Whipping through Port McNeill and then home.

Friday August 22

We arrived in Port McNeil on Friday August 15 after motor sailing across Queen Charlotte Strait from a little one boat cove we found on our travels last year. It is the perfect little spot, out of the wind and chop and with a nice sandy beach, and you know what that means...

The docks and harbour in Port McNeill were jammed and as we found out the next morning, they were getting set up for their annual Orca Festival, the biggest event of the year in Port McNeill. After getting a few groceries, we headed back to the boat, and then got in the line up for fuel which took us nearly an hour. But sometimes good things come to people who are patient. One of the bigger fish boats tossed 4 big sockeye over to the sailboat ahead of us (why, we do not know!), and after getting tied up at the fuel dock, the sailboat owners brought us one of the fish simply for letting them get in ahead of us. You never know where your next meal will come from!...

Fresh sockeye salmon and corn on the cob! 

"By-the-wind sailors", moves over the surface by means of a "sail".

We saw thousands of these little "jellyfish" on the west coast of Price Island. With the sun reflecting off their sails, they looked like soap bubbles all over the surface of the waves. 

Evening view, anchorage east of Bella Bella, with fog moving in.

Back at the dock in Ladysmith on Wednesday August 20. It usually takes us 3 or 4 days to get the boat cleaned out, laundry done, inside washed and vacuumed and then everything put back in it's place. This is not the fun part.

So, our journey ends for another year. No plans yet for next summer, but we have tossed around the idea of spending it at home (akkkk!!!) and doing a sailing adventure either in the spring or fall. 

We'll see! 

Back in Canada... checking in at Prince Rupert.

Wednesday Aug 6
The last few days in Alaska were absolutely beautiful. We had sunny hot weather, so nice in fact we decided we would go for a swim! Very refreshing!
Of all the on shore walks we took in Alaska, we found very little garbage, unlike our last trip in 2007. Maybe people are cleaning up the beaches as they go there and hopefully everyone is getting the message that you just can't throw this stuff out in the water. All the news about the Japanese tsunami probably helped to open peoples eyes to the problem.

A fish net hooked onto an old barge on Tongass Island.

Warm Beach Bay, the water was a pleasant 17 degrees! This spot is just inside the Alaskan border.

We will be leaving Prince Rupert either today or tomorrow, but unfortunately the forecast is for wind from the SE, blowing 20-30 knots. If that pans out, we will wait somewhere until it is over, could be a few days. 

These are some interesting fossils we picked up on a beach. Anyone know what they are from?

Just hanging out!

Our next contact will be when we get to Port McNeil. That might be 10 days or so, depending on the weather.

Cherrio!