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Published: June 24th 2018
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6/20/18 Hartley Bay
Dolphins follow us as we head into Wright Sound, the biggest patch of water we have to cross on our way to Hartley Bay. There are several likely fishing points and even a possible halibut spot in these big waters, plus the weather is fine, sunshine and blue skies surround us, so we take our time. Our arrival is momentous for us as we reminisce about the time that the engine overheated just outside the harbor and of the Robinsons who saved us and eagerly listened to Inside Passage dreams several years ago.
To our relief, there is plenty of room at the docks and we tie up across from a world traveler in a 55’ yacht who sailed over with his wife and kids and were on their way to Greenland! Hartley Bay is a town of the Git Ga’at band. They run the fuel dock and everything else in “town”. We are greeted warmly, and while no one remembers us we are invited to stay (no charge) at the docks. Most of the guys are out fishing as the salmon are just starting to show up and the halibut are
plentiful.
This is our turn around point and it seems only fitting that we arrive for Summer Solstice. The Git Ga’ats celebrate World Aboriginal Day with a village celebration complete with a pancake breakfast put on by the school, a traditional fry bread wrapped hot dog picnic lunch by the elders, a family barbecue by the First Responders and bonfire, complete with s’mores, by whoever had kids, it seemed. During the daytime there were log-rolling contests in the bay and greased pole climbing that teenage boys excelled at. Families took part in a village scavenger hunt organized by the nurse’s clinic. Winners won gift certificates from families who sometimes opened their households for fish fry night or breakfast cafes. Cash and i-tunes gift cards were some of the most coveted prizes.
The funniest part of our day was when I ran into Lee Rappaport, a long-time friend from Mississippi Ave in Portland. I swear I had recognized her voice earlier in the day when returning from a glorious swim in a fresh water swimming hole. I hollered her name and I guess she just hadn’t heard it because she walked right up to me
in the BB’Q line. What fun visiting with her and learning about her fabulous program, part of POIC, the alternative high school in Portland, where she brings 4 students out to the BC Whale Lab nearby. It will probably be many years later when these kids realize how cool it is that they got a chance to hang with local first nation bands, fish for salmon, go whale watching and stay in the wilds of BC Canada. Just the flight in and out of Prince Rupert would be intensely memorable for inter-city teens, never having left Oregon.
Our stay at Hartley Bay was so much fun this time. While we didn’t really connect with anyone interested in following up with us on the IPDP, we did see old friends, including the Robinsons and experienced a special day with their whole family.
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