Magic Moments - Adventures of Glen and Liz: Sept 4 – Day 123 Burdwood Group and Echo Bay

Sept 4 – Day 123 Burdwood Group and Echo Bay

It started raining in the middle of the night and hasn’t stopped, so much for summer.

Echo Bay is the new target. There was quite a bit of wind today. We made it to the dock in Echo without incident. About 15 minutes later when Willard and Diane came in it was a bit more challenging for them. Their boat is a lot lighter so it was pushed around by the winds more. We got them to the dock and then a bit later moved them to another dock further inside the marina.

On approach

Swing set and fire pit

Echo Bay was sold in May 2020 to the first nations native community. It’s been a rough go for them since with the lack of visitors due to Covid in 2020 and again in 2021. In early February 2021 there was a big windstorm which broke all the docks off the main dock and just jumbled them in the bay hanging on their anchors. The main dock was also damaged and broke apart. A young man named Jackson who had a lot of experience with building docks for logging camps was hired for a 3-week task of putting the docks back together. He got that job done and is still there. Now as the harbormaster and doer of all tasks. He is actually the only staff person there now and the only year-round employee; and will be here all winter. We had a nice chat with him. He said that they only had about 200-225 moorage guests all summer this year. There were 4 boats in for the night tonight. Sounds like Pierre sold at just the right time. Jackson reported that Pierre is doing ok (has MS) and is living in Ladysmith near their grandkids.

We walked over to Billy Proctor’s and had a nice visit with him and of course looked at his museum. He is doing great and looks great at his 86 years. He still goes fishing 3 times a week and goes over to Port McNeil to “restock his double stuff Oreos” and visit one of his daughters every 10 days or so. For those who don’t know Billy’s story. He has lived all over the place but most of his life on Gilford Island (opposite side from Echo Bay). He started collecting ‘stuff as he calls it’ at the age of 5 and clearly loves doing that. He has an amazing collection of old tools, native artifacts, trading beads from the Capt. Vancouver days, old bottles of every kind and color, etc…

Just a sample of the yard art. There is lots more inside the ‘tool room’

Spirits

Medicine

Things never change

Fossils

Native tools

Visiting with Billy

He still tends to his gardens and has things like beets, broccoli, potatoes, etc… just waiting for his next meal. His book and gift shop has lots of photographs, cards, pillows and other gift ware, as well as a supply of books including those he wrote or others wrote about his life. Diane bought a couple books, and of course we gave a donation to his museum. He said that visitors have been fewer this summer but during the heat of the summer (July) he seemed to get a few every day. He is great to talk to, and we hope to see him again on our next visit.

There was no cell service in Echo but they do have internet access for moorage guests. So I was able to upload and download some emails, but nothing with attachments.