Today I’m heading back into Desolation Sound. I’ve kind of lost track of time over the last
month, and had forgotten that this weekend is a holiday weekend, meaning larger
than normal crowds. Since Desolation
Sound is still relatively accessible from Vancouver and Seattle, it’s bound to
be crowded. Oh well.
To get to Desolation Sound I needed to run through several
reversing rapids near slack water. I
ended up leaving a bit early, but I had no problem pushing through about 4
knots of current. It was weird seeing
some of the big fishing lodges along the way, which are probably the biggest
structures I’ve seen since leaving Prince Rupert.
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| Big fishing resort. Also notice the turbulent waters because of the current. |
I had never been to the Octopus Islands, and since the
timing worked out to get there (you have to run through Hole in the Wall,
another reversing rapid) I decided to make that my destination. I was amazed when I got in…the anchorage was
full of boats! I poked around a bit and
found a spot that was suitable, dropped the hook, and explored by kayak.
 |
| Octopus Islands |
Cruising alone in Desolation Sound presents some
challenges. Because of the relatively
crowded anchorages, it is customary in many places to drop the anchor, back up
towards shore, and then tie a line to a tree.
I find the process cumbersome with two people, and with just me it’s
pretty difficult, especially if the wind is blowing at all. So I’ve just made it a point to find
anchorages that don’t require stern ties.
The Octopus Islands are great for kayaking/dinghying. Lots of nooks to explore, interesting rock
formations, and clear water. Oh, and I
didn’t notice many bugs. It’s a nice
stop.
18.9 nm today and 3,011.3 total
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