August 13, 2010 – Leg 6, Day 12 - Lagoon Cove to Blind Channel

We had a planned noon-time departure due to tides and currents, so some of the fleet decided to take a morning hike. It was not to be, however, as a cougar had been spotted the night before right on the main path up from the dock. The Canadian Fisheries department sent in a wildlife conservation team to try to track it, but despite their efforts, that ol’ wily cougar managed to elude the tracking dogs and officers by the time we departed.

The fog had completely lifted by the time we departed from Lagoon Cove and it was a beautiful Northwest summer day. The tide was still low, but that made it easier to see the rocks as we threaded our way through the Blowhole into Chatham Channel and then through our first set of rapids (at slack). We entered into a sparkling and calm(!) Johnstone Strait. We did have an orca sighting through binoculars, but they were way on the other side of the strait, and unfortunately our schedule did not permit a major detour … “time and tide (and rapids) wait for no man”…. As we cruised down the strait, the mountain vistas on Vancouver Island and the mainland became more dramatic. The current was running with us, and inevitably (it seems) we encountered a tug and tow in Current Passage, a constricted stretch of Johnstone Strait. We were out of his way, but it was interesting to watch him grinding his way against the current.

The day’s cruising schedule had been timed around the currents and tidal rapids, and Green Point Rapids were the last ones we had to transit, just before reaching our moorage. We passed through without any issue, but there was enough swirly water to give us a sense of the power of the water and why the timing was so important. We settled into our slips at Blind Channel Marina and Resort, nestled into the side of West Thurlow Island, everybody dealing easily with the tricky currents at the marina. Fresh lettuce was found at the Blind Channel store, grown in their own garden no less! The evening brought about fine dining ashore as well as cozy meals aboard!