Yesterday was a very exciting, anxious and nerve-racking day. Why, you ask... well, Ron and I will be going where we have never gone before. To get to Johnstone Strait we will be transiting 5 sets of rapids: Yuculta Rapids, Gillard Passage, Dent Rapids, Green Rapids and Whirlpool Rapids. Why would we choose such a route you might ask...Well because we can and thought it the best route for us considering the other choices. Our considerations included weather forecast, flood and ebb tides and the time of the flood and ebbs. Also consideration was given to where we could duck out of any unfavourable weather if needed.

We left Gorge Harbour at 1100. Again, no wind for sailing so we motored and explored Von Donnup Inlet. Last time we were in this area with Figment Too we were afeared of 'the rock'. So, we went exploring today on Ta Daa which is longer and wider and we went in at low tide. No problem at all and what a beautiful anchorage. From this anchorage you can beach your dinghy and walk to Squirrel Cove as both places are on Cortes Island. Being conscious of the time we motored north to Harbott Point on Stuart Island to wait for the ebb tide. We met strong current so it did take us a little longer than expected but that was fine - extra time was factored into our calculations.

As many of you know Ron - we have reference books on the reference books! That is why we needed the bigger boat - hee hee. Following the reference books, advice of old salts (Sue and Ralph, SV Mariah), the tide and current schedules, our chartplotter predictions and our trusy paper chart we headed through Yuculta Rapids at 1700. We took advantage of the back eddies and made great time and only slowing to 3.6 knots. There were no whirlpools that threatened to swallow us, no rapids that threatened to return us from whence we came - it was uneventful - as it should be if you follow the sage advice of all mentioned above.

Next came Gillard Passage - again uneventful but put on the way as we still had a bit of a flood. We motored across to Dent Island where Ron treated me to the bestest meal I have EVER had and may not eat in a regular restaurant ever again. We celebrated 13 years since our first date. If the truth were known we actually haven't stopped dating.

Today we will stay put as the slack and ebb tide in daylight for Dent Rapids is tomorrow morning. We are having a lazy morning sipping coffee and refraining from going outside where one raindrop is big enough to kill man or beast.

It is actually starting to brighten a bit so in a short while we will trundle off with cameras and Winston to do a bit of exploring.

Until next update...