May 20 - Lowe to Kumealon

 

May 20  Lowe to Prince Rupert  Kumealon

 

I was up early, by 6:15am both of the large yachts had headed out.   We suspected from the activities we saw last night that neither of these vessels had their owners on board.  Likely just the crew positioning them for a summer of yachting (with owners or charters) in SE Alaska, as is very common for these large yachts.

 

By 9am all boats in Lowe were on the move north in Grenville Channel, well actually by compass west but ultimately north).  Since we all left about the same time there was a traffic jam of sorts.  Since Magic was the center anchor and shore tie boat last night we were the last to leave Lowe, and thus were bringing up the rear of the Armada.  Looking up the channel it looked like rush hour on the water highway; 12 boats in all.   I hope no one does any ‘crazy Ivan’s’.  Within a couple miles everyone had spread out and found their own lanes. 

 

We are headed to Prince Rupert today then the big water crossing at Dixon Entrance tomorrow.

 

Well maybe not.  About 10 am Tom called the group to ask the group just how bad they wanted to get to Prince Rupert today.  He was listening to the weather and it does not sound like a good window to be crossing Dixon Entrance for a few days.   High winds, means high waves, and not a pleasant trip for anyone.  So it looks like we will be dunkholing for a day or two to wait out this weather front.  

 

Stopped in Kumealon Bay.  Spent the afternoon exploring by dinghy, up in the lagoon/lake.  This is the place we watched them doing helicopter logging in 2008.  The area is all green again with alders filling in the logged areas.  Alders are the first trees to come back, eventually the evergreens will grow tall enough to choke out the Alders.  We went up a couple stream/inlets to the lagoon.  No bear seen but we saw tracks where large animals (likely bear) had crossed the streams.

 

I cooked a large pork roast with cranberry/raspberry sauce for everyone, the others brought the side dishes. 

 

 

It was a very warm afternoon, in a very large bay with snowcapped mountains around.  Again a very beautiful spot.