**I finally uploaded some pictures to the last post, so check that out if you're interested!
And we've made it back to civilization! Personally, I've really enjoyed the disconnect from the rest of the world (except the few tedious-to-write messages we're able to send to my dad from our slightly archaic satellite phone.) I think we all would agree that we've especially enjoyed being away from all things politics. Nevertheless, as we headed into Prince Rupert today, we were glued to our phones the minute we realized we had service.
It's amazing comparing how much time you think you'll have on the boat for things like blogging, with reality. We're only in route an average of six hours a day or so, but somehow all that extra time gets eaten up - partly because we're going to bed so early (something about boating takes it out of you), and partly because we're just having too much fun. Immediately after anchoring is our daily glass of boxed wine (or two), usually followed by some bird watching, perhaps a paddle on a kayak, and for me, guitar practice. My mom and Paula have been ever so patient. Having a guitar player on board isn't quite as romantic as it seems when that player is just learning and thus botches every third chord. Anyway, I don't have a lot of time before I lose this fabulous wifi connection, so I'll list some highlights below.
Some highlights from the last week:
The dolphins: Way back in Burke Channel, we were lucky enough to be visited by hundreds of dolphins. We spotted them as they were leaping toward us almost in a line that lead directly to the boat. For some reason, they were excited to see us and wanted to play. Many of them were leaping completely out of the water like show animals, and most of them came right up next to the boat. It seemed like something out of a fairy tale.
Ocean falls: Our intended anchor didn't work out, so we headed an hour further to this very abandoned old town. Back in the 70s it was a bustling place supported by a paper mill. Today, few bunker down there. We wandered into a little cafe, where we met Wendy who managed a logging company that was there temporarily. Even she knew everyone in town and was surprised to see us. "I saw you three walking by and thought... 'well, I thought there were twenty four people in town. I guess there's actually twenty-seven.'" She was very nice, and we invited her to down to see the boat. On the way, we saw Norm - the same guy Captain Diana remembers from her trip two years ago who showed her around the town's museum. Apparently he looked just the same.
Shearwater: This is a tiny little town that caters well to boaters. Everything we needed (a grocery store, laundry, etc.) was a very short walk away. We were the first of the season to enjoy the warm sun on the restaurant's waterfront deck and got to watch "herring balls" (huge swarms of herring) and Sally the Eagle - a regular in the area.
The pile of poop: We all originally thought it was a deadhead (a log in the water), but as we got closer, I thought it looked like a huge pile of poo floating on the water. That didn't make a lot of sense, so we determined it must be an animal. It turned out to be an elephant seal, but not before much confusion and excitement. "It's a friggin walrus!" I proclaimed at one point without thinking back to my marine biology lessons. My mom couldn't stop laughing at me for that. The beasts do look really funny - they've got a short elephant-like "trunk" and lots of rolls of fat.
The land of a million waterfalls: We strolled into this bay in the sun, just in time to see all the snow capped mountains and cascading waterfalls before we got hit with pounding rain. It absolutely poured all night (which I enjoyed for the sound on the dodger's canvas). We left the next morning with limited views of the mountains, but were pleasantly surprised that the number of waterfalls had grown tremendously. For every one we saw the day before, we saw at least ten this morning. Captain Diana put it well - the mountains looked like they were crying. We've never been so grateful for the rain.
Bishop Bay Hotsprings: Not only were we in awe of the thousands of scoters (beautiful birds that fly all together right next to the water), but there were HOTSPRINGS right at the base of the shore of this bay. Somebody had kindly built a little tub for the natural spring water to filter into, we couldn't have loved it more. Over the years, people have decorated it with whatever they could bring from their boats, and it's gathered a lot of spunk.
Marty and Mae in Prince Rupert: We met the nicest couple after docking in Prince Rupert (a fishing company had blocked our way to our planned anchor spot). The harbor master, Marty had helped us through a rough time docking (more gale winds are in the forecast and they were just getting started as we came in). Later that evening the two of them brought over an apple pie and told us everything they know about the waters around Prince Rupert. Captain Diana says this sort of kindness is not uncommon in the boating world. Everyone seems to look out for each other.
I'm sure I've left out something important, so I may add some more to this blog later, but for now I'm off to bed. We have an early day ahead of us. Tomorrow we finally arrive in ALASKA!
And we've made it back to civilization! Personally, I've really enjoyed the disconnect from the rest of the world (except the few tedious-to-write messages we're able to send to my dad from our slightly archaic satellite phone.) I think we all would agree that we've especially enjoyed being away from all things politics. Nevertheless, as we headed into Prince Rupert today, we were glued to our phones the minute we realized we had service.
It's amazing comparing how much time you think you'll have on the boat for things like blogging, with reality. We're only in route an average of six hours a day or so, but somehow all that extra time gets eaten up - partly because we're going to bed so early (something about boating takes it out of you), and partly because we're just having too much fun. Immediately after anchoring is our daily glass of boxed wine (or two), usually followed by some bird watching, perhaps a paddle on a kayak, and for me, guitar practice. My mom and Paula have been ever so patient. Having a guitar player on board isn't quite as romantic as it seems when that player is just learning and thus botches every third chord. Anyway, I don't have a lot of time before I lose this fabulous wifi connection, so I'll list some highlights below.
Some highlights from the last week:
The dolphins: Way back in Burke Channel, we were lucky enough to be visited by hundreds of dolphins. We spotted them as they were leaping toward us almost in a line that lead directly to the boat. For some reason, they were excited to see us and wanted to play. Many of them were leaping completely out of the water like show animals, and most of them came right up next to the boat. It seemed like something out of a fairy tale.
Ocean falls: Our intended anchor didn't work out, so we headed an hour further to this very abandoned old town. Back in the 70s it was a bustling place supported by a paper mill. Today, few bunker down there. We wandered into a little cafe, where we met Wendy who managed a logging company that was there temporarily. Even she knew everyone in town and was surprised to see us. "I saw you three walking by and thought... 'well, I thought there were twenty four people in town. I guess there's actually twenty-seven.'" She was very nice, and we invited her to down to see the boat. On the way, we saw Norm - the same guy Captain Diana remembers from her trip two years ago who showed her around the town's museum. Apparently he looked just the same.
Shearwater: This is a tiny little town that caters well to boaters. Everything we needed (a grocery store, laundry, etc.) was a very short walk away. We were the first of the season to enjoy the warm sun on the restaurant's waterfront deck and got to watch "herring balls" (huge swarms of herring) and Sally the Eagle - a regular in the area.
The pile of poop: We all originally thought it was a deadhead (a log in the water), but as we got closer, I thought it looked like a huge pile of poo floating on the water. That didn't make a lot of sense, so we determined it must be an animal. It turned out to be an elephant seal, but not before much confusion and excitement. "It's a friggin walrus!" I proclaimed at one point without thinking back to my marine biology lessons. My mom couldn't stop laughing at me for that. The beasts do look really funny - they've got a short elephant-like "trunk" and lots of rolls of fat.
The land of a million waterfalls: We strolled into this bay in the sun, just in time to see all the snow capped mountains and cascading waterfalls before we got hit with pounding rain. It absolutely poured all night (which I enjoyed for the sound on the dodger's canvas). We left the next morning with limited views of the mountains, but were pleasantly surprised that the number of waterfalls had grown tremendously. For every one we saw the day before, we saw at least ten this morning. Captain Diana put it well - the mountains looked like they were crying. We've never been so grateful for the rain.
Bishop Bay Hotsprings: Not only were we in awe of the thousands of scoters (beautiful birds that fly all together right next to the water), but there were HOTSPRINGS right at the base of the shore of this bay. Somebody had kindly built a little tub for the natural spring water to filter into, we couldn't have loved it more. Over the years, people have decorated it with whatever they could bring from their boats, and it's gathered a lot of spunk.
Marty and Mae in Prince Rupert: We met the nicest couple after docking in Prince Rupert (a fishing company had blocked our way to our planned anchor spot). The harbor master, Marty had helped us through a rough time docking (more gale winds are in the forecast and they were just getting started as we came in). Later that evening the two of them brought over an apple pie and told us everything they know about the waters around Prince Rupert. Captain Diana says this sort of kindness is not uncommon in the boating world. Everyone seems to look out for each other.
I'm sure I've left out something important, so I may add some more to this blog later, but for now I'm off to bed. We have an early day ahead of us. Tomorrow we finally arrive in ALASKA!
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| The best photo I could get of the dolphins... trust me when I say there were many many more. |
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| Shearwater |
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| Elephant seal |
Loving the blog! You 3 look like you are loving life!
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