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Coastal Messenger
Coastal Messenger (on the left) at Port Neville. Thursday May 17, 2012 Blind Channel to Port McNeill, BC At 4:30 AM I woke up, didn't feel any rolling so at first light we headed out for another try at Johnstone Strait. The closer we got the more the wind kicked up but we were hoping to make it to Port McNeill so we hugged the mainland shoreline for protection. With every turn and bend the wind got stronger and the chop steeper. Now we know what a gale feels like. Short, steep five-foot waves and a howling wind. We pitched and the bow would rise up and then almost bury itself in the next wave. We knew we could duck into Port Neville a short distance away but it seemingly took forever. There was no question of going on. Everything was getting thrown around and we opened the side curtains upstairs to let the wind through, being fearful of having the top canvas ripped off. When we turned into the protection of an inlet called Port Nevile, we dropped anchor, gathered our wits and had breakfast, being most thankful for a good boat and that thing we ask for called "journey mercies." Later in the day I took
On the Coastal Messenger
Tom, Teresa, Chet, and BJ on board the Coastal Messenger. the dinghy over to the dock in front of an old log post office once belonging to a pioneer family now gone. On the dock was a steel trawler named the "Coastal Messenger" and I soon discovered it belonged to an organization that had leased the property as a base of operations for mission work they do up and down the coast. I went back to get BJ and we had tea on board the Coastal Messenger with part of the crew, Tom, Debbie, and Chet. We started making connections with the McClenny family (Uncle Lin) and the Getmans who are old family friends of both the McClennys and the Hulls. Tom had even spoken at the Tampico Church about the mission of the Coastal Messenger. After supper they came over to the Little Liza for dessert and decaf. We visited for a couple of hours hearing stories of the people they'd met and ministered to. They do not proselytize but share the gospel one friendship at a time in isolated communities along the Inside Passage. We got their schedule and while our paths may not cross in Alaska will be looking to meet them again.
Friday May 18, 2012 Port Neville to Port McNeill
We reentered Johnstone Strait this morning with much better conditions than yesterday. It's still choppy but with decreasing wind we hope to make the run up through Queen Charlotte Sound tomorrow. It may be our only window since winds will increase starting Sunday or Monday. Port McNeill, almost at the top of Vancouver Island has been a staging area for us in our cruises in the Broughton Archapelago because you can get here by car. So we have topped off with fuel and groceries for the attempt at Cape Caution tommorrow. We just met another couple moored across from us who are also going to Alaska and have been holed up waiting for the weather. Maybe we will be fellow sojourners on the high seas.
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Nate
non-member comment
Loving the updates!
Glad you're safe. Keep up the posts when you can!