Tuesday May 24th HAPPY BIRTHDAY Anne! 12:15pm: Docked at Port McNeil Harbour. Bill and Lyn were on the docks to greet us. We quickly bagged up the laundry and garbage and headed up town. Port McNeil , population of approximately 5000, has got to be one of the friendliest towns that we have visited. Everyone says hello and wants to know how you are and where you are going, and they are more than happy to assist any way they can. After laundry and provisioning we scrambled back up the hill to Gus’s Pub to have dinner and watch the Canuk’s hockey game, what fun!
Wednesday May 25th 8:00 am. We checked in with the Net to get the latest information, then over to SV “Canik” to assist Bill and Lyn.
Wednesday May 25th 8:00 am. We checked in with the Net to get the latest information, then over to SV “Canik” to assist Bill and Lyn.
They had to buy a new wind vane for their sail boat, so Wayne winched Bill up the mast to do the repair. Repairs completed Bill and Lyn departed and headed north. We waited with Al and Irene. Al ordered new parts for his generator and they had not arrived yet. 1:00pm and finally the parts arrived and Al took a taxi to pick them up as much too far to walk.
It was too late to leave once the new parts were installed, so we decided to stay one more night and headed back to Gus’s pub for dinner. Excellent Food!
Thursday May 26th 8:00am departed Port McNeil and headed for Miles Inlet. Calm seas and light winds, so we did not put the sails up.
1:45 pm we arrived safe and sound in Miles Inlet, this anchorage is not large but you have to travel about a mile up a very narrow passage to get to the anchorage..Hence the name “Miles Inlet”. It was so peaceful and the reflections off the water were amazing, we listened to the birds while Wayne cooked steaks on the BBQ...Life is good!
Friday May 27th 6:00am we departed the safe waters of Miles Inlet and headed out to Queen Charlotte Sound. We faced 2-3 foot swells, but the winds were kind. We rounded the notorious Cape Caution again with ease and even got some drive out our sail as we headed for Calvert Island.
12:30pm. We entered the safe passage of Kwakshua Channel and set out the prawn traps to leave overnight. 2:00pm we set the hook in yet another beautiful setting, “Pruth Bay”. We picked up the Al and Irene in our dingy and headed to shore.
Again we met up with Bill and Lyn. They had just finished a five hour hike of the area. Looking very chipper I must say!
Hakai Lodge and Beach club once was a fishing lodge but is now under new ownership and it is a facility for research, conventions and fishing. They were very kind to let us tie up to their docks and take the hike across to West Beach. The hike is only about 1/2 kilometre to one of the most beautiful sand beaches we have ever seen.
“Teddy”, (Al and Irene’s dog), was so happy to run for miles on the smooth untouched sand.
Saturday May 28th 8:00am. We were able to catch up on emails and the weather, compliments of the Hakai Lodge. We departed at 10:00 and headed for the abandoned town of Namu.
This site was once a successful cannery purchased in 1912 by BC Packers and has had a rocky history in recent years. During its peak years Namu’s summer population swelled to 2000. BC Packers simply walked away when they decided to abandon Namu.Two revitalization projects in the 1990’s failed. Much of the compound has deteriorated and is off-limits or closed due to hazards. Recently, an effort has been made by the year round caretakers, Teresa, Rene and Peter, to clean up the site and welcome cruising boats. We decided to anchor in Rock Inlet as the dock seemed to be busy. We took the dingy over to visit the “girls” and Peter. Upon our arrival, Teresa rushed over to great us, after introductions she opened their gift shop. 
They have a nice selection of wood carvings and pictures that they have hand crafted in the long winter months. They were busy getting the summer docks set up, but Peter had broken his hand a few days before. No cast, just a rap of bandages. The progress was definitely slower. We gave them a hand getting the lumber barge in place.
We took a walk around the site, to show Al, Irene, Bill and Lyn the collapsing cannery and homes.
It was a beautiful, sunny day. Back at the anchorage, Al and Bill set out their crab traps and we all headed over to “Blue Skies” for fresh prawns and happy hour. The pulling of the traps yielded a dozen keepers.
Our next stop is Shearwater (Bella Bella). We will be making crab cakes for sure, anyone wanting to join us you can meet us at 53 28.25’N, 128 50.20”W See you then!
The school is large enough to hold 300 students but only has 15 attending this year. They have around 60 high school students that are boated over to Powel River but 2/3 of them will graduate this year. They have been holding meetings, to try to get ideas to revitalize the economy and to encourage tourism. Local public protest resulted in the rejection of the proposed liquified natural gas facility. This facility would have been used to generate electricity and feed the power grid to the south. 7:00 pm dinner and happy hour on “Blue Skies” (Al and Irene’s boat.) 
We then anchored for the night in Squirrel Cove and back to MV “Blue Skies” for some guitar and singing after dinner.
We spent two wonderful days and it was so nice to see the kids, Luke, Josh, Katey and Nigel. This may be our last visit with them at Whiterock Passage, as they are taking on a new venture in Terrace BC. Al and Irene rejoined us here and we plan to travel north together. We ended the nice evening with a hot dog roast and campfire.
Two more boats tie up and we visit. Kathie, Joe and family are from Anchorage, Alaska. This couple amazed me as aboard their 40ft trawler “Sun Dog” they have their five children, two boys 10 and 8 and a set of triplets 16month old! Ok now the question is...how many diapers does one pack aboard for 2 months, let alone how much milk?
We had a great visit once again with Billy Proctor. I think he enjoys the company after a long winter with no one around. He informed us, that in the summer, he may have up to 80 cruisers a day come to visit.
