PORT MCNEILL

Catching up, again, after skipping a day yesterday due a surprisingly busy day here in Port McNeill. We left Port Hardy fairly early yesterday, thinking it would be very windy but it wasn’t that bad. We even fixed breakfast after we left and it was calm enough for me to take a shower along the way. There were a few lumpy stretches, but, overall, a smooth three-hour ride down here. The wind did pick up throughout the day, however, and has stayed strong, in fact strengthened quite a bit, today.

We took advantage of being in a reasonably-sized town by hitting up the very well-stocked grocery store, the marine supply store, the sporting goods store, the beauty salon (Elaine) and the espresso shop (Dave).

This is the last significant provisioning stop going north until you hit Prince Rupert, just below the Alaska border. There are occasional marinas with small stores, but usually with half-empty shelves most of the week until the supply boat comes in.

Harley

One of the intriguing parts of staying at the marina in Port McNeill is “Harley,” the top dog of the dock. Harley essentially owns the docks, checking up on you several times a day (no, he’s not just looking for treats) and escorting you to your boat when you come down the dock.
Besides Harley, other wildlife include the bald eagles which hang out around the docks at low tide. They scavenge the tidal area for food and keep all the seagulls at bay.

When we decided to cruise north, I intentionally did not bring fishing gear, surmising that this is such a great fishing area I would just buy it. I was wrong. there is no fish for sale anywhere around here. Fish is something you go out and catch, not something that you buy in a market. I have not seen a single bit of seafood for sale at any market we have been to up here. This has forced me into buying fishing gear (at more expense than I was planning on), but, hopefully, as we travel north, we will have some fresh fish dinners.

Hanging out in the marina on windy days like yesterday and today have definitely enhanced our social life. Last night we had cocktails with a couple from the 100 year-old converted fishing trawler CAPE BEALE who we met when we were at Sullivan Bay, and tonight we had dinner with a couple we met at Kwatsi Bay. Boats sort of cruise around at their own pace, on their own itinerary, then end up bumping in to one another here and there. You never know who you’ll be anchored next to or moored near.

The weather forecast continues to look promising for Thursday through Sunday, so we’ll probably spend another day here, then start working our way up the Queen Charlotte Strait for an assault on Cape Caution late this week…