Graceful, We are NOT...

You never know what you will find up here.   This is an old Caterpillar logging tractor.   6-cylinder diesel.   Not reparable, even by Luke!

Tomorrow's weather forecast is downright lousy.  40knots of wind and 4+' seas on a 1.5-to-2.5 sec period, all on the beam.   Yuck!

So, we abandoned Campbell River and our dinner reservations at Moxies (Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Feta Cheese appetizer, The Hatch, Fist Full of Mothballs Meritage red wine, and the best Mud Pie).

We went to Grace Harbour over in Desolation Sound, on the other side of Queen Charlotte Sound.

As we left Discovery Harbour in Campbell River, we crossed just in front of this ferry that goes between Vancouver Island (where Campbell River is located) and Quadra Island.

Ramming Speed!!!

Beautiful calm flat water today.   Not expected to look like this tomorrow.   This photo is of Malaspina Inlet, just after we crossed Queen Charlote Sound.   You can't see it in this picture, but the air was choked with forest fire smoke.   There are about 6 forest fires burning in the general area.  Fingers-crossed for a good rain!

We decided to stern-tie.   Stern-tying is when we take a line from the back-end (stern) of the boat to a rock or tree on the shore while we have the anchor deployed off the front (bow).   Stern-tying keeps us from swinging around.   It also allows for boats to be moored closer to each other than if they just swung at anchor alone.

This was the first time in five years we have had to do this.   It is a pain-in-the-tookas.  We have to launch the dink, take a line from the boat in the dink and head to shore and make the line fast (tie) it to the rock or tree.  This was the first time Karen & I have done this.  Last time it was Ross & me.  Karen & I had not practiced and there were a few communication and conceptual breakdowns.   No one died, but we were less than well-choreographed! 

It is crowded in here with probably another 20 boats in this small anchorage.   I miss the solitude of Alaska!!!

After we were anchored and stern-tied, we took off in Roe to explore.

Just so you know that we were all still here and still alive... 

This is a map of the Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park where we are moored.

What makes this park interesting is that this is a unique micro climate.  The currents go around Vancouver Island and meet here.   So, the water goes up and down (about 14 feet), but the currents are almost nil as the water flows out both north and south.

This has the knock-on effect of producing very little water exchange, giving the resident water the opportunity to heat up in the shallow bays.  We've seen water temperatures as high as 76 degrees where the normal water temperatures are in the high 40's/low 50's!

The view back out into the bay from the hiking trail.

We hiked up to the little lake, about 1/2 mile north of Grace Harbour.   In the rain!

Normally, I'd complain, but today I welcome its sky-cleansing properties!  Bring it on!!!

Here are a bunch of pictures from our hike.

The Caterpillar's tracks...   It's not going anywhere.

We found the lake!

Eagle-eye Ross, spotted this loon out in the middle of the lake.   We all heard the plaintive wail, but Ross knew what it was.

On the way back, we found that some kayak campers had landed at the "beach" where we had landed Roe.  

Here they are disgorging their supplies and carting them to the campsite just up the hill.

We clambered back in Roe and set off for the boat.

If you look closely, you can see the line stretching from the stern of Blue Redd going all the way to shore.   That is our stern-tie.

Back aboard Blue Redd and it was "clean the muddy shoes" time.  It is hard to keep the boat clean, so a bit of extra diligence goes a long way.

I'm sure my family hates my anal proclivities today...  It is a small price to pay, but I'm happy as we still have a clean boat!

Dinner, surf and turf.   Fresh Halibut steaks, Rib steaks in a mushroom cream sauce, asparagus, and new potatoes & parsley.   And a Long Cellars 2021 Merlot.   Very tasty wine!

No sunset pictures due to incessant rain.   It just got darker and darker, but no sunset.

We will just stay here tomorrow and wait out the predicted storm.

Good Night...