KWATSI BAY MARINA
After three nights and four
days, we finally shoved off from the Public Dock on Minstrel Island.
Even though it was a mini “ghost town”, the dock served us well and kept us
safe and secure during some nasty winds.
We had to cross over Johnstone Strait with 28mph winds and lumpy seas
but it wasn’t at all harrowing. Found our way to Tribune Channel passing a fish
farm with what looked like a pretty impressive waterfall as the back drop at
one time…it was now only a trickle. I believe it is called Lacey Falls.
We found this beautiful
refuge at Kwatsi Bay
and moored at the Marina.
David brought her into the dock so effortlessly and there were three men
waiting to “nail us down”. Easy. The owners, Anca and Max, were very
welcoming, and we were thrilled to find out that they had internet
access…wahoo!
The marina had plenty of
water so we were able to fill our tanks…there will be showers tonight!! There is no power here because the lake at
the top of the hill is dry so no water is coming down the flume to drive the
pelten wheel, so had to run our generator but no big deal. All four boats
moored here are American and we celebrated our Independence Day with a
Potluck. Anca and Max brought a
beautiful baked salmon, and David’s spaghetti was a big hit. We sat for hours
talking about our boating adventures and places to visit. One of the Yanks is
an 80 year old woman from Anacortes who sounds like she has been boating her
whole life and really seemed to know her stuff. She was definitely an inspiration.
Happy 4th of July!
Anca and Max shared some
horrifying cougar and bear stories. They had to shoot two cougars that were on
top of their roof. The bear attack stories were enough to scare you to death
but the air horn, we were told was a good deterrent for bears but not
cougars. You can smell and hear a bear
near you but the cougars are stalkers so if you see one, make yourself as big
as you can, scream loudly and back away very slowly. Just so you know. They
also shared that just in this bay there are usually 11 waterfalls but this
summer there are none. Anca said that this is the driest summer she could
recall in 30 years.
The marina owners' home without the cougars on the roof.
With only four boats moored
here, we asked if this was typical at this time in the summer. Anca said, “No,
we are usually very busy at this time. I think it is probably because of the
forceful winds on the Johnstone. People can’t get through or they have decided
to wait it our. One boat came in and reported 8 foot waves on the Johnstone
just a couple of days ago.” Yikes!
We have not seen bears yet
but lots of bald eagles, seals and one
frisky otter. We are amused by the swallows who we have observed dive bombing a
crow, an eagle and even a pet cat on the dock. They are fiercely guarding their
nests.
Surrounded by beauty
There’s a book exchange here
so I spent some time trading reading material. Can’t believe how much I am
reading which is a good thing. We will be joining a Happy Hour tonight at 5:00.
David was going to make a clam chowder if we could find a clam garden in this
area. That idea was squashed when Anca said that clamming at this time of the
year in this area is not done because of the increased danger of toxins in the
clams (red tide). Drat!
We had a chance to discuss
our itinerary for the next 10 days before arriving in Echo Bay. From Kwatsi Bay, we will head for Viner
Sound, then to Simoom Sound, and then on to Shaw Bay where there might be
internet to make a connection with you again, then to Sullivan Bay where there
may also be a chance for internet and then off to Tracey Harbour before
crossing Queen Charlotte’s Strait to
Port McNeil and Alert Bay, then back across the Strait to Waddington Bay and
then off to Echo Bay for Prime Rib on the 16th and a Pig Roast on
the 18th…always thinking of our stomachs. Of course, this could all change due to weather
but it’s nice to have a plan so we can totally ignore it!
Just imagine waterfalls added to this scene!
Many more boats joined us on
our second day here and once again during Happy Hour we got lots of advice on
where to go and where to dock.
Invaluable information for us “newbies”.
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