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| Hiking to Edge Lake |
We stopped at the coastal town of Shearwater after a glorious run up Gunboat Passage. This area has a sub-alpine quality to it with smaller trees. At times Gunboat passage looked just like a long gorgeous mountain lake.
This is sport-fishing country apparently. At the dock in Shearwater there were several professional charter boats ready for customers and happy to charge from 6-1200 dollars per day for the privilege of getting a salmon or two. I think the season was in a lull for I did not see any actual salmon that had been caught.
This was where I was dropped off to head back to Seattle. I needed to get back to attend my daughter's High School graduation! We had a great dinner and took advantage of the "Loonie Showers" the night before I parted ways with the rest of the crew. They are sailing on and I miss them! Others will join them soon.
It was sad to leave and I had most of day to "kill" as I waited for a flight at the nearby town of Bella Bella. What to do? I decided to go on a hike. It was quite hot and the trail I saw on a little brochure was difficult to find. I got the impression that few people ever actually walk on this trail - perhaps because of bear danger? I was alone and the trail was very wet in the low spots. After gamely crossing about 30 of these very dark pools of bog water the bugs were starting to wake up and I did not want to get my feet wet so I headed back to town. I only walked maybe 4 miles but it was hot enough to make me start to sweat.
Next I kicked around Shearwater, doing a bit of exploring. This was an old RCAF base where seaplanes were based for a time. Many rather large hangers and buildings date from that era in WWII. I came across an old bunker where the airmen would take cover if the Japanese attacked. It has a "company town" feeling and there is a bit of poverty evident. One treat: I saw a deer swimming across the channel....
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| First Nations canoe |
Next I took a water taxi to the nearby town of Bella Bella in British Columbia. This is a First Nations town and it was really interesting. I had several great conversations with people, all very very friendly. At the airport there was some excitement. Just as we were about to board our flight out, another private came in for a hard landing and damaged the runway. We could not take off for about an hour and there was much rushing about as the wrecked plane was removed. Apparently this is the only crash in the last 15 years there!
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| Queenie |
Then I took a scenic flight to Port Hardy, flying over the very area we had just sailed up (Fitz Hugh passage). After a stop there, we flew for another hour to Vancouver and I re-entered civilization! The trip over the northern part of Vancouver Island was really special. I could see just how far we had sailed and saw more boats making their way North...
