BUSTARD ISLANDS

We were discussing today’s options over coffee, and remarking on how flat the water was, when we decided we had better take advantage of the situation and get moving, since the forecast included high wind warnings. It was supposed to be windy last night, as well, but it wasn't too bad. Whenever we anchor out, especially if the wind is expected to change in intensity or direction during the night, I usually get up at least once in the middle of the night to take a walk around the deck and make sure all is well. When I woke up last night, it was pitch black. I could not even see my hand in front of my face and absolutely no light was coming in through the hatches. I got up on deck, and, as dark as it was, the night sky was incredibly illuminated with thousands and thousands of stars. Several of the constellations jumped out at me, and the Milky Way looked like a ribbon running across the sky. The wind had changed direction, but the anchor was holding well, so I went back to bed.

Pointe au Baril

After trying to clean off some of the hundreds of mayflies which took up residence on the boat overnight, we took off from Franklin Island and jumped offshore at the first chance, in order to put some miles under our belts. We left the Small Boat Route at Pointe au Baril (Barrel Point) and came back in about 14 miles later at Byng Inlet.

A bear, swimming between islands

The inside route then became very tortuous, with many tight turns and channels. It was pretty, but if we had stayed offshore, we would have been much further toward the North Channel in the same time.

Some narrow channels, and lots of rock

The forecast was for 10 knot winds from the south all day (fairly accurate) then increasing to 15 knots, SE by late afternoon (the wind died down) then 20 knots from the south by midnight (it’s 9 PM and the water is like glass). Who knows? It may pick up later. If it does, we’re prepared. We stopped a bit early because we were near a protected bay. We came in and anchored in a small cove, facing south with our bow to the rocks, and put out a second (stern) anchor so we wouldn’t swing, since the cove does have some fairly shallow rocks nearby. 

Our protected cove for the night.