With my blog finally uploaded and all our laundry and provisioning completed, we were ready to get back cruising.

We got to the fuel dockat about 0800 hrs.  It which was empty.  That was refreshing. You usually have to wait in line to get fuel. The attendant said poor fishing has killed their business. The salmon just never showed up in the numbers they usually do.

After taking on 170 gallons of diesel, at a price that made Al happy ($3.28 U.S. a gallon), we were underway for Captains Cove. We were so relieved that we didn’t have to deal with fog this morning, like we usually do in Prince Rupert. We had good visibility, and the wind was only blowing 9 knots at Holland Rock.

Unfortunately, the wind kept building, once passed Holland Rock, until we were getting 50-knot gusts! Time for a change of plans. We decided to alter course for Welcome Harbour, which was only 10 miles away.

Just before we got to Henry Island three Orcas surfaced right in front of the boat. I grabbed my camera and carefully worked my way to the foredeck to get some video of them. The wind was still blowing like stink, heeling us over at times like a sailboat. It was almost impossible to keep steady enough to get any good shots. I’m hoping I’ll be able to get something worth posting on YouTube. It was exciting, to say the least. The Orcas came right for us, like porpoise do. They were gorgeous.

We hadn’t been to Welcome Harbour in about 10 years. Thankfully, it was low tide, which made it easier to see all the rocks that line the circuitous route you have to take to get there. Once passed Henry Island, the wind settled down to about 30 knots, which wasn’t too bad.

This is a really beautiful wind-swept area, with old growth hemlock and cedars. I’m really looking forward to exploring it.