Desolation Sound 2012: 8/4-8/18, 500 miles of adventure

We have been back home for one week since the completion of our 2012 travels up in BC and the warm glow has yet to wear off. Even my friends on the bus and at work have commented that I look so relaxed I must have just been on vacation! My previous post explained how I took Aeolus north to Quadra Island so that we did not have to spend vacation days journeying north (having done that many times).  Instead, we began our 14 day cruise with a drive to Campbell River and the ferry over to Quadra to find Aeolus happily waiting for us in Quathiaski Cove.

Start of trip at home in our custom "Aeolus" shirts

I never have the patience to have these blog posts convey all the great stories of each day and place, but I am always happy to answer questions if anyone sends me a message. I will organize this post by calendar day, to provide some flow.

Our good friends the Jones family were buddy boating with us aboard the Freedom 33 "Ocean Gypsy" for most of this trip. Their son is best friends with Elliott and we had a grand time weaving in and out of our times together as the days and anchorages passed by. 

August 4th: Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island through Seymour Narrows to Small Inlet on Quadra. 

This was a great first day. We left Qcove at 6:15 am to be at Seymour at the 7:23 slack. Weather was beautiful as it would remain for the entire time in BC. Our passage through Seymour was smooth, and the beginning of the ebb pulled us along at about 7-8 knots on occasion. From my experience fighting the full flood to get Aeolus up to Quadra, I know full well how unwise it would be to battle any part of this passage at anything other than a favorable or benign current.

Hull speed of 6.3 so this is pretty nice!

We had to motor all the way this day as there wasn't much wind and you can't play with the timing of these currents. Our approach to Small Inlet was lovely, and we found it basically empty. We remarked that if it was anywhere in Desolation Sound it would have been packed!

So what did we do once we got there at 10am? We went swimming of course! There is a trail from the head of Small Inlet to Newton Lake on Quadra. It is short, but steep toward the end, and the lake was just wonderful. This was our first lake swimming, or any outdoor swimming, of 2012, and I wait all year for the chance. The lake is just like all those we've seen up here, in being natural and having super warm water. We all swam to our hearts content and enjoyed it immensely.

Friday Harbor to Quadra Island: 3 days, 23 hours travel time, 140 miles

This past weekend I took Aeolus north to Quadra Island in preparation for our return there for two weeks in the Discovery Islands and Desolation Sound starting this coming weekend. It was a perfect solo voyage, with benign winds and helpful currents right up until Cape Mudge.

Sunsets over the Salish Sea

Here is how I moved along:

7/26  7pm departure Friday Harbor, 9pm arrival Prevost Harbor, Stuart Island.
7/27  6:50 am departure Prevost Harbor, arrival at Bedwell Harbor, South Pender Island, at 7:50. Departed Bedwell and 12:45 arrival Herring Bay, Ruxton Island to await slacker water at Dodd Narrows. 5:30 pm arrival at Taylor Bay, Gabriola Island. Winds to 20 knots SE pushing me along.
7/28  7:15 am departure from Taylor Bay. 3pm arrival in Henry Bay at the northern end of Denman Island. Winds to 10 knots SE.

This fool was trying to sail through Dodd Narrows, and was a hazard to all around.

7/29  6am departure Henry Bay. Raised 150' of chain by hand. Approached Cape Mudge at about 10:30 am with a building flood against me that peaked at 12 noon at 9 knots off the Cape.