Desolation Sound was the plan but plans change (lots of photos)

W

Westie

Active Member
Oct 16, 2008
1,109
Calgary
Boat Info
2001 260 Sundancer towed with the power of an IFORCE V8
Engines
7.4 L Bravo III
Desolation Sound was the plan but plans change (even more photos with Orca photos )

Here is a bit of an account of my 3 week holiday where I intended to spend most of the time in Desolation sound. As it tuns out I only got to spend a couple of days there.
Total trip was 1224 Km and 1543 litres of fuel.

So after a late launch at Cates park I headed up Indian Arm to Bedwell harbour in the dark

Work up the next morning and found this view out the back of the boat. This is just about 10 Km away from Vancouver.






Stayed a couple of days near the bottom end of Texada Island. This is in Scotty bay on Lasqueti island.



Then it was off to Rebecca Spit on Quadra Island



Then up to octopus islands where there is a great lake for swimming about 4 Km up a trail





The weather forecast for the next few days remain good so this is where I decided that I wouldn't spend any more time in Desolation Sound. It was time to head north. I decide that I would tackle Johnstone Strait and head up to Blackfish sound and the Broughtons. Now those of you that know the forecast for Johnstone Strait almost always mentions strong wind warning or gale force winds but the trend over the last few days was calm in the morning and windy lat in the after noon. I decided I would go to forward harbour and see what it was like from there. Since I was by myself there would be no one to complain if it did get rought.
First I hade to go through 4 sets of rapids, at hole in the wall, arron rapids and the dents (including a place called devils hole) and finally whirlpool rapids.

I wanted to do them all in one go so it meant hittng hole in the wall about half an hour before slack on a flood tide
.



The destination that day was forward harbour.





Got up the next day to a few clouds but calm winds so up Johnstone strait it was.

Leaving Sunderland channel looking up Johstone strait
.

More to follow of the most incredible place I have ever been on a boat.
 
Last edited:
Whew!!! What a sweet trip-the pics are great-keep sending them-be safe!
 
Awesome tour, thanx. We've done Johnstone Strait twice and lucked right out both times as far as wind went. Shootin' those rapids is a whole 'nother story though. We had lots of time to lollygag through at slack water. How did you carry your inflatable on the trip?
 
Great pics, beautiful area, takes me back to when we lived North thanks for posting!
 
Chris : I have my dingy on weaver davits on the swim platform. My dingy is the one on the beach in Forward harbor, no motor on it. Carring it like that works quite well but I do have to put a couple of D rings on the transom because right now I just tie it down to the handle on the transom locker.

Once I got to the end of Johnstone Strait and into Blackfish Sound the welcoming committee was waiting for me.

These little guys were all over the place.


And so where these big guys.













And there were even some critters on shore to see.



More pics to follow. (You can't go all the way up there without getting some pics of Orcas)
 
Great shots. I can't wait until we can get back up into those waters. It's gotta be one of the most beautiful boating areas in the world! Thanks for taking us along with you.
 
Very nice pictures of what appears to be an excellent adventure. :thumbsup:
 
This thread is fantastic. Wow, thank you for posting the pictures, those are outstanding.
 
UNBELIEVABLE! What a fabulous looking place. Thanks for sharing.
 
Re: Desolation Sound was the plan but plans change (lots MORE photos)

From there I went up Knight inlet.


And stayed overnight at a place called Glendale cove. There are a lot of grizzly bear tours in that area but I didn’t see any when I was there. I was also the only one in the best anchoring area that night.









When I went for a swim that evening I noticed two things. The water is pretty much fresh water up there and it is quite cold.


Next day I went up Knight inlet a little further to see the sites.












Then it was back to Blackfish sound.










Stayed that night at a place called Crease island. Beautiful place and only one other boat there.





Perfectly calm that evening and the next morning

 
Great shots. It's nice when you cruise that area and get the flat waters like you did. Good planning on your part!
 
WOW it looks amazing!
 
Then it was an other day for some more whale spotting. Lots more humpbacks but also saw these guys.











The following day it was down Johnstone Strait to Campbell River. Only problem was it was quite foggy. This is after the fog had more or less cleared once I got to the south end.






I got to just above Seymour Narrows when I saw these guys. I had about a half hour before slack tide at Seymore narrows so I watched them for a while. With the super moon the tides were very extreme, about 5 meter swing so you really had to time the passage through the narrows well.





Any of you who have ever heard the marine forecast for the Pacific waters in BC would have heard of Chatham Point light house. Well here it is


And one more shot before on the final night in Smuggler Cove.



The next morning it was raining and windy so I had about a 2.5 hour run back to Vancouver in less than ideal conditions. This was the only bad weather I had on the trip though so I can't complain. I never even put up the canvas for the whole trip. I got to Vancouver, hauled the boat and decided to head back to Calgary that day. I planned on only going part way as it was already 3:00 pm by the time I left Vancouver. I figured I just stop when I felt I was tired, but I ended up driving all the way and arrived back in Calgary at 3:30 am the next morning.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,120
Messages
1,426,612
Members
61,037
Latest member
wojozobl
Back
Top