September 11 - Adams Harbor to Hakai Passage, Calvert Island – Hakai Institute
Today is FOOTBALL SUNDAY so the Sea Life crew says we can’t be on the water too long since the Seahawks play at 1:00.
Enjoying the morning sunshine and drying out their wings
At Anchor off the Hakai Institute
Sunny warm day. Must be summer now. Short cruise today about 45 minutes. We went around to the inside and anchored out in front of the Hakai Institute on Calvert Island. When we got there we noticed that the Delphinus was anchored not far off, and shortly thereafter their dinghy load of passengers and crew (about 12) were headed back to the boat from shore. They waved and so did we. The last time we saw them was in Petersburg, before that Elfin Cove. Funny that you see the same boats periodically over the summer. That one is two guys from California who run a charter cruise operation from Seattle to Alaska, each summer with 6-9 guests aboard for 1-2 week adventures. I had visited with them in Petersburg as I could not figure out how they had 12 people traveling on that boat. It’s tight but they make it work and the guests all seem to be having a good time. They pulled out shortly after getting everyone onboard. Too bad I would have like to have chatted with them again to see where they had been.
The Seahawks were playing today and Sea Life’s Sat TV had good coverage so we watch the game. Seahawks vs Miami Dolphins. The Hawks pulled it off in the end.
After the game we went by Dinghy over to the institute dock, walked around the grounds and talked to the cook/chef. Willard asked him what was for dinner and he said Roast Beef. Their summer operation is just about over, but there are some that stay 12 months a year here doing their research. Right now there are 44 people on site. The buildings and grounds were as beautiful as could be with flowers in the manicured gardens, and a great trail system. After the chat we took the trail across the island to the ocean side.
That beach is so beautiful and the sun was warm so walking the beach was great. Pacific Ocean waves crashing on the long sandy beach. We spent a couple hours walking the beach and in the surf. The water was cold but not as cold as we thought it would be but then again we were not swimming in it. The beach has lots of logs but few shells. We did see a frog up in the log area however. He/she had apparently come down from the woods for an afternoon romp on the beach. Can’t say as I blame him/her the place is spectacular.
Pacific Ocean Beach outside of Calvert Island
The walk across the island is on a well-kept trail with boardwalks in places. There are apparently 10 beaches that can be reached by hiking from one to another along the coast line. Maybe next time we’ll plan more time for beach exploring. When we got back to the institute Diane and I went into the lobby area, and looked around at the artifacts and art work on the walls near the lobby. There was a white board at the bottom of the stairs where people recorded wildlife sightings. In the last month there have been Black Tail Deer, Sitka Deer, Wolf, a single Orca, a variety of birds, and a pod of 10 Orca all on or around this island or the neighboring islands. We also talked to a young man that we’d seen out on the beach. He and his group had just arrived for a 14 day stay for ‘stewardship training’. He was from Prince Rupert and said that this is the 2nd time he has come here for training seminars. Pretty nice place to have to go for a seminar.
Apparently back in about 1993 a group of investors made an attempt to plan and develop a ‘millionaire’s retreat’ over by the west beach. The natives of BC took legal action and stopped the project, and in the investment project went bankrupt. At one point there was a fishing lodge there, then it became a university facility and now it is the Hakai Institute doing research and apparently a conference facility.
Back to the mother ships for a quiet evening on Magic, and more football on Sea Life. The sunset tonight was gorgeous … Behind us lots of pinks and in front of us looking toward the Pacific Ocean it was blues, oranges, pinks. I wish we were still on that ocean beach the sunset there would be amazing.
The moon is coming out.
The start of the sunset
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