Boat Alone...

 
On the outside around Spider Island.   Behind us is the North Pacific.

We departed Shearwater (you can see it in the background, behind Karen) right on time at just past 1130hrs (11:30am).

In this photo, Karen just finished putting all the lines and fenders away while I was driving (and taking this picture...).
We head west in the channel that T-bones into Bella Bella then we turn left (south) down Lama Passage continuing our southward migration.

When Bill departed, he took the sun with him.   Now we are back to the standard Alaska weather trifecta of Overcast, Fog, and Rain.
As we turn into Hunter Channel the rain stops!   Yes!

We briefly checkout Hart Island Anchorage, but find the bottom too rocky and not suitable for anchoring.  So, we move on.

Hunter Channel ends and we then veer left again into Sans Peur Passage.   If you are up on your French, you will know that means "Without Fear" Passage.

The channel is lined with rocks, but the channel is incredibly deep (800' or so) even though it is only a few hundred yards wide in places.   So, have no fear, this is an easily navigable channel.
A school, gathering, flock, herd, whatever of sea otters.   They lined the rocky shores on both sides.

A quick consult with an AI tells me this is called a raft of otters.  I actually knew that, but I'd forgotten.
San Peur Passage is littered with many small rocky islands.   This one has a nice sandy beach.   Sand beaches are very rare up here.





Lucnh was served.   Karen made a panini which we split.   And I had some of Nicki's banana bread, loaded with butter!
Karen takes the helm as we wind our way through Sans Peur Passage and out into the North Pacific.  Note the lack of land on the other side of Karen.  Yup, that is the North Pacific.   If you could see land, it would be Japan...
Look at how polished the rocks are and how high the stumpy trees are perched.   This area must be subject to large seas that crash ashore and wash away any low-lying vegetation.




We are entering Fulton Passage which runs from the North Pacific into a group of islands named after famous British fighter planes.   There is Spitfire, Typhoon, Spider, Seafire, Hurricane, Mosquito, Camel, etc.

We round the corner of Hurricane Island into a little anchorage aptly named Hurricane Island Anchorage.   This is today's final destination.   We anchor in 56' of water at mid-tide.  There is no one else here, it is just us.   Lots of swing room and a soft muddy bottom, just perfect for anchoring.

I shut the engine down and silence takes over.  No noises, no boats, no other people, no friends (I miss you guys!).   It's just Karen, me, and my tinnitus!

We traveled 29 miles in 4.5 hours today through some gorgeous channels.  I must come back to Sans Peur Passage someday as it is really stunningly beautiful.

Tomorrow, we will go about 11 miles to Lewall Inlet where there are supposed to be pictographs along the channel walls.

Alas, no sunset pictures as in the overcast, fog, and rain, it just gets darker and darker, until it's night.

Good Night, My Friends.

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