The SeaDrifter Drifts In a Little Late

A misunderstanding about timing...some drama but no trauma.  We were happy to have Beck and Rick with us even if it was a day after they expected to be onboard and two days before we had them calendared.   Thanks to our friends and family for their concern and support.

Rick and Beck extended a couple of days and we had a wonderful time together.  The coho were running and the fog scatted by late morning.  We did some touring and ate some great meals together.

It's time to fish...

Fishing the Fog Time

Got Any Fish for Me?

The Fishing Machine

The Foggy Tide Catch

Up Seaforth Channel to Spiller Channel

A Rainbow Sends Us Up Spiller

A Soulful Seal Watches Us
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Ellerslie Lagoon Entrance

We read and then read again about the entrance to Ellerslie Lagoon.  One book said under no circumstances attempt it.  The next author said, "The greatest anchorage of my life".  So we decided to compromise and left the big boat safely anchored, scouted the rapids at low tide and entered at high slack. We took no pictures of the entrance becuase we were busy not leaving bottom paint on the rocks. Depths of about 3 feet at high slack.  Calm lagoon leading to a  stunning falls fed by a freshwater lake.  Hats off to the group that brought their big boats through even though one limped back with a bent prop.  Not for us.

Take Quick Pictures!  Slack is Less than 30 Minutes!

Fed by a 10 mile long freshwater lake

Beck and Rick in Ellerslie Lagoon

Spiller Inlet 

 Then we headed up Spiller Inlet to see the rock formation known as the Weeping Lady

Can you see her weeping?

Gardner Canal: Beauty Beyond Words

Few mariners venture into Gardner Canal which is one of the most beautiful and pristine areas of North America.  Guarded by Europa Hot Springs in Alan Reach Gardner Canal  traverses four reaches to its head at the Kitalope River.  Beyond the first reach all contact with the outside world is lost.  One can go days without seeing another boat and there is no radio contact with the Canadian Coast Guard.  If you have a problem you must have the skills and resources to manage it safely.  Sometimes in life it is worth the calculated risk and we found the sunny days we spent in Gardner Canal to be one of those times.  Let us take you on a tour with us.  Beauty beyond words...

Upper Reaches of Gardner Cnal

Chief Mathews Bay

Glacier Above Chief Mathews Bay

Waterfall Near Price Cove

Looking up Europa Reach

Moon Above Chief Mathews Bay

Waterfall in Chief Mathews Bay

Egeria Reach

Kitalope River Drainage

Kitalope River Drainage 

Barrie Reach

Egeria Reach

Doug, Ron and The Old White Guy

Safely and soundly north we had our first visitor, Ron, Doug's son.  Now there are fishers and there are catchers.  Ron must have been born with a rod in his hand.  There is not much he would rather do than fish.  Our ten days were an epic foraging trip that was wonderful fun.  See what Ron caught and meet the Old White Guy...

Father and Son Getting Ready to Fish

It has been fun watching Doug ready for Ron's time on the boat.  I think that he was excited to have someone other than me to play with: a real fisherman.

Nice Chinook Salmon!

Ron took three or four Chinook salmon back with him but caught and released nearly 60 salmon.  You can only eat so much!

Nice 32 Pound Halibut

Halibut are difficult to find this time of year as they prowl around looking for food before the fall salmon runs concentrate fish at the mouth of the streams.  This is a nice size for eating.  Canada is trying to preserve their halibut fishery.  Halibut are born male and become female at about 100 lbs.  Canadian Fisheries has limited the size of the hali you can take.  It isn't very easy to accurately measure a 70 pound hali in the water and we were happy with this well within range guy.

18 Pound Ling cod

Lingcod have a maturation cycle like the halibut with the males becoming female at about 25 pounds.  Although it is not prohibited by regulation, we never take big lingcod.  We want grandson, Jude, to enjoy the fishery forty years from now.

Good Prawn Pull

Prawns are a wonderfully renewing resource.  Their life cycle is three to four years with the younger prawns becoming female in the 3rd year.   We size spot prawns by bite.  These are one bite, two bite and three bite prawns.  We have gotten into four bite prawns but not often.

Meet the Old White Guy

One of our most delightful creatures up north are the sea otters.  Ian McAllister, reknown naturalist was visited us and spotted this guy which he said is the largest sea otter he has ever seen.  He is grizzled with age.  Sea Otters grow proportionately to the food supply.  In the rich northern waters males can grow to 100 lbs.  What do you think?

My question for you...What is in a whale's blow?  Answer in the next blog

How Quickly Time Passes

How quickly time passes.  One moment we are playing bridge and partying in Puerto Vallarta and a moment later we are fishing in British Columbia.  We have had a wonderful time.  Join us for a quick photo update to now time.

PUERTO VALLARTA

Mary Shaw's 93rd Birthday Party

Mary Shaw was a most interesting woman and a real beauty in her day.  In addition to being an excellent bridge player she was a close companion of Frank Sinatra and had photos to show..  She lived her life the way she wanted to live it doing what she loved.  We will miss Mary.

Jim and Denise on an outing by the sea

Friends at Adelitas

Another great visit with Jim and Denise who are dear friends.  Jim and Doug worked together at Simpson Paper Company.  Jim is retiring this fall and we are hoping to see more of them in Puerto Vallarta next year but their beautiful new granddaughter is tough competition.

  What's with the Horse?

Jeff and Bill to Lunch at the Ocean Grill

We enjoyed a week with my brother, Jeff, and his partner, Bill.  It seems we spend a great deal of time eating but it was fun.  The Ocean Grill is a gourmet restaurant accessible only by boat.  Lovely setting and very good food.  There are rumors that Jeff and Bill will be back next season.  We do hope so.

There is an attorney, an accountant, an artist and a former playboy bunny hidden in this picture.  Can you find them?

The Birthday Girl and Charles

We have lots of reasons to party in Puerto Vallarta such as winning at bridge/losing at bridge or having a birthday/not having a birthday.  What fun we have.

Mike and Jan

Some people make a big difference in the world and Mike is one of those people.  We worked together in Camas where he was beloved even by the most recalcitrant middle school students.  Many kids will miss Mike but he has earned his retirement.

Back to British Columbia

Odd Goods

The things you see at sea are sometimes odd. At sea the odds may be good but take care the goods may be odd.

The Morning Sea

And how we love the mornings at sea.

First 2014 Salmon

The larders are stocked with prawns, ling cod and now salmon.  Life is good in the northern waters.

Catching Up - Here's December!

Where did these last months go?  Let me show you in pictures!

December time with Ryan, Shari and Jude

JUDE WELCOMES YOU TO MEXICO

LOVE HANGING OUT ON THE MALACON

DADDY AND JUDE GO ON A GECKO HUNT

BEACH TIME!!!

THE ZOO IS GREAT BUT THE GIRAFFE HAS A LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG TONGUE

AFTER CHRISTMAS WITH MARIA AND HER FAMILY

A BEACH PARTY WITH MARIA'S FAMILY

ORACIO TEACHES DOUG TO NET CAST

NORMA'S DAD TEACHES SOME FINE POINTS (IN SPANISH)

DOUG IS MASTERING THE ART

LUNCH IN PITIALL WITH MARIA, LIA AND LALO

LIA KISSES THE PARROT

LIA AND LALO SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS