We just returned from a week in beautiful, but smokey, BC, Canada. After stopping over at Reid Harbor for the night (more on that later) we entered via Bedwell and checked in. A slow jump over to Winter Cove and we spent night #2 there, on the hook and took in the park and it's beauty.
Next day up to Ganges and stayed the night at a marina for The Admirals' 49th birthday. Next morning, we released lines and went northward. We had intended to stay at Wallace Island, but it was crowded, so we continued up and stayed in Telegraph Harbor.
Left Telegraph and ran to Montague, where we spent a quiet night on hook outside the park. Fouled the anchor badly in someone's old "mooring"; concrete-filled cinder-blocks and an old anchor, all tied together with 2" line. So heavy I couldn't lift it. I actually wanted to keep the anchor for a yard ornament, but nope. After we freed that mess, we headed to Portland Island and anchored in Princess Cove in 8-10' of water. What a beautiful park with nice campsites, pit toilets, hiking trails etc.
Next morning a very bumpy crossing of Haro Straight in +4-footers from the S/W, a good experience for The Admiral! She handled it fine. We checked in at Friday Harbor and spent the last night in Fisherman Bay, Lopez Island.
As to Reid Harbor: we were awakened by a low helo. I look outside and notice a USCG Dolphin circling. I turn on 16 and listen in. A male on a boat anchored out near the park dock is having an apparent heart-attack. A RN is on the radio with the Dolphin helo, providing patient status, vitals etc.
The helo crew comes up with a plan: they approach slowly from the mouth of the bay, blowing boats to hell and back and finally lower the rescue swimmer to the boat, followed by a litter basket. A USCG small boat then comes tearing into the harbor. Once he was stable, they loaded the patient onto the boat, along with the rescue swimmer, and tore off towards a dock then hospital. This all took less than 20 minutes, total.
The skill that both the pilot(s) and crew exhibited was incredible. There were lots of boats, some with tall masts, in the area and to get the swimmer on that tiny boat was like threading the proverbial needle. It took them a few minutes of maneuvering etc to get the swimmer safely on-board. Their professionalism, dedication to duty etc was something to be commended.
Next day up to Ganges and stayed the night at a marina for The Admirals' 49th birthday. Next morning, we released lines and went northward. We had intended to stay at Wallace Island, but it was crowded, so we continued up and stayed in Telegraph Harbor.
Left Telegraph and ran to Montague, where we spent a quiet night on hook outside the park. Fouled the anchor badly in someone's old "mooring"; concrete-filled cinder-blocks and an old anchor, all tied together with 2" line. So heavy I couldn't lift it. I actually wanted to keep the anchor for a yard ornament, but nope. After we freed that mess, we headed to Portland Island and anchored in Princess Cove in 8-10' of water. What a beautiful park with nice campsites, pit toilets, hiking trails etc.
Next morning a very bumpy crossing of Haro Straight in +4-footers from the S/W, a good experience for The Admiral! She handled it fine. We checked in at Friday Harbor and spent the last night in Fisherman Bay, Lopez Island.
As to Reid Harbor: we were awakened by a low helo. I look outside and notice a USCG Dolphin circling. I turn on 16 and listen in. A male on a boat anchored out near the park dock is having an apparent heart-attack. A RN is on the radio with the Dolphin helo, providing patient status, vitals etc.
The helo crew comes up with a plan: they approach slowly from the mouth of the bay, blowing boats to hell and back and finally lower the rescue swimmer to the boat, followed by a litter basket. A USCG small boat then comes tearing into the harbor. Once he was stable, they loaded the patient onto the boat, along with the rescue swimmer, and tore off towards a dock then hospital. This all took less than 20 minutes, total.
The skill that both the pilot(s) and crew exhibited was incredible. There were lots of boats, some with tall masts, in the area and to get the swimmer on that tiny boat was like threading the proverbial needle. It took them a few minutes of maneuvering etc to get the swimmer safely on-board. Their professionalism, dedication to duty etc was something to be commended.
