Through Desolation Sound

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Tuesday May 15, 2012 Nanaimo to Von Donop Inlet

When we got up at 5:00 AM it was still windy and "Jenny B" was already gone. Being hardened sailors we took off anyway and once out in the Straits we knew it would be a long bumpy trip to Campbell River. We could see "Jenny B" several miles ahead and John called and suggested we could quarter the waves across the Straits of Georgia to Malsipina Strait and hug the mainland side where it might be better. (They were headed to see friends on Hornby Island or they would have come too.) Good idea. So we turned to go south of Lasqueti Island and Texada Island and pitched through four-foot waves, 20-knot winds and tacked to find the most comfortable line until we did come up under the protection of Lasqueti and Texada Island. From there we hugged the lee of Texada and enjoyed a pretty and steep coastline on our left and the magnificent Peaks of the Coastal Range (above Jervis Inlet) on the right. This is how it went for the rest of the day, calmer in the lee side of whatever islands we could find and a healthy wind chop in the open passages. Finally after eleven hours we turned down Von Donop Inlet (near Desloation Sound) went clear to the end, dropped the anchor, and collapsed.

Wednesday May 16, 2012 Von Donop Inlet to Blind Channel

Our first concern of the day was the Yuclatas (a passage near Big Bay) which consist of Yuclata Rapids, Barber Passage, Dent Rapids, and the infamous Devil's Hole. I studied all three chart plotters and then guessed that slack water would be about 8:00 AM so we left Von Donop at 6:00 AM and right on time glided through a sort of restless set of waterways pretty-as-you-please. BJ did wonder in which hole the Devil might be but saw no sign.

Of greater concern were the prediced gales in Johnstone Strait. We've had pretty strong Northwesterlies and today and tomorrow look to be the worst. On we went through Green Point Rapids and once we entered Chancellor Channel near Johnstone Strait we were immediately buffeted by strong wind and current. I looked deep into the blue eyes of the Admiral to discern her desires and we turned around and got pushed into Blind Channel and now are securely fastened to a dock. This is one of our favorite marinas anyway offering hikes, a great German restaurant, pretty spring gardens, and internet coverage. I should say that while we are fastened to the dock, the dock itself is rocking pretty good.

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