We went early this year (left Olympia May 13th). We had very good weather with only a day or two of rain. On the way north, we missed a big blow near Prince Rupert by hiding out in Kitimat for a couple of days. Coming south we let the Straits of Georgia talk us into delaying a crossing to Nanaimo. Otherwise, no serious wind and no dangerous waves.
It was, however, the year for irksome problems with getting fuel. Both Duncanby's Landing and Hartley Bay were out. In the case of Duncanby's, I had e-mail confirmation from them that they would have fuel and be open for business when we got there. When we arrived, it took a bit to scare anyone up. We finally found a guy doing some carpentry. He told us the place was not open, had no fuel, and the corporate guys at headquarters didn't know what they were talking about. I e-mailed those "corporate guys" again when I got to Petersburg. I got an apology, but also insistence that Duncaby's really had been open, and with fuel, when we were there, and that the "carpenter" didn't know what he was talking about. Hmmmm . . . . So we went to Dawson's Landing for fuel. At Hartley Bay, we could not get any response at all regarding when, if ever, the fuel barge was coming. I heard the Coasties on the VHF quizzing HB about expected fuel availability. They got the same "don't know" answer we did. Hmmm . . . So we went to Kitimat for fuel.
We were never in real danger of running out of fuel, and the experience just reinforces the idea that you have to be prepared and flexible in these more remote areas.
I've posted lots of pictures in my album. Here's a sampling:
For more than a quarter hour we were absolutely surrounded by Dall's Porpoises running under and around the boat. A real madhouse.
And this is what Chatham Sound, a place that can be very up and down and just plain miserable, was like one early morning:
It was, however, the year for irksome problems with getting fuel. Both Duncanby's Landing and Hartley Bay were out. In the case of Duncanby's, I had e-mail confirmation from them that they would have fuel and be open for business when we got there. When we arrived, it took a bit to scare anyone up. We finally found a guy doing some carpentry. He told us the place was not open, had no fuel, and the corporate guys at headquarters didn't know what they were talking about. I e-mailed those "corporate guys" again when I got to Petersburg. I got an apology, but also insistence that Duncaby's really had been open, and with fuel, when we were there, and that the "carpenter" didn't know what he was talking about. Hmmmm . . . . So we went to Dawson's Landing for fuel. At Hartley Bay, we could not get any response at all regarding when, if ever, the fuel barge was coming. I heard the Coasties on the VHF quizzing HB about expected fuel availability. They got the same "don't know" answer we did. Hmmm . . . So we went to Kitimat for fuel.
We were never in real danger of running out of fuel, and the experience just reinforces the idea that you have to be prepared and flexible in these more remote areas.
I've posted lots of pictures in my album. Here's a sampling:
For more than a quarter hour we were absolutely surrounded by Dall's Porpoises running under and around the boat. A real madhouse.
And this is what Chatham Sound, a place that can be very up and down and just plain miserable, was like one early morning: