July 30, 2014 - Around Cape Caution to Blunden Harbor

July 30,2014 – Around Cape Caution to Blunden Harbor

(Happy Anniversary to Terry and John !!!!)

A 5 am departure from Duncanby gave us the calmest part of the day to make our way around the dreaded Cape Caution … which as it turned out, was not at all terrible (thanks to good planning and good weather !! )

We arrived in beautiful and well-protected Blunden Harbor around noon which gave us time to zoom around in the dinghy and check out the place. 

Visitors are generally not welcomed on the beaches according to Douglass’s guide.  As Don Douglass states ….

 “A thriving native culture once existed in this rain forest and, in addition to a lengthy midden along the northeast beach, giant logs on shore indicate the remains of an old longhouse.  Unfortunately, the beach became too popular, apparently causing the posting of a sign that reads:

  Blunden Hbr.  No trespassing.  This is the traditional territory and homeland of the Nakwaxdaxw People.  It is regularly monitored by guardians.  No camping or digging. “

So out of respect for the Nakwaxdaxw, we stayed in the tender and explored from there !!

Instead, we took advantage of a rising tide and went through “the rapids” into Bradley Lagoon … FUN !!

Our final dinner on our back deck with the Talbots was a gorgeous mixture of fresh crab, prawns, shrimp, watermelon salad and fresh bread …. Oh … And a nice bottle of wine, of course !!

Our centerpiece is a beautiful old bottle -turned- candleholder, Penny found on the beach (people with dogs HAVE to use the beach !!) ….  Which she made even more beautiful with some special touches !

Leaving Blunden Harbor the morning of the 31st was beautiful and calm ....

On to Echo Bay .....

July 29, 2014 - Duncanby Lodge and Marina

July 29, 2014 – Duncanby Lodge

Up early and off to Duncanby Lodge … beautiful start to the day.

Duncanby Lodge and Marina is a well-run FISHING CAMP on Goose Bay.  We arrived to very friendly, helpful dock assistants (wearing psychedelic t-shirts making them EASY to spot) …. Tied up …. Checked out the facility … made dinner reservations. 

 The decorating theme certainly revolves around FISHING ... and HOCKEY !!

 (close up of the sign accompanying the hockey "halibut rig" .... )

Some sage "fishing" advice ....

Talbots headed off for some fishing (with great success – caught TWO beauties ) and we dropped our tender and ran up to the end of Goose Bay to the Goose Bay Cannery …. 

Fascinating facility with an interesting story ….

When it was fully operational, there were 600 people employed here !!!

The cannery and surrounding 450 acres, were purchased over 9 years ago by a group of 30 people (from the Vancouver area) and is being restored (or at least fixed up to being usable)   The ultimate plan for the facility is TBD, but at this point each of the 30 people / families are expected to donate one week a year to come up and work on the group’s project plan for that year.

To date they have secured the structures, painted most of the buildings, worked on the caretakers suite, repaired the old dam up at the lake in behind the cannery and installed a water line to the cannery which connects with a small Pelton Wheel used to charge the facilities batteries.

They are now starting to work on the kitchen and bathroom facilities
(the fun stuff, as it was told to us).

We got a tour of the big, main building ... full of all sorts of interesting old equipment and things ....

A steam donkey engine ....

What may one day again, be beautiful brick arches ....

A diesel engine driving a generator ....

A very fun chandelier hanging over a communal sitting area ....

It’s an industrious group who are lovingly restoring the cannery … my hope is they will keep it and use it as a place to enjoy with their families for  many years to come. 

Truly a labor of love ….

Goose Bay has many little islands to check out …and we raced around a few of them ....

Dinner at the Lodge was DELICIOUS ... 

and a beautiful sunset to end the evening ....

July 28, 2014 - Codville Lagoon

July 28, 2014 – Codville Lagoon

The weather for our trip to Codville Lagoon was warm and sunny, so we drove most of the way from the flybridge (my favorite !!)  ….

The entrance to the lagoon is well-hidden but once discovered, opens up to a beautiful anchorage.  

We set some prawn and crab traps and zoomed around to do a little exploring... 

Talbots took Kona to the beach for a "walk" .... (he wore his "dinner bell" to alert any bears nearby ) 

Then dinner on the back deck, in the sunshine … and it was warm enough to stay out for the evening.

We have an early morning departure so it wasn’t a late night.

July 26- 27th, 2014 - back to Shearwater ....

July 26 & 27, 2014 – Back to Shearwater

(NB – on our previous stop in Shearwater, the engine hit 1000 hours !!  Notable Milestone ….)

We have hit our most northerly point of this trip at Rescue Bay and now we make our way back south.

It is looking brighter to the south (she says optimistically ….)

 We came through a beautiful “shortcut” called Perceval Narrows en route back to Shearwater.

On our trip back to Shearwater, we (again) assisted a vessel in distress …. A skiff with a broken down engine and a dead radio battery. ( I’m sure they were also out of duct tape as they had used most of their tape on the leg of their engine !!!   Hmmmm …. )

We towed them safely into Bella Bella then headed across the bay into Shearwater.

Dad treated us to a GREAT dinner at the restaurant on Saturday nite .... 

A Sunday morning of successful fishing ... caught 2 .... lost 2 ....  !!!

Sunday after lunch, Dad headed off on the ferry to Bella Bella to catch his flight.  We have had a GREAT time with him on board … fishing .... eating ....drinking martini’s ..... watching movies... visiting ... R&R  !!! 

He has been a FUN addition to THE CREW  and we've loved having him aboard  !!!

We have enjoyed Shearwater ... LOTS of great people to meet and chat with ... our own family of eagles ... beautiful surroundings .... good provisioning !!!

A painting Craig Widsten (Shearwater's owner) had commissioned to be painted on the side of one of the buildings  ....  a mural of the many people who played a part in the area's history.

The key to the mural ....

We woke up early Monday morning to THICK fog ... 

but it may clear so we can fish this morning before heading off ....

Well ... didn't get fishing, but decided to pull out and move on while the sun is shining !!

BUT .... look what I caught ...  And I didn't even have to leave the dock !!  

A very kind gentleman shared his bounty with us.  

We will be enjoying a salmon dinner tonite !!!