August 12, 2010 – Leg 6, Day 11 – Port McNeill to Lagoon Cove

There was no fog in Port McNeill this morning, but there was wind. Captain Bill held a skippers’ meeting to go over docking procedures at Lagoon Cove, which can be a little tricky in windy conditions, as well as what to expect on the following day when we have the challenges of current and timing the transit of several tidal rapids.

We had hardly left the harbour when Navigator’s crew spotted a black bear on the beach. Emmelina noted the bear had to walk through town in order to get onto that beach. As we cruised by Alert Bay, noting the totem poles, a gray whale was sighted along the shore; Emmelina (aka Whale Woman) was thrilled as this was a rare sighting on a Mother Goose trip. The fact that the whale was feeding so close to a muddy beach (gray whales are bottom-feeding baleen whales) and its mottled gray color were what clued Emmelina into the fact that it was not a humpback whale.

The forecast for high winds did not materialize, but we were very aware of the current. First it was against us and we plowed along, but then it switched and we zoomed along (Deception hit over 12 knots – practically unheard of!) through island studded channels. We arrived early into Lagoon Cove on East Cracroft Island, but Bill Barber fit us all in nicely on the dock (which went smoothly), and welcomed the fleet to Lagoon Cove Marina, one of Mother Goose’s favorite stops.

Emmelina led a group of hikers on a nature walk out to the Blowhole and the “Bakery Boat Lady” arrived at the dock with sticky buns, cookies, breads, and pies. But the real focus of attention was the 5:00 Happy Hour, a Lagoon Cove tradition, whereby all the boaters bring an appetizer to share, Bill and Jean Barber provide the fresh caught prawns and stories, and a great time is had by all.