Roche Harbor to Everett

We had a nice dinner at Roche harbor and left early the next morning to cross the straights and head into Everett marina. As we passed the West side of San Juan Island we saw a couple dozen Orcas feeding on an abundance of Sockeye Salmon along with a fleet of fishing boats. It is good to be at our home base and we are  looking forward to driving our  cars again. As you can see our next door neighbor at the marina  "Brian"was very happy to see us again.

We traveled a total of 3069 miles and used 5302 gallons of fuel for a whopping .7 miles per gallon. If we had run 10 miles per hour instead of 12 miles per hour we would have attained 1 mile per gallon.

This is the end of Sea Jay Goes North 2011

Nimmo Bay ,Port harvey, Campbell River, Montague Harbor, Roche Harbor

We left Nimmo Bay Helicopter Adventures with a smile on our face and memories we will never forget.

We chugged down Tribune Channel  across Knight Inlet to Port Harvey and had a great Pizza cooked from scratch by George.

Next morning we slipped out at 6AM and headed down Johnstone Straits hitting Seymour narrows at slack with in 3 minutes and moored at Discovery Harbor. Ray and Sue Biggs were there and we had a nice chat with them.

Next morning at the crack of 9:30 we left Campbell River and headed south in Georgia Straits. The water was fine with a slight push from the tide until we got past Comox then all hell broke loose and we were heading straight into a 40 knot winds with 6 to 7 foot breakers. We slowed to 9 knots and when we got to Belinas Island the waves were very large and breaking so we headed paralell to the waves shore towards shore and hugged the shoreline through the small islands until we got to Nanaimo. This was the worst water of the whole 2900 miles we have traveled so far. We checked the Dodd Narrows chart and we could hit slack perfectly so we forged on to Montague Harbor which was very crowded with boats scrambling to get out of the wind. This morning we left Montague Harbor at the crack of noon and now we are at our beloved Roche Harbor.

Tomorrow we will head home if the wind is fair to us.

Burly Bay Nimmo Bay

Robert and I went back to Sullivan Bay to Meet Cheryl's plane and then Robert left the next day.

The next morning Cheryl and I idled to Burly Bay (about 6 miles)  to anchor for the night. Burly Bay is just off  of Mackenzie Sound  is not used much and it is only four miles from Nimmo Bay.  It was very pleasant quiet evening.

Next afternoon we went back to Nimmo Bay Resort for a helicopter ride to the top of the world and dinner.

We lifted off at 5PM and the helicopter ride was spectacular.  We landed on top of Kingcome Glacier and were served ice cold champaign and fresh strawberries to enjoy the breath taking view. This trip was truly an awesome flight never to be forgotten. When we got back to the lodge about 7:15 PM we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the lodge with several other guests. After dinner we were treated to Songs and stories lead by Greg Murray owner and founder of Nimmo Bay Resort. We highly recommend this wonderful unique and friendly resort! Today we will begin our journey back to home base stopping tonight at Port Harvey.

Claydon Bay to Sullivan Bay

This morning Robert and I changed the filters on the water maker in Claydon Bay and were makin water. Then we moved to Sullivan Bay.

After we tied up at Sullivan Bay, were shot over to Drury Inlet for the 1 PM slack high tide and I caught a wonderful 22 pound Ling Cod.  So its Ling Cod, lightly flowered then dipped in well whipped  seasoned egg then rolled in Panko and browned in butter to perfection, for dinner tonight. We vacuum bagged the remaining  ling Cod and popped it in the freezer

Nimmo Bay to Claydon Bay

We left Nimmo Bay and headed for Wells Passage to do some salmon fishing, anchoring in a spot near the narrow inlet to Greenway Sound. It was blowing 30 but we fished anyway for 3 hours and Robert caught beautiful but small Sea Bass. The anchorage was not protected from the increasing north west wind so we moved to Claydon Bay to get out of the wind. The photo below was taken from the Nimmo Bay Helicopter flying up the Wakeman River looking for a good fishing hole. The pilot could see the salmon before we landed to help insure good fishing, and it was good.

Now we r back at Sullivan Bay and will go to Drury Inlet for Lingcod.

Nimmo Bay Heli Adventures 8-4-2011

We idled from Sullivan Bay to Nimmo Bay Resort on Aug 3rd did some bottom fishing that afternoon and had a nice dinner with the staff and lots of good wine. Next day we were ready to go on the helicopter at 8 AM but fog held up the trip until almost noon so we lost a half a day on this trip. We took off at 12:30 PM and weaved up through the foggy tree tops and broke out into wonderful sunshine over Kingcome Inlet.  First stop was on a Wakeman river bank and Robert caught the first fish. Next we headed up the valley to different river on a very tight sand bar. This landing was on a bend in the river and it was an awesome location with barely enough room for the chopper to land. Here we hit pay dirt catching 4 nice Coho on light spinning rods with ten pound test line. Robert each got two nice Cohos.  Next  our (pilot guide) Don, rolled out a lunch fit for a king, complete with a table cloth, silver & crystal, fine wine, home made bread, sandwiches, cookies, fruit, and perfectly chilled white Pinot wine. We fished some more after lunch then flew to Constantine Glacier and landed on top of this 6000 foot high chunk of ice and granite

Tonight we had another outrageous dinner at the lodge then we will move on to Wells passage in the morning for some serious Salmon fishing.  This is a day we will not forget!

Sullivan Bay Aug 2-3-2011

We left Green way for an easy putt to Sullivan Bay and Robert Rath came to visit and Cheryl flew to Seattle to attend her nephew's wedding. Robert ate all the cinnamon rolls at the general store and was thrown into the Sullivan Bay Brig. I got him out on bail this morning and will are heading for Nimo Lodge to do a day on their helicopter for trout fishing and have lunch on a glacier.

JENNIS BAY, SUTHERLAND BAY, CLAYDON BAY, GREENWAY SOUND, SULLIVAN BAY

We left Port McNiell for Jennis Bay to join Reflections, Mirage, Crescendo, Seventh Wave and Spirit for a RHYC moving cruise in the Broughtons. Jennis bay was fun with a great Cajun dinner prepared by Lovely and talented  Allyson Allo owner and manager, who also sang songs and told Cajun stories. We were like little kids on Christmas morning listening to a Cajun's version of the Night Before Christmas story read out of a childrens book.The RHYC cruise then moved to a stunning stern tie at Sutherland Bay at the head of Drury Inlet. Then we move to Claydon Bay for a second six boat stern tie. It was great to be together for three days but then it was time to break up and go our seperate ways.  SeaJay stayed stern tied for another rainy and quiet two days at Claydon Bay. Early the next Morning We were treated to a black bear on the rocky beach turning over large rocks to eat crab, shells and all, not more than 40 feet from our stern in the driving rain. Yesterday idled to GreenWay Sound and anchored at the end of the sound in 120 feet of water behind an island. We were alone for another quiet day. This morning we idled to Sullivan Bay and will be hear for Robert Rath to arrive tomorrow and Cheryl will fly out to attend here nephews wedding in Portland.