Rating: SKIII

Distance:  50 NM

Date:  July 17-24, 2005

Leader:   Pete Schwab                    Participants:  7

Launch:   0:900 am Monday 18th on the Uchuck           Return:  5:00 pm Saturday 23 via Uchuck.

Weather:  Arriving in Gold River a day early on Saturday the 16th the weather was beautiful.  The folks at the motel told us that this had been the first decent day of the summer.  And so it went.  For the entire week we had clear skies, temps in the 70's, no fog.  We did have Gale warnings each afternoon but, being aware of that, we simply made sure we were out of the water at an appropriate time.

For details about "Getting There", facilities in Gold River, the Uchuck III, and etc. please see the Nootka Sound 2001 trip.  It has been updated with 2005 information.

Click here for a GPS Chart detailing our adventures in Nootka Sound

Description: 

 Monday, July 18: The Uchuck III and paddle to camp on Bligh Island.4.5 NM.  Sticking to a plan always seems to make life a little easier.  We were down at the dock by 07:00 am and had an hour to get the boats loaded and ready for the Uchuck.  Plenty of time.  No panic.  The men of the Uchuck used to just grab the loaded boats and carry them down to their loading pallet.  These days, however, they provide you with a set of kayak wheels and YOU roll the boats down to the pallet for loading on the ship.  Suppose they're tired of wearing their backs out?  They got us loaded along with a bunch of other folks and around 0:900 we headed out along Muchalat Inlet.
    Part of the fun on these trips is meeting other folks.  On the Uchuck we met two other paddlers who turned out to be from Bellevue.  We discussed camp site options and such and spent some time getting to know one another.
    The Uchuck made two stops along the way to deliver fish food to fish farms along the Muchalat. Finally we arrived at San Carlos Point and they lowered us, one by one, over the side and sent us on our way. 
    Our intended destination was the camp on the narrow peninsula on the southwest point of Bligh Island. We followed the shorline in Fidalgo Passage towards the Spanish Pilot Group.  Slipping between Verdia Island and Bligh we spied our camp, apparently empty.  The landing on this side of the camp is lousy so we paddled around the point and pulled into the small sheltered bay on the other side on the peninsula.  There were only two other kayakers in the camp!  Plenty of room for us so we pulled up on the beach, took a break for a little lunch, and then went about the business of setting up camp.
    A little later in the day, the couple we'd met on the Uchuck showed up.  They didn't care for the other camps they'd seen so they decided to try ours.  Plenty of room.  In fact, on the following day, the couple that were originally in the camp left.  Our Bellevue friends were then able to move into that camp.  A much better site...and with a view!  And so we stayed for the rest of the week.  The site is so centrally located there's no reason to move.

Aboard the Uchuck III along Muchalat Inlet

Putting out to sea at San Carlos Point

On the beach for lunch, ready to make camp

Tuesday, July 19:  The Spanish Pilot Group and Pantoja Islands. 10NM.  There were gale warnings for "later today" so we made sure to be in the water by 09:00 in order to finish our day a little early.  Heading for the Pacific we passed between Narvaez and Clotchman islands and on to the Pantojas.  After wandering around the rocky islets at the edge of the sea we worked our way along the south end of Spouter Island over to Ewin Inlet.  At the north end of Spouter we came to the small inlet that leads to a campsite and a good stopping place for lunch.  The campsite's only good for one very small tent and on moderate tides.
    After lunch we headed for the water source.  It's in the first inlet west of Ewin on the south end of Bligh.  Just look for the floating A-frame and you've found it.  The owner's weren't around but the water was running and we filled up. 
    We returned to camp with the water and took a short break before heading out to see the rest of the Spanish Pilot Group doing a sort of extended figure-eight in and around Vernachi and Verdia Islands as well as some of the rocky islets in their vicinity. Lots of Eagles to be seen in the area, some right down at water level.

Paddling amongst the rocky islets in the Pantojas

The campsite on the northeast end of Spouter Island

Our group hanging out in the bay near our campsite

Wednesday, July 20:  The Saavedra Islands and Friendly Cove 8.5 NM.  Leaving our camp around 9 am we headed southwest between Vernaci and Narvaez Islands.  Crossing the Cook Channel was a breeze with beam seas at only around a foot to a foot and a half.  Passed up a chance to play in the tidal rapids leading into Boca del infierno as well as a chance to become stuck in the Boca.  Seas were flat behind the Saavedra's and we had a pleasant paddle out to Friendly Cove.
    At the Cove the Williams family has raised the price for day use to $10.  Jimmy collected our bucks and we went about the business of visiting the church and having a long look at the terrific totems within.  The artwork is really very good and certainly as sophisticated as you'd expect from the Kwakwakawakw on the east side, and north end, of Vancouver Island.  We also visited an original pole that is down in the woods along the trail past the Williams' home.  That pole was originally raised in 1916 during the potlatch for a chief's wedding. 
    Had lunch on the beach and most of our crew hiked up to the Coast Guard station to look around. We didn't want to be on the water late since, as was a daily occurrence, there were gale warnings for the late afternoon.  Returning to camp we headed for the southernmost of the Saavedras and crossed directly to Narvaez to avoid any boat traffic that might be around. Near the southwest tip of Narvaez we found a really neat cave about 30 feet deep and took turns pulling in for photo ops. We pulled back into camp as the afternoon winds began to build.

Sisiutl and totems in the church at Friendly Cove

 
This fallen totem at Friendly Cove was originally raised for the
marriage of a chief in 1916.

            
                                                                                The church at Friendly Cove (Yuquot)

Thursday, July 21st:  Resolution Cove and Bligh Island Circumnaviagation 14.5NM.  We made a nice start at 0900.  Ewin Inlet was flat under clear skies.  Crossing over to the Clerke Peninsula we paddled along the east shore towards Clerke Point.  What appears to be the point as you're traveling the east shore is actually a false point, the real point being about a quarter mile further on.  At any rate, just befoe reaching the false point we found a narrow passage through the rocks that some friends on Bligh had told us about.  Only a few feet wide, the passage was navigable.  We had so much fun riding the swells through, several of us repeated it a number of times. But enough, we ventured on to the Point and headed north towards Resolution Cove.
     Resolution Cove (the site where Capt. Cook anchored) was under whelming considering all that history that surrounds it.  Up a 50 foot bluff there are two plaques bolted to a rock face commemorating the 200th anniversary of Cook's landing...and a flag pole without flag.  It's very difficult to find a spot to land in the cove, but possible.  Only 2 or our group completed the scramble through the rocks and brush for the up close and personal look at the commemorative plaques.  After a short break we headed north towards Muchalat Inlet and Conception Point.
    Just south of Conception Point we paddled into a large inlet and, at its western terminus found a nice little spot for lunch.  Surprisingly, we found a hose draped over the rocks above that appeared to transport fresh water.  Some of us risked it...no one became sick.  Recommended?  Nah....don't think so unless your in a pinch.
    Muchalat Inlet, across from Conception Point is one of the haunts of the world famous Orca, Luna.  We'd hoped we might spot the lone killer whale but no such luck.  From there we paddled on to San Carlos where the Uchuck had deposited us a few days ago and then headed south through Fidalgo Passage and the Spanish Pilot Group.  By 3:30 we were back in camp. Another beautiful day on the sound!  This little day trip is highly recommended.

Negotiating the Gap north of Clerke Point

   
Resolution Cove with memorial plaques atop the bluff

Friday, July 22:  Ewin Inlet 8NM.  For our last full day out in the sound we opted for a fairly lazy start and launched around 10, returning at 1:30.  Paddling east we crossed Ewin Inlet and paddled it's east shoreline all the way down to the small beach at the inlet's northwest terminus.  Lots and lots of nooks and crannies to explore and we checked each and everyone of them out.  The beach at the end of the inlet is a great place for a relaxed lunch and so we did.  On the way back to camp we made a stop for water and finally got to meet the owner of the watering hole (and SunKissed Charters), Peter Booth.  I'd met him before but, only via email.  He very graciously offered to have us come in for a shower but no one took him up on it.  Too hardened by the wilderness, eh? 
    Back in camp everyone just layed back, got out their books, and took it easy.  The afternoon wind was building with gale warnings up as usual.  We discussed tomorrow's crossing of Cook Channel on the way to Friendly Cove where we'd meet the Uchuck.  Would the wind die in the night as expected?  Would our crossing be a major hassle of beam seas?  Not to worry.  Supper was cook and a few glasses of wine downed, and the wind began to die.  We polished off the evening with marshmallows over an open fire.

The evening view from the east side of our camp

Marshmallows on the open fire with Gary (left) demonstrating proper use of the
telescopic marshmallow holders with "knurled knob" for proper rotation of the
marshmallow.

Saturday, July 23:  Friendly Cove and the Uchuck III  4.5NM.  Our camp was broken, the boats loaded and we were on our way by 09:00.  Any concerns we might have had last eve about our Cook Channel crossing evaporated immediately.  Seas were calm and we crossed to the west shore on almost glassy seas.  Spent a little time playing and taking photos as we paddled through the Saavedras only to find ourselves several hours early for our rendezvous with the Uchuck III in Friendly Cove.  Santa Gertrudis Cove looked like a nice place to explore so we pulled in and spent a couple of hours just laying around and have an easy time.  The cove looks like an excellent spot for camp sites but, if there are any, we didn't find them.  We arrived at Friendly Cove around 12:30 or 1:00 and the Uchuck had us loading by 1:30.  Our group, a few other kayaks, and I believe it was 58 backpackers coming off the Nootka Island trail.  A full house.  Our trip back to Gold River was beautiful and uneventful.  The Uchuck pulled into Resolution Cove so the other folks could have a look at Capt. Cook's moorage.  Aside from that stop, it was a smooth trip back under the same beautiful skies we'd enjoyed all week.  All good things must come to an end.  Time for showers and fancy food.

Returning to the Uchuck II at Friendly Cove