Friday, May 7, 2010
Yesterday Neil was at the controls as we left Dent Island and was in command most of the day, including some tricky narrow channels and some rapids. We cruised 60 nautical miles from Dent Island Lodge, through Dent Rapids, up Cordero Channel, through Green Point Rapids and Chancellor Channel. We had intended to turn up Wellbore Channel and transit Whirlpool Rapids, but the weather in Johnstone Strait was favorable and the ebb tide was still helping push us along so we entered Johnstone Strait on the south side of Hardwick Island.
As we headed up Johnstone, we passed by Port Neville, one of our alternate stops in the event of bad weather and turned into Havannah Channel, into Chatham Channel, through the Blow Hole (it was blowing 20 knots from the west by then) and arrived at Lagoon Cove Marina. "Wild Blue", a Selene 53, (Alex and Pat Benson) was already there, and after docking and getting the indoctrination briefing from Bill Barber (the Lagoon Cove Owner), we exchanged notes with the Benson’s on the severe winds of several days ago. Benson’s had made it to Grace Harbor before the windstorm struck. It turns out there was damage almost everywhere from the winds, so we were fortunate we were well anchored in Pender Harbor.
Lagoon Cove is an interesting place. The totem pole is truly unique, as is the exercise station for arriving boaters to work out the kinks. We were able to avail ourselves of some free Dungeness crabs and Neil cooked them in the “crab shack” before setting down to dinner (our favorite chicken tortilla casserole).
This morning we woke up to glassy water and overcast skies, but the weather report continues favorable with light winds in the morning turning into brisk westerly winds in the afternoon. After walking around Lagoon Cove, burning the burnables, and having crab omelets and fresh cinnamon rolls for breakfast, we finally and reluctantly departed about 1130 am.
Under sunny skies, as we motored down Knight Inlet, we smelled and saw thick smoke from the engine room. The Balmar cruising alternator had fried and after clearing the boat of smoke (yes the smoke alarms worked), we verified the source of the problem and disconnected the belts and kept on going to Echo Bay. There were a few moments of panic, since fire on a boat is never good news.Echo Bay was deserted, no one manning the radios, but the caretakers were on the dock and said “take your pick of slips!” Pierre was gone for a few days, so we will miss that experience. Not long after we arrived, “Wild Blue” arrived and we enjoyed sharing sea stories over cocktails in the cockpit under glorious sunshine, until the sun went below the hill and the true temperature became very evident – chilly!!
Yesterday Neil was at the controls as we left Dent Island and was in command most of the day, including some tricky narrow channels and some rapids. We cruised 60 nautical miles from Dent Island Lodge, through Dent Rapids, up Cordero Channel, through Green Point Rapids and Chancellor Channel. We had intended to turn up Wellbore Channel and transit Whirlpool Rapids, but the weather in Johnstone Strait was favorable and the ebb tide was still helping push us along so we entered Johnstone Strait on the south side of Hardwick Island.
As we headed up Johnstone, we passed by Port Neville, one of our alternate stops in the event of bad weather and turned into Havannah Channel, into Chatham Channel, through the Blow Hole (it was blowing 20 knots from the west by then) and arrived at Lagoon Cove Marina. "Wild Blue", a Selene 53, (Alex and Pat Benson) was already there, and after docking and getting the indoctrination briefing from Bill Barber (the Lagoon Cove Owner), we exchanged notes with the Benson’s on the severe winds of several days ago. Benson’s had made it to Grace Harbor before the windstorm struck. It turns out there was damage almost everywhere from the winds, so we were fortunate we were well anchored in Pender Harbor.
Lagoon Cove is an interesting place. The totem pole is truly unique, as is the exercise station for arriving boaters to work out the kinks. We were able to avail ourselves of some free Dungeness crabs and Neil cooked them in the “crab shack” before setting down to dinner (our favorite chicken tortilla casserole).
This morning we woke up to glassy water and overcast skies, but the weather report continues favorable with light winds in the morning turning into brisk westerly winds in the afternoon. After walking around Lagoon Cove, burning the burnables, and having crab omelets and fresh cinnamon rolls for breakfast, we finally and reluctantly departed about 1130 am.
Under sunny skies, as we motored down Knight Inlet, we smelled and saw thick smoke from the engine room. The Balmar cruising alternator had fried and after clearing the boat of smoke (yes the smoke alarms worked), we verified the source of the problem and disconnected the belts and kept on going to Echo Bay. There were a few moments of panic, since fire on a boat is never good news.Echo Bay was deserted, no one manning the radios, but the caretakers were on the dock and said “take your pick of slips!” Pierre was gone for a few days, so we will miss that experience. Not long after we arrived, “Wild Blue” arrived and we enjoyed sharing sea stories over cocktails in the cockpit under glorious sunshine, until the sun went below the hill and the true temperature became very evident – chilly!!
Working out the kinks at exercise station #4
Miriam taking care of Burnables
Lagoon Cove Gertie
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