Friday 17th July 2009
In Travemunde until May 2020
Nick Pochin
Fri 17 Jul 2009 21:34
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position 53:51N 129:59W
We anchored last night in Kumealon Creek off the
Grenville Channel about 30 nmiles South of Prince Rupert which is on the border
of Canada and Alaska.Today we will go to Prince Rupert where John and
Caroline leave us to return to Vancouver and home to the UK.
On Monday we sailed to Kliksoatli Harbour on
Denny Island staying overnight in Shearwater Marina.The scenery and wildlife are
stunning. We have to keep stopping to watch the Humpback Whales often rather too
close to them!
On Tuesday we went to Butedale stopping at Klemtu
on the west side of Finlayson Channel.Klemtu is an Indian (sorry-"First Nation")
village and we were shown round the Long House by Francis a Kitasu Indian. The
long house is a large timber building with four totem poles which is used as a
community hall and meeting place for The Band (town council) We visited a salmon
hatchery,and on the way back to the boat passed the sea plane landing float.Sea
planes are used extensively for getting from island to island.Butedale on
Princess Royal Island is a an old dock and the remains of a fish cannery
employing 500 people in it's heyday is a shambles. Alongside is a waterfall with
a mosquito infested path leading up to a lake with good fishing.The
hydroelectric plant is still working !
On Wednesday we went to Hartley Bay another first
nation village near Promise Island. This is a "dry" village and the
government pays for everything. There are no shops and all provisions come by
ship where they are handed out! Another seaplane landing dock serving the
community.
On Thursday we went north west up the Grenville
Channel stopping for lunch at Nettle Bay anchoring in front of the spectacular
Verney Falls.We went by dingy to the foot of the falls and walked up to the lake
above. The water was teeming with salmon leaping out of the water but not yet
making their way up the fall.I am sure when they did we would see the elusive
Grizzly Bears.We moved on to an anchorage for the night at the top of the
Grenville Channel called Kumealon Creek.We went by dingy along a rock encumbered
channel with tidal falls leading to Kumealon Lagoon.Sill no sightings of the
bears. We have seen Whales Otters Seals Beavers Sea Lions Eagles and Salmon -
who needs
Bears!!
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