Day 66 July 20 Nigel Island Anchorage to Bull Harbor

 

Day 66   July 20   Nigel Island Anchorage to Bull Harbor

The sun is going to be out today.  Early in the morning No Debt and Nellie and crews went out fishing.  Tom and Diane came back with a few Cod.  Steve and Michelle came back with a couple salmon and some Cod.  Michelle also came back with photos of an Orca whale show.   Apparently there were Orca all around them, some coming very close and almost touching their boat.  Some leaping out of the water in full breach.  Tom and Diane must have been just around the corner as they never saw any whale.

 

 

 

Michelle’s Orca Breach photo – right out in front of Nellie while they were fishing. 

Another swam very close, within just a few feet of their boat. 

 

Once everyone was back onboard and settled, the engines were started and we were off toward Bull Harbor.

Glen says that the crossing was calm and easy.   I disagree!   It felt like a washing machine.  My bracelet was on but still felt like dirt.     Saw one humpback whale along the shoreline.  Down further there was a house high above the beach and Glen said someone was home.   There were also a group of kayakers paddling along.  Not sure if they were associated with the house or some group of adventurers.

                                                                                                                                       

Bull Harbor – the plan is to raft up in two groups due to restricted access to shore for a stern tie.  This will also give Glen the chance to install a new transducer on Drag’n.  

 

Day 65 July 19 Port McNeil to Nigel Island Anchorage

Day 65  July 19   Port McNeil to Nigel Island Anchorage

It was raining of course but not hard.  We started the day by doing those lass minute things, like running back to the hardware store for something.   The m/v Knight pulled out and was enroute to Ketchikan.  It was fun to watch that 163 footer pull out of the marina past the other moored boats.  Their 50 foot tow behind pulled out earlier and was waiting to get it’s leash connection out in open water.

 

Part of the crew jumped in Nellie and headed over to Solintula to see what we could see.  Apparently this was the area of a Finnish settlement a hundred years ago.  There is a museum and some other stores etc…. but they would not open until noon and we needed to get the big boats off the dock and out of Port McNeil by noon (they gave us a late checkout).

 

The cruise was uneventful and good water.  Some saw an Eagle show and others saw porpoise.

 

We anchored in an inner bay where there were: a group of floating derelict homes/buildings, a couple old boats tied up, and further in the bay were a boat on the shoreline (on the beach at low tide) which had a line going out to a sunken boat (only the light/radar arch) above water.  There was also a log boom (not big) with a bunch of old junk ….. barrels, small boats etc… all over it.

 

 

 

‘Housing’ is likely very affordable here, but might be damp

 

Day 64 July 18 Port McNeil part 1

 

Day 64   July 18  Port McNeil  part 1

Today is Nicole’s 37^th birthday.   That does not seem possible. 

Todays plan is to go to the grocery store to get fresh vegetables and hang out here for the day.  Maybe go visit Sointula by small boat, but basically ease back into this adventure.

 

 

 

M/V KNIGHT is in port.  A 163 foot Hessen. It’s tow behind is 50 ft.  home port is Montego Bay, Jamacia.  Appears to only be crew onboard.   They were headed to Ketchikan AK.

Magic across from Knight

 

We borrowed the marina van and 6 of us went over to Telegraph Cove for dinner and to check out the place.   What a cute place!  And bustling with people who were there on vacation, fishing etc…  There were many old buildings most of which are still being used for the ‘resort’.  We read lots of the signs posted on the buildings which told the stories of the owners from years gone by.  The whale museum was closed (we got there too late), as was the general store.  Glen was lucky the general store was closed or I would have purchased a ‘cutting board’ actually a piece of artwork.  I had to be satisfied with a photo taken through the window.

 

 

 

 

Day 64 July 18 Port McNeil part 2

Day 64   July 18  Port McNeil    part2

 

Along the dock we found an old Dodge truck so Glen and I stopped for a photo opportunity. 

Three Dodge’s in a row

Dinner was great.  Some of our groups selections were Almond and Parmesan Crusted Halibut, with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh veggies,  Parmesan crusted Ling Cod served with Cheese Ravioli in red sauce topped off with Mussels and Prawns, Sundried Tomato crusted Salmon served with cheese tortellini in white sauce and topped with Parmesan Prawn, and then there was Glen who went for the Steak and garlic mashed potatoes since he is not a huge seafood eater.   We WILL BE going back to this place again! 

 

Back to the port and our boats, and time for bed.

 

 

Day 63 July 17 Seattle to Port McNeil

 

 

 

Day 63  July 17   Seattle to Port McNeil

 

8am flight from Seattle to Vancouver, then a 3pm flight on to Port Hardy, then a 30 minute Van ride to Port McNeil.  It will be a long day.  

Day started by not getting any sleep the night before.  I was lying in bed, my brain running 100 miles an hour, starring at the ceiling in the dark.   Got up at 3:45am; dressed, and finished packing.  Had to fill an ice chest with stuff that Glen had me pick up at Costco.  Like we didn’t already have enough food for another 4 months already on the boat.  His primary request was more Jalapeno Artichoke dip, and then expanded from there.  The ice chest weighed 30 lbs once filled and was checked baggage.   Nicole and I left Edmonds about 4:30 and drove two cars down to Shawn’s house to leave my car there for Shawn to ‘store’ for the rest of the summer.  We then headed to Seatac.  No to little traffic, so we got to the airport at  5:30.  Departure lanes were backed up, so we used our drop off at the Arrivals area instead; no traffic there.  The rest of the travel group left Gig Harbor at 5am and were at the airport at about 5:45am.  The airport was pretty full.   We all got through step one --- check in and baggage drop off went fairly easily at the international flight check in point.  5 of the 6 were ‘TSA precheck’ so they breezed through that process.  I had to go the normal (no precheck) route.  What a pain.  It took about 45 minutes to get through that mess and rejoin the others.  Don’t get me started on the TSA process.  Yep my number came up and they basically unpacked my computer bag, and backpack, looking at every little item, asking lots of questions.  What are these --- pepperoni sticks?   No those are Pupperoni sticks --- dog treats for a dog.  Yes those are sunflower seeds, etc….  (snack food requested by Glen). Of course, the total pat-down and groping is always fun --- NOT!    I appreciate the TSA job and just go with the flow but really don’t like what I believe is unnecessary and inappropriate groping.   I would file a complaint but I want to get on the plane and not have to have any more delays.   Enough of that.

I got reconnected with my travel group, filled my water bottle for the first flight.  We all boarded, then flew off to Vancouver.  The flight was 30 minutes long, that was easy.  Next steps – customs and picking up luggage.  We got a cart to carry all the stuff for the group.   Even some with  Nexus had to use the normal process, go to a kiosk and click through a bunch of questions, upload your passport etc.   Only took three tries.  LOL.   Now on to the next place …. Where to sit for the next 6 hours of our layover.   We found a food court area and grabbed a couple tables.   Most food places were not yet open so we played a game of rummikub (aka Rummy tile).  Then found some food for an early lunch.  Plan was to get on the shuttle to the south terminal by noon.  Met the bus and took the about 20-30 minute trip to the south terminal.  This terminal is small.  Again, we found some tables to set up base camp.  Went to visit/check out the two ‘stores’ …. A small gift shop and a even smaller ‘smoke shop’ where cans of smoked seafood, and jams were the fare.   There was one small food spot where soup, sandwiches, and pastries could be purchased.   We’d made the right decision to eat at the other terminal.  Back at base camp the ladies and Tom played more Rummytile.  Steve worked on office stuff at another table.  We boarded our next flight about 2:30 and it took off at 3:15 pm.  This was a 1 hour flight. 

 

 

The Van reservations had been messed up so Glen did not get the van first.  The marina was loaning the van to us for airport pick up.  But the van was there with another driver so 4 of our group were able to get on.  Michelle and I stayed back at the very small airport terminal for the next trip expected about an hour later.   Staying back was fine.  We played cribbage and ate snacks that I had brought.  Crackers, pepperoni slides and cheddar cheese chunks with our water.  We called it our happy hour.    She beat me in cribbage but it was close.  She only won because she got to count out first.   I too had enough points in my hand to get over the finish line.  My cribbage skills have improved.  

Glen picked us up and took us back to Port McNeil and the boats.  We had a bit of time to unpack and relax before heading to the Gus’s Restaurant for a 7pm dinner reservation.    After dinner it was time to go to bed, exhausted.    I slept from about 10 pm till 7:30am …. That’s like 9 ½ hrs.  I almost never sleep longer that about 5, so I guess my body was playing catch up.