Sea Foam Anniversary Cruise VI June 27 – September 8, 2009
Our ride down river with good friend Margot and her new friend, Blair. They boarded a Sky Train from downtown Vancouver to Surrey, bussed to Maple Ridge and took a cab to Mission to be with us as we head down the mighty Fraser River on the first day of our vacation. Anyone who has traveled with us the 35 miles either up or down the river has always enjoyed the scenery and the diversity of the river bank.
Once we arrived in the Middle Arm of the river at Richmond we used our reciprocal moorage at Richmond Yacht Club. After a lovely welcome dinner on board the Corona we borrowed Captain Gordie’s car and drove the next day to meet 35 family members for a birthday party. Brother Armand poses with neice, Christina, on his 70^th birthday. (She was on her way to a burlesque party!) The shot on the right is my whole clan and my 85 year old Auntie. Left to right: brothers Barry and Armand, Denise, Me, Rosemary, Jeannette, Michelle and Auntie Alice.
			After the birthday party festivities we headed out Sunday for Secret Cove on the Sunshine coast where Mark and April Weir waited for us on their North Pacific 42, XXIV VII. It was a rough ride with waves up to six feet and steep. Kona and I did not appreciate the sea but the Captain was quiet happy in this pilot house. When we arrived in Secret Cove we toasted our sixth wedding anniversary and our sixth anniversary cruise aboard the XXIV VII’s bridge in the sunshine.
Along with the beautiful sunshine came northwesterlies blowing 20 – 30 knots for many days. We made a short jaunt back out into the Strait of Georgia, up Agamemnon Channel and into Hotham Sound to gather oysters and clams. This area is beautiful but the water is deep and finding an anchor spot close to shore with a stern line is tricky. Harmony Island Marine Park is a popular spot for boaters but often crowded. We spent two nights in Hotham and kayaked one day towards the end of the inlet. We enjoyed beautiful sunny weather but the winds continued to prevent us from traveling northward in comfort. We happily munched on our oysters and clams and enjoyed the relaxation. The water was so warm Rick and I practiced capsizing our kayaks and getting back in. It took us a few goes but it was interesting to see how it would work if we really needed to do it in less then ideal conditions. We made a short jaunt back out into the Strait of Georgia
Hotham Sound Anchorage and site of the beach where we carried out our kayak “man-over board” maneuvers.			Kona and the Captain shucking clams.
We left Hotham Sound and made our way down to Nelson Island where we could be closer to the open water when the time was right to travel north to Desolation Sound. This is Musket Island Marine Park Anchorage looking out to Malaspina Strait with Texada Island in the background. This picture was taken after the white caps subsided in the strait and we contemplated heading off. Mark and April left early morning and braved some rough water until they reached Powell River. We stuck out our nose at 1430 and had a beautiful cruise up the coast with only a ripple on the water. We headed for Sarah Point turned to starboard and into Desolation Sound.
After four days of strong northwest winds keeping us off the straits, we ventured out and experienced a lovely smooth ride north on Malaspina Strait, passed Powell River and on to Desolation Sound.
The view from the cliffs overlooking our anchorage at Otter Island, Desolation Sound. Kona is doing just fine for an old girl. She can hop and jump just about anywhere.			Proof that the Captain of the Sea Foam can walk on water. We found a rock, partially submerged, called Sky Pilot Rock, outside our anchorage. There were two large abalone sunny themselves on it which we did not disturb.
The peaceful Otter Island anchorage requires a shore line with anchors to the center.			Captain Mark of the XXIV VII lends a hand to stern tie Ann Aerobic when they arrived to meet us from Parksville. While we waited for their arrival we floated about in our blow up lounge chairs sipping cool drinks. The water was very warm and the sun was very hot.
From Otter Island we climbed in our kayaks and paddled around the corner to Tenedoes Bay to enjoy a fresh water swim in Unwin Lake. On our return we encountered an Oyster Catcher and her chick. Oyster catchers don’t really eat oysters but feast on limpets as shown on the left. Our chick looks very healthy and wasn’t the least bit interested in the limpet his mother was offering for lunch.
Captain Mark at the upper helm station of the XXIV VII as we make our way out of Desolation Sound, north through Hole in the Wall and out into Thurston Bay Marine Park where Discovery Channel meets the southern end of Johnstone Strait at Chatham Point. April leans over the bow to video dolphins riding their bow wave at the entrance to Hole in the Wall.		We spent one night in Thurston Bay Marine Park and carried on through the back route to avoid travel on Johnstone Strait. We had to time the rapids at Greene Point and Whirlpool to get into our next anchorage at Forward Harbour. We stopped for a hike in Shoal Bay to wait for the water to work to our advantage. We made contact by radio with Robbie and Jan McFarlane from Orcas Island. They have just purchased a new Eagle 40 and wanted to compare notes with us about our boats.
After a peaceful night in Forward Harbour we headed down Sunderland Channel and into Johnstone Strait for a two hour journey before we could turn back up into the back route and into Chatham Channel and on through the Blow Hole to Lagoon Cove Marina. We were to meet Robbie and Jan for lunch here to continue our discussions about our Eagles. We anchored in the rain as the docks were full and enjoyed a short excursion around Lagoon Cove with Kona. After lunch we set off again headed for Dead Point Cove in Beware Passage.		A view over Lagoon Cove docks from the owners’ house. Mark and April met another North Pacific 42 boat owner here and Ron and Monica met another couple who owned an Island Packett sailboat like theirs. We all had a mini rendezvous of sorts in Lagoon Cove. (Lagoon Cove pictures by Ron Mayhew).
Sea Foam and her sister ship, MerryMac at anchor in Lagoon Cove.		Morning view from our boat in Dead Point Cove, Beware Passage. Beware Passage has tricky rocks at its southern end but well worth the effort to navigate through for this anchorage.
After Dead Point Cove we traveled to Port McNeil for laundry, water, fuel and groceries. We had dinner out at the town’s motel and enjoyed a good halibut feed. Port McNeil has many shops and amenities for traveling boaters. This large vessel from Australia came into the fuel dock. Its home port is the Port of Sydney. We saw it last year while anchored in Octopus Islands. We estimated it would cost them approximately 40K to fill up this baby with fuel at a dollar a litre.
Ann Aerobic at Scarlett Point on route to Clam Cove, Nigei Island in Queen Charlotte Strait.
Clam Cove is not named on the chart but a small handmade sign guides you into its entrance. We often use this anchorage as “wait and see” spot before going around Cape Caution. If the weather is not favorable to venture out into the open waters of Queen Charlotte Sound we can enjoy good diving around the corner in Browning Passage and stretch our legs with a great hike to Port Alexander.			There is one rock to starboard as you enter and another to port as you get to a small opening in the channel. Both are marked on the chart and locals have placed floats on them to help you stay clear. We anchored in the passageway to take advantage of the view outside to Queen Charlotte Strait. There is a large bay at the back of the cove for many boats to anchor with good holding. A small collection of weathered float homes is also in the back where a fellow named John deBoeck runs a dive charter company, Browning Pass HideAway Resort. The diving in the area is world-renowned.
Many cruise ships pass through Queen Charlotte Strait up and down the Inside Passage. From our anchorage we can not only see them but also hear them on the radio speaking to other pleasure craft during periods of heavy fog. We have been in this anchorage contemplating whether to go around Cape Caution and heard other boaters on the radio give up to the minute weather reports on the conditions as they make their way into the open waters of Queen Charlotte Sound.			Captain Rick is getting ready to dive in Browning Passage, right around the corner from our anchorage in Clam Cove, Nigei Island. The sea life in this passage is plentiful but dives must be carefully timed to match slack currents. We dove in when the current was ebbing and had a gentle push along the rock wall. When the tide switched to a flood, with slack only being a five-minute span, we were again gently pushed back to our tender and climbed out. There is life on top of life in this passage. It’s no wonder divers come from all over the world to see the wonders under the water here.
There is a trail from the head of the bay at Clam Cove that leads to the other side at Port Alexander. We took our tender to a small dock, followed the well-marked trail across a stream and carried on to the other side to enjoy the beach and the warm sunshine at Port Alexander. At low tide you can enter the trail at the head of the bay where a bleach bottle hangs from a tree to mark the entrance. The trail is mostly flat and easy to follow. It takes about twenty-five minutes to get to the other side. Monica sits in old logging machinery that is strewn along the shoreline at the beginning of the trail.

Once on the beach at Port Alexander we had a picnic lunch and a few cold beers. Rick, Ron and Mark are pictured here taking it easy before we head back along to the trail to return to our boats.	Kona liked the beach today too. She swam and fetched her stick for over an hour in the clear water at Port Alexander. There were no other boats anchored here today.
The wooden dock we tied to at the start of the trail. There is a family that enjoys this spot each summer and have rigged up a hot tub to enjoy while they camp. Monica is pictured here returning to the tender for the short ride back to our anchored boats.	Mark and April are happy at Happy Hour on board the SV Ann Aerobic.
Of all our three boats, Ann Aerobic had the largest dining table. We took turns having dinner meals together so we could always count on having two days off where two of us didn’t have to prepare anything or do any dishes. We always did add to the table offerings and enjoyed a feast and great company at every meal.	We were treated to a day sail in Queen Charlotte Strait onboard the Ann Aerobic. We had wind speeds between 13 and 17 knots and at one point we were traveling at 7.5 knots. Monica most often works the helm while Ron tends to the sheets. We meandered back and forth (tacking) across Queen Charlotte Strait for three hours and had a most enjoyable day on the Ann Aerobic.
We each took a turn at the helm under the direction of Ron and Monica.	Mark ventured outside to video our experience which we later enjoyed as after dinner entertainment.
Full sails under a bright blue sky. Life is good today.