Desolation Sound 2012

[Tim]

We are launching tomorrow, probably have very limited access to Internet there for the next few weeks or until the weather forces us off.

I will post the stories here when I can.

[Frank]

Have fun!!

[Tim]

Checking in from Heriot Bay BC. Had a front move through last night, heading up to the Octopus Islands tomorrow, weather looks to be clear and sunny for the couple of weeks.

[Cruiser2B]

Glad to hear the weather is going to clear. Enjoy your trip! Look forward to pictures

[Tim]

We have been going up to the PNW during the Fall for almost 10 years often with  ATUS (All The Usual Suspects, a bunch of like minded geezers) or by ourselves. This is the second solo boat trip we have done to Desolation Sound and things learned from the first trip and thorough preparation made this the most enjoyable. I will not go into detail as my intent is to write up some kind of piece for publication that will do that.

But for a quick rundown and some photos here is what I have.

Here is a rudimentary map of our course (sure wish I could remember how to do this properly off my 76SC map)



We launched at the Okeover Arm Provincial Marina, a doglegged but good concrete ramp.



After spending the night at Okeover we high tailed it to Gorge Harbor on Cortez Island as we knew a small front was moving through and wanted the protection and comfort found there.

It was a busy place even though officially "off-season" mostly because it is a gateway to the island.



We ended up staying two nights, enjoying spectacular sunsets over the harbor;



During the morning calm we motored across Sutil Channel to Heriot Bay, this would be our last gas-up before heading north to the Octopus Islands an area we had not yet been to.



Along with gas we took advantage of a well stocked grocery store and decent restaurant dining.

To get to the Octopus Island group we went up Hoskyn Channel and through Surge Narrows at slack tide. Running at slack is necessary as velocity of current can reach 12 knots. I have no photos of Beezly Pass as was too busy though it was easy at slack.

Once we made it to the Octopus Islands we found it almost deserted for such a popular place, probably due to the front that had just moved through. We stayed three nights here having the whole cove to ourselves the first two.





Quiet days enjoying the wildlife shows;



This gull would drop rocks during low tide to break open the shell fish available



Finally other boats started to move in including this rather unique catamaran;



This was our cue to move on back through Beezly and then Whiterock Passage.

Whiterock requires navigation by range marker through the cluttered narrow channel. Once again we were motoring as the wind was nil for the most part, past Rendezvous Islands and up Pryce to Toba inlet.

We stayed two nights at Toba Wildernest Marina, a nice but basic dock run by a young couple that offers little for the larger boats but has great trails up in back. As it was off season, there was only one other boat for one of the two nights we were there. This was great for us as we have always thought it was a beautiful spot.



Local wildlife were equally glad for the off season;



This trawler Mary fell in love with and almost had it purchased from the marina owner before I intervened;



From Toba we sailed down the Waddington Channel to spend a night at Walsh Cove, once again this extremely popular anchorage was near empty when we first arrived.



From Walsh we followed Waddington down to Pendrell Sound. Pendrell is a protected area for shellfish that with minimal tide flow change provides some of the warmest water in the area. As the temps were now in the 80s during the day the concept was inviting. The clarity of the water was phenomenal easily seeing 25 feet down. We also had bioluminescence but I was unable to capture it.
The tidal change is somewhat shown in these two photos of the boat in the same place;





Behind the boat in these photos there was a lagoon that could be paddled into at high tide where we found an old abandoned barge.





We spent three days behind this island about 2/3 of the way up Pendrell;



The views were spectacular from every angle;



From Pendrell we went out Waddington skipping Roscoe Cove though it too looked fairly deserted and motored across to Tenedos Bay. Once again very few boats for such a popular anchorage.



We shared our little cove with this guy, who would swim near the boat to check us out;



After Tenedos Bay we still hag wagbags for one more night but as it started to cloud up we elected to head back to Okeover and enjoy the memories. (The First Mate no doubt still thinking about that Trawler ;) )



There are more photos being added to "My Galleries" link below  but this gives an idea of the wonderful cruise we had this year in Desolation Sound.

http://www.pbase.com/morningdove

[jotruk]

Beautiful, I would love to get up into that area but will have to wait

[Frank]

Simply beautiful cruising grounds!!!! Great pics!!! grog to ya

[maxiSwede]

Breathtaking pics! Thanks for sharing.

Stay put, hope to go there in a few years...   ;)

[Tim]

Breathtaking pics! Thanks for sharing.

Stay put, hope to go there in a few years...   ;)

Well that would be a treat! You know you would have to come by our place on the way up there  ;) OK Ft. Bragg is an hours drive from here  ;D It would be great to have you two as guests.

In any case we were already planning our return as we left up there.