Leaving Barkley Sound before the sun got up.

Just before sunrise in the Broken Islands

Sunrise over Vancouver Island

Friday July 10
Depart: Gilbert Island Beach 0545
Calm, 17 C, clear sky
Stop: Bamfield for fuel, 90L @ $1.60 $144.00
Arrive: Dodger Channel, near Diana Island, Deer Group 1035
Lat: 48 49.98 Lon: 125 11.65
Our plan this morning was to head south and arrive in Sooke (about 70 miles) late this evening, but the winds shifted and were very light, not good for sailing. So, we will try again tomorrow, the forecast is for favorable winds.
We are anchored in a small channel between two islands in the Deer Group, just outside of Bamfield. The weather is beautiful and sunny.

Gilbert Island, Broken Islands

View of snow on mountains on Vancouver Island from our anchorage at Gilbert Island.

Thursday July 10
Depart: Nettle Island anchorage 0900
Arrive: Gilbert Island 1230
Trip Log: 750.7 nm Lat: 48 52.46 Lon: 125 19.21
We did not arrive at this anchorage very gracefully. We shortened our painter by about 10 feet! Or for those of you that don't know boatspeak, the rope that ties the dingy to the boat when you are towing it (called the painter, and don't ask me why), normally behaves quite well when we are putting the anchor down, but on this particular day, it decided the best place for it would be under the boat and around the propeller. Consequently, I had to get in the water, and untangle it from around the prop, but we had to cut it before we could get it off and that is why it is about 10 feet shorter now. Oh well, those things happen!
We are nestled in close to Gilbert Island, near a nice sandy beach as the winds howl all around us except for on our little private beach. (Actually it is not really private because this is the kayak campsite.)

Sunset in the Broken Islands

Nettle Island, Broken Group

Wednesday July 9
Depart: Joe's Bay 0900
Arrive: Nettle Island anchorage 1000 Lat: 48 55.86 Lon: 125 15.40
Trip Log: 742.9 nm Trip: 3 nm
Quick trip today to re-position ourselves for more kayaking exploring. We are near Nettle Island, the northern most island of the Broken Group. The day turned out to be another beautiful day after starting with thick fog. It is actually getting pretty hot, over 30 in the sun. On our kayak tour, we came across a cave that would normally have been mostly flooded except for the fact it was low tide.

Kayaking in the Broken Islands, Barkley Sound

Splendid Mane in Joe's Bay near Dodd Island

Our first stop on Trickett Island

Seaweed feather boa.

Tuesday July 8
We are staying put today, getting the kayaks in the water to do some exploring around the Broken Islands. Low tide was at 11:00 this morning, so we tried to get out on the water to a little before that to be able to see below the tide line. Jerry said he likes high tide better because then you can see what is on the beach. The winds started to kick up in the afternoon, but we were on the up wind side away from our anchorage, so it was a nice ride back to the boat, surfing down small waves and just letting the wind carry us all the way back.

Visiting Bamfield

Rick and Rosita at Seaview in BamfieldYoshi, Rick's dog, waiting for us to throw her a stick.

Monday July 7

Depart: Bamfield Harbour 1420
Arrive: Joe's Bay, near Dodd Island, Broken Islands Barkley Sound 1845
Lat: 48 55.08 Lon: 125 19.62
Trip Log: 738.5 nm Day: 17 nm
We had a wonderful visit yesterday and today with Rick and Rosita. They treated us to dinner, sleepover, breakfast, and lunch. And we finally got to meet Rosita whom we have heard so much about. Rick even went out and caught us a fish for dinner! After lunch, Rick took us back out to Splendid Mane, and we sailed over to the Broken Islands... a perfect sail with just the right wind.

Barkley Sound

Splendid Mane got her first taste of some pretty good swells today... mostly in the neighborhood of 5 meters. We had a beautiful sail down from Tofino to Ukee, this is what we have been waiting for!
Sunday July 6
Depart: God's Pocket 0730
Winds 10-20 knots, mostly clear sky, 18 C
Arrive: Ukee 1500
We took a quick tour around the inlet and then decided to move on towards the Broken Islands in Barkley Sound. Sent a quick email to Rick (in Bamfield) and he has invited us for dinner and then to sleep at his house tonight! So we are heading for Bamfield right now and should be there about 6:00 or so.