritime Society.  It has nice showers and washer/dryer included in the moorage fee.  The temperature is in the mid 70s and we are in t-shirts and shorts and Mark is running around topless for the first time in years.

 

All is good in the world.

 

the visitors dock

they have a cafe

 

Well, then there was this event that happened.  Pauline handed over the bow line to the marina guy and as she was turning around to go back to get the stern line, she tripped and fell heavily on her knee and hit the metal staysail traveler.  She had thought she had broken something because she could not straighten her leg.  Anyways, it seems to be a knee contusion, aka, a gigantic boo boo.  Applied the RICE process and it helped a little.  

Made in Through Seymour Narrows

We left Blunden at 0500, hoping to make Port Neville.  As we approached, it became obvious we should try and make it further.  This was due to the fact that some not so nice weather is set to hit us Sunday through Friday.  So since we had the current and 30 knots of wind from the stern, we put out a reefed headsail and cranked up the RPMs. We hit 12 knots there for a while before settling back to mid 6’s.  We got into Otter Cove on the very top of Discovery Passage at 2100 and went promptly to sleep.  The alarm was set for 0200 in order that we might be in Seymour for slack water at 0500.  All kind of went to plan and as we write this now, we are looking to find a safe spot to hide out from this weather for a few days.  We still have a few hours in the morning to move but right now if we find something good we will probably stay put.  Not wanting to jinx it but the alternator is working again.  Mark is leaning towards a break in the insulation in the field wire and that it might be shorting out somewhere.  He shifted it around and it now seems to be working.  If we get a place near civilization he will purchase and replace said wire.

There are logs everywhere here.  We probably add  20% more mileage dodging them.  In the dark it was a real chore!

you never know what comes down the river

2 tugs moving a massive log boom down river

 

Blunden Harbour

 Position N 50 D 54.326

               W 127 D 17.327

We had our sights set on this Harbour (Canadian spelling) this morning and at 53 nautical miles with some currents to get right, we figured we'd better get an early start.  So at OH5Hundred we pulled up the anchor and headed out.  As we were rounding Cape Caution the fog set in and dropped the viz below a quarter mile.  We know because another sailboat passed us at a quarter mile and they were drifting in and out of view.  Pauline grabbed a pic to prove we saw nothing.  We were trying to get past Slingsby Entrance before noon as that is slack tide.  The waves ebbing out of Slingsby at 11 knots into a west swell can stack the waves up real bad in even light winds.  We didn’t want any of that so hence the early start.  Tomorrow we are trying to make it to somewhere close to Race Passage.  This means we are entering the infamous Johnstone Strait with its super strong currents.  We have the added problem that the winds build in the afternoon and one doesn’t want wind over opposing currents in such long narrows. At the end of all of this we get to the famous Seymour Narrows which we have to get our timing exactly at slack going toward ebb.  Seymour was really famous before because there was also a rock in the middle of it.  This very busy strait with its narrowness and super strong currents encouraged a joint venture with the USA and Canadians to blow it up.  If memory serves me correctly at the time was the single biggest non nuclear explosion in history.  

For those interested Google the removal of Ripple Rock from Seymour Narrows.  It should link you to some interesting reading.

Swear, Cape Caution is there

Blunden Harbour

we have a neighbour

 

Goose Bay

 Position N 51 D 22.705

               W 127 D 40.151

We left Fancy Cove at 0630 this morning and arrived at our anchorage Goose Bay at 1630. Sunny day, however as we were crossing the channel to Goose Bay, we experienced thick fog. Could not see anything around us but as soon as we were close to the entrance, the fog went away and it was clear as day.

Tomorrow we make the dash around Cape Caution towards Vancouver Island.

Head of the anchorage

Looking back at the entrance with the fog

 

A Fancy Cove

 Position  N. 52D 03.720

                W 128 D 00.847

Ok that is what the chart calls it.  And it is pretty nice in here.  Not much room for too many boats.  But we have it all to ourselves.  We have had good weather again today and got a great push down to Milbanke Sound before the tides turned.  Had the largest number of orcas feeding close to the southern entrance of Finlayson Channel.  The sun was kind of in the way so the best pics of them are pretty far away.  Had Dall porpoises play with us for a while after Milbanke and did we mention we had sun all day!  We have a fairly short run tomorrow as we head down to the bottom of Fitzhugh Sound and watch for a good time to shoot around Cape Caution.  The advanced weather reports indicate we don’t have to wait but that will be a long day so tomorrow’s anchorage is a good jumping off point.

Yup they are Orcas

Looking at the back of Fancy Cove

Looking back at the entrance

Klemtu

 Position N52 D 34.350

               W 128 D 30.899

This position is in a a bay just south of Klemtu.  We stopped in Klemtu to refuel and grab some groceries.  The mooring docks were full so after our tasks we opted to anchor south of town.  We had a good run today and some sun so didn’t need the generator once the anchor was up.

 

Our apologies, it was late yesterday so we didn’t post pictures and forgot about the story of Pauline trying to run over a deer.  The poor deer was just minding his own business when this boat started coming straight for him.  Luckily no headlights were in his eyes and he kept swimming out of the way.  It took us a few minutes to get a picture of him, so it is at a bit of a distance.  Anyway we watched him make shore and scurry safely into the woods.

 

Khutze Inlet

 Position N 53 D 05.442

               W 128 D 31.031

We opted to get up early and catch the push of the falling tide out of Grenville Narrows.  Early means 0400, anyway, we started our routine of getting things going and ready the anchor lift.  Just as we started the windlass, the alternator spat the dummy.  Remember we had cobbled it back together after the external regulator failed.  It needs more investigation because we are a bit stumped.  The tachometer is working fine which runs off the alternator.  Usually when the alternator starts to hiccup we lose the tach.  Anyway we quickly grabbed the portable generator and got it charging our batteries so we could lift anchor.  This fiasco set us back about 45 minutes and we ended up with only a little push and lots going the wrong way.  We persevered even though we had a 70 mile day planned.  We were ecstatic when the current finally changed in our favor and we arrived in Butedale at just after 1900.  The reports of the new dock had us excited but when we arrived we found that they were missing and there was only a single dock big enough for three boats, except the two boats that were there decided to space themselves so only two could fit.  We hovered around for a while hoping someone would get the message and a boat would either shift forward or back.  Must have been cocktail hour below as there was not a soul to be seen.  So we opted for Khutze Inlet ten miles further down the road.  We got in and settled at 2130.  Luckily this time of year in these latitudes it stays light most of the time but it still made a long day.  It is nice to know however that we got a large chunk of mileage behind us and if Mark can’t get the alternator resurrected we will have to run the portable generator a fair amount.  That is of course why we have it.  

 

 

Grenville Channel, Kumealon Inlet

  Position N 53D 51.937

               W 129 D 58.487

We left late today from Cow Bay Marina.  All the other yachts were leaving between 4-5 am.  We figured they were heading north and needed the extra time.  So we left at 6 after all, the weatherman called for light winds.  Of course, he lied!  The winds were pretty much 25 knots after we left the harbor.  Not bad but on the nose.  We were envious of the sailboats heading the other way under sail.  The opposing winds made our 40 mile trip take us all day but we are in Grenville Channel.  The anchorage is quite pretty but the rain is still out there.  So we are hunkering down below with the heater on.

 

 

Prince Rupert Finally

Position   N 54 D 19.145

                W 130 D 19.284  Cow Bay Marina

Well there was supposed to be a break in the weather today.  If we didn't leave today, our next break wouldn't be until Saturday.  So at 0400 this morning we pulled up the hook and headed south.  By six o'clock it looked like the weathermen were playing tricks on us because the wind piped up to thirty knots on the nose, the seas not overly large but very short period, made the ride a bucking bronco and we had a counter current as well.  Oh and just to make it a little more miserable, we kept getting hit by rain squalls.  We crossed the border line at 0928 Alaska Standard time 1028 Pacific time.  And we were going a whopping 2.8 knots at full cruising RPMs, did anyone say this is miserable? !!!!!  We turned on the weather report to hear them tell us the wind was only 15 knots and the temperature was 8 degrees C.  Mark kept thinking the rain was about to turn to snow.  However, eventually things subsided a bit and we made it in to the Marina just before 1800 and checked in with Canadian customs, so we can leave.  By making the jump early it looks like we have access to an earlier weather window so we hope to be back underway on Friday morning.

Entering the Bay into Prince Rupert