Well I made it back to Shearwater via Vancouver to Bella Bella flight, then a taxi van to town then a water taxi over to the Marina.
The boat was not quite ready but they got the parts to fix the back stays the next day and got her in the water. Always a nail biter when they lift the boat. Yi yi yo!
I set off the next morning hoping to get to Klemtu and see a white “spirit” Bear.
Corazon berthed in Shearwater about to sail north next day…View from Shearwater my last night there. On the way again. This is one of those channel entrances that can be dangerous on the wrong tide/wind combination but I lucked out.Made it to Klemtu. That little derelict dock to my right gave me fits drifting into me. This was that channel entrance that worried me Just another day on the waterHappy to be tied to the dock after long day
Klemtu was where I met the sailboat Hermitage with captain Don and crew Paul. Paul is amazing sailor who sails all over the world on other people’s boats.
Corazon and Hermitage tied up together in Klemtu. The klan longhouse is seen on the peninsula off to the right.Another view of the longhouse
There was not much to do in Klemtu. Nothing but a small store. No hiking trails.
There was this interesting fish contraption having to do with the hatchery The little town of Klemtu. No Spirit Bear tours were available.This is how they get all their supplies, via barge/landing craftHeaded out with good weather, headed to Butedale Starting to get real pretty Waterfalls starting to get more commonComing into Butedale, a ghost town with a humongous waterfall Butedale. Someone is trying to eventually make this a resort. Not too far along yet.Corazon tucked in nicely, Hermitage just visible to the rightHeaded out from Butedale next day in the rainHeaded further north Just a touch of sun got me smiling Hermitage headed to Bishop Cove Hot Springs Sunshine!Snug anchorage in Bishop CoveThe hot springs- they were really nice. Weather deteriorated over 72 hoursI headed on a detour, up toward Kitimat, to see what I could see…Well they ship bauxite around the world to here to smelt it, the water to run all this comes from a tunnel 50 miles long from a huge dammed lakeThere was a boat sinking behind me at MK Marina. Long story short we saved it. Canada is just different enough that you noticeThe view from Kitimat tribal village – note the silty waterHeaded back to the main inside passage channels Lots more waterfall features Thought for awhile I could stop at village of Hartley Bay, but they’re closed due to COVIDFinally ended up here, in Lowe Inlet, by Verney Falls.
Verney Falls is gorgeous. I ended up staying 3 nights. Trapped by a low front that threatened 50 kt winds. Met some super nice folks in a 3 boat flotilla. Did a hike with them. They all had 14 year old dogs!
The rocks on the beach are an ancient fish weir. Eventually I decided to try to get further north and hoped for good weather. After three days my anchor line was wrapped around a rock and it was an epic struggle to get it freed up again.
Ancient fish weirThe upper fallsCorazon all wrapped upThese folks carry their pup everywhere Finally headed north again after three daysDecided not to go here, try for Prince Rupert instead
Well I went all the way almost to Prince Rupert, but had to settle for Port Edward. Which was great because I met great people on Beggars Tune.
My new friend Nick Vogel, who built out his Westsail 32 from the inside out. He and wife Evy are retired school teachers. He taught shop for 25 years and can fix anything. They were so nice to me in Port Edward.
Their pup was perfectly comfortable on Corazon while we visited Yea with Nick and Evy Vogel.Took the bus into Prince Rupert just in time for Seafest. The klans singing their ancient songs was my favorite part.
Well, Prince Rupert is where I finally got to get crew. My buddy Dennis Frederick flew up on short notice for the big crossing into the US, across Dixon Entrance.
Dennis flew into Prince Rupert airport, which is not in Prince Rupert, and took a ferry to town where I met him for dinner.
We ate a good fish meal and got groceries for the big trip.
Greene Island light, right before you enter Dixon We ended up having flat calm weather, but it was a very long daySuch a long day that we both got napsWe made it Ketchikan! Very very touristy. Not my cuppa tea…But I was glad to bum around with Dennis onshore a few days. We both are wearing our Verizon hats.I cannot help but notice certain signs. This child care place in Ketchikan just seems average. Ketchikan does have this really cool Creek Street area. Very nice when not inundated with tourists.We stayed here about 3 nightsHeaded up Clarence Strait and made it to Thorne Bay. Neat little town.View from the ridge above Thorne BayDennis and Corazon at Thorne BayDennis at the helm. Headed out from Thorne Bay to Coffmann Cove.Made it to Coffmann Cove and took the dinghy out to drop a crab trapSunset at Coffmann Cove. Coffmann Cove. Corazon’s wood masts visible in center at back.From Coffmann Cove we headed Northeast toward Wrangell NarrowsThe color of the water about to change due to Stikine River siltAfter a long day, we tucked into Roosevelt Bay on Zarembo Island. Just a rickety government dock. We would need to depart before low tide at 0700 due to shallow water.I’m happy with this spot. We went for a ten mile hike on logging roads. Zarembo Island has some interesting things about it.Getting ready for Wrangell Narrows tomorrow.Leaving Zarembo for Wrangell narrows.
No real good pics of Wrangell Narrows. Too busy plotting courses, dodging logs and other boats.
Made it to Petersburg and got a slip, they were tight but we got in.Petersburg is one of my favorite spots so far. From “out the road” on Mitikof Island, a mile outside townOf course we had to do a 14 mile hikeMaybe it wasn’t 14 miles, but my knees said it wasThere’s a lot to see and do here. Hopefully from here on I can get Dennis to see some glaciers, since he put up with me all this time.
Seawolf Corazon 