7/25/2026: Well the wind has started and she is a doozy! Even though we are tied safely to the dock we are rocking and rolling. Bri walked up to the Cortez Market and the Co-op this morning (actually hitchhiked and didn’t die!) Bought groceries to be delivered and walked the 3 miles back to the marina. Boys have a bit of cabin fever with the bad weather so Bri found the only Turo rental car on the island and will be taking the boys over to Campbell River for a couple days to expend some energy. Dan will stay back with the boat to make sure she continues to float during the storm. This is the part of boating that isn’t fun, I suppose. But we are surrounded by beauty, cool temps, and no smoke. So there is that!
7/24/2026: After looking at the weather the last couple days we realized we need to get to a protected marina today, otherwise we might get stuck in Desolation Sound (which we love, but being at anchor in the wind and rain isn’t much fun). We stowed the toys and pulled up the hook, then cruised over to Cortes Island and the SYC outstation. Dan had to do another quick repair job on the blackwater tank (😖) but we gratefully got a spot at the dock! This outstation has laundry, a stocked game room with used books, a swim dock, and a garden full of herbs, lettuce and other veggies for the taking. A real treat!
7/23/2026: Took a short dinghy ride to Tenedos Bay, where we hiked to Unwin lake. Precariously scooted across fallen logs to a rocky outcrop where a few of us swam. Gorgeous views and lots of yelling/echoing. On the way back we took a detour by Otter Island to a beautiful secluded cove where we had seen a rope swing on the way to the hike. Dan scrambled up the rock face and took the plunge! Rope was a little too short and his fall was greater than he had planned. He’s pretty bruised and sore but doing ok (I’m not approved to post the video - as he isn’t even ready to watch it!)
In the afternoon the boys and I took every floating toy we have (SUP, kayak, dock, dinghy) over to explore some rocks. There we found the clearest and warmest water yet (74 degrees!) We tied up our ships and swam around in the little rock outcroppings, and we even named one Ruby bay. You could see all the way to the bottom - and didn’t see a single toe sucker, crab or shark, lol.
7/22/2026: Took a dinghy ride in to Refuge Cove for lunch and shopping. Kids didn’t want to go initially because they wanted to stay and swim. But lunch was great, shopping better, and we headed back to the boat with ice cream cones in hand. Oh, can’t forget a stop at the fuel dock to add 4 liters of fuel to the tank. LOL
Back at the boat we swam, paddled, kayaked, Davis jumped off the rope swing and Dan pulled B and G on the inflatable dock. Tacos for dinner and a knot lesson for Graham (bowline and constrictor). Bri’s evening hours are spent opening/closing hatches and portholes and adjusting the one tiny fan onboard so we might all possibly sleep without sweating. No A/C at night since we’d have to run the generator and it is too loud and echo-y in this cove.
7/21/2026: Woke up to sunny skies and eagles playing nearby. Dan dropped me off at the store (from the dinghy) and I loaded up on food, once again (these guys eat A LOT OF FOOD). Walked about 2 miles back to the boat and it was already getting pretty warm. We had a perfect cruise to one of our favorite spots in Desolation Sound, called Prideaux Haven. If you’ve never read the book “The Curve of Time” by Muriel Blanchett, and you love adventure, it is a must-read! It is a fascinating story about a widowed mom of five cruising the coast of BC from Vancouver with her five (FIVE) kids in a 25-foot cruiser during summers in the 1920s and 30s. She wrote often of this place; a string of shallow, peaceful coves and lagoons, neighbored by towering mountains. The bays are small and deep, so in order to anchor you must tie a stern line to a tree trunk (or chain that the Provincial Park Service has installed) along the edge so your boat doesn’t swing too much with the ebb and flood of the tide. We’ve been coming here for many years now and it never gets old. The water here is a warm (for this area at least) 70 degrees, and on a hot days like these, there is no place like it. There is even a rope swing here in Laura Cove, and lots of exploring to be done among the rocks.
7/20/2026: Graham had been complaining of ear pain and this morning we decided to leave Lagoon Cove a day early and cruise to Campbell River to have it checked out. It’s a good 80 miles so we settled in for a nice cruise. We were delighted to watch a pod of orcas making their way past us!
The timing of slack tide/rapids was such that we had to stop north of Seymour Narrows at Brown’s Bay. From there G and I caught a ride share (similar to Uber) while Dan got a few hundred liters of diesel. The plan was that he would moor at April Point (across the bay from Campbell River - which was fully booked for the night) and then bring the dinghy to get us later that evening. After five hours waiting at the ER (urgent care was booked), we finally were on our way back to the boat with prescription ear drops. Phew!
7/19/2026: We got up early and provisioned for hopefully a week cruising the Broughton Archipelago and Desolation Sound. It is cool (55 degrees!) and sometimes damp. Very different from Yakima! As we cruised to Lagoon Cove (our intended destination for 2 nights), the clouds opened up and brightened up the sea. Lagoon Cove is a precious little place. The docks have pots filled with dahlias and the caretakers yard is immaculate. Their house is old and quaint, and they even have a lawn - which is hard to find with all this dense brush! The boys played wiffle ball, but lost the ball in the brush. When Davis went into the bushes to get it, he learned what stinging nettle is. Ouch! They played ping pong under an antique crabapple tree, corn hole and even tried out a sea-facing sling shot. So cool.
In the distance we saw spray from a whale’s blow hole We dashed down to the dinghy to cruise out and get a closer look. We thought the whale had swam away until it surfaced really close and then dove. The humpback resurfaced every 10 minutes or so. It was magnificent. Below is a picture of Lagoon cove, the blow hole spray, and then a video of the whale diving. You can hear it blow, and then inhale. Incredible! 🐋
We played cribbage to end the day, and I normally wouldn’t mention that but I had a 28-point hand (highest you can get is 29), and I still barely. managed to beat Dan! 🤣
7/7/2026: More rain. Time to hike. When faced with this threat, B and G immediately donned their rain gear and shoved off on the paddle board. We told them we’d meet them at the shell beach farther in the cove. After a quick, wet hike, we met them on this curious white beach. It turns out it is a shell midden! According to Google, this particular site has been used by Indigenous peoples (Kwakwaka'wakw) for 10,000 years. Most likely a winter home, the discarded clam shells are basically a trash site, but can be placed strategically to build up the shoreline for defense purposes. Those spots also contain animal bones and hunting artifacts. At this particular spot, the middens are up to 5m in some places. I’m always on the lookout for these, and they can be easy to spot thanks to the bright white beach.
After our cool exploration of the cove, we took off for the little town of Sointula, located on Malcolm Island. We had a nice cruise up there, and met a curious little sea otter on the dock. When the wind and rain came up later, the dynamic duo took off on the SUP again. They still haven’t fallen in!
7/8/2026: Dan, G and I walked into the little town of Sointula this morning. We stopped in at Coho Joe’s for coffee and a fresh-baked pastry. Gorgeous morning, blue sky and few clouds. We cruised over to Port McNeill to get the boat ready to leave for a while. Lots of laundry, black tank pumpout (we think it’s finally fixed!), general cleaning, and packing. Taking off tomorrow so we’ll back here around July 18!
7/6/2026: We slept well; it was calm and quiet on the hook all night. Enjoyed a lazy morning and pulled the anchor early afternoon to head to Echo Bay. During the cruise near Watson Point I finally spotted the petroglyphs! I didn’t have my phone with me and we were going too fast to turn around, but I found the below picture online. I didn’t know what I was looking for, so was thrilled to finally see it!
We fished along the way but didn’t get any bites. As soon as we docked in Echo Bay the boys took the SUP out exploring. Our thrill was watching them go out where the water gets a bit bigger and seeing if they were going to tip over. So far they’ve been steady on the board, but D has gotten wet being the “motor” when the three of them are out. 💦
7/5/2026: After brunch at the Town Hall restaurant, Graham and I took the dinghy ahead of the big boat to do some exploring. I had read that we could see some petroglyphs in a little bay near to where we were planning to anchor (no such luck). Graham did a great job captaining the dinghy the whole way! We met the Majestic and anchored at Turnbull Bay. Soon after anchoring we went ashore to do some exploring. There is a trail that leads to a lake (a very BIG lake!) The trail was very steep but we made it and it was so neat. There was an old dock that we hung out on and three of us even took a swim! Addy would be proud! ☺️ Lots of SUP trips out here in the bay! Very happy with a sunny and warm day. ☀️
7/4/2026: Happy 4th of July! Cloudy and rainy at Sullivan Bay this morning. Once the rain stopped, we got out the SUP and did some exploring. Dan, D and B golfed (at the one-hole course). Davis got the closest (bounced on the floating green) and won 2 cinnamon rolls. Mim beat D and B in cribbage (as she does every time she plays them 😆) We took a dingy tour (as we always do after dinner) and saw gorgeous little inlets and some seals.
7/3/2026: Hit up the grocery store, had lunch and did some clothes shopping before shoving off for Sullivan Bay. Queen Charlotte Strait was quiet and our passing was uneventful. The small community at Sullivan Bay consists of colorful marina buildings and homes on an extensive series of connected floats. Amenities include a grocery store, laundry, fuel, restaurant and event a one-hole golf course! There are no roads in or out, but if you walk every single dock finger you will clock 1 mile!
7/2/2026: Stayed at the dock today (Port McNeill) to catch up on laundry and provisioning. Checked out a few shops and restaurants. Weather is windy and wet.
7/1/2026: Didn’t have a plan for the day when we woke up. The wind had been blowing in Johnstone Strait for days (which makes for miserable conditions) but finally subsided so we decided to take advantage of that and head NW. We had talked about stopping at a new (to us) location, Lagoon Cove, but decided to head to Port McNeill instead. Port McNeill offers more services than most other locations in the area and the previously believed to be repaired black water tank was giving us problems again (Sh**….literally!). We found the part that we needed in nearby Port Hardy so Bri took a taxi up there to get it while Dan started working on dismantling the pump. Got it fixed for good this time! Today was Canada Day so the town was festive which was fun!
6/30/2026: Left Blind Channel this morning at slack (always at slack). Made it through Green Point and Whirlpool rapids successfully and made it to our anchorage at Forward Harbor. Took a dinghy ride (after a quick motor fix thanks to a helpful neighbor) down to the end of the bay to look for bears, then beached the dinghy for an easy hike to the neighboring bay. Graham’s favorite part was the hike (maybe because I told them they could be as loud as they wanted in order to keep the bears away?)
6/29/2026: Shoving off for Blind Channel at slack tide this morning, quick 15 mile trip. One blackwater tank wasn’t pumping out so Dan spent the better part of the afternoon fixing it. 😬💩
Took the boys on a hike to a 600-year old cedar tree on West Thurlow Island. Beautiful temperate rainforest. Playing lots of cribbage, Uno, and whiffle ball.
6/28/2026: Dan, D and G left early on a fishing charter. They caught 3 Chinooks! Lazy morning for B and I. Drank my coffee watching lots of eagles hanging out on the beach and listening to their different sounds. Amazing! Made salmon tacos for dinner, followed by a family trip to the hot tub overlooking Dent Rapids. Such an incredible place!
6/27/2026: Leaving Campbell River today and heading to Dent Island, with a stop for lunch at the SYC outstation at Cortes Bay. Recreated one of my favorite photos of Dan and the boys on the doc. Text me if you want to see it!
Saw sea lions, humpback whales and a Canadian Coast Guard ship on our cruise. Had the most delicious dinner at the lodge last night. G ate a whole crab!