Obstacles to Departure

Day One: We're  in a slight state of shock that we’ve managed to pull it together and get ourselves here.  It’s always a push, never seems to get easier – and by all rational measures – is clearly insane, the lengths involved in getting Heron ready for yet another summer cruising season.  Nonetheless, once the exhaustion wears off and we wake up to the realization that we not only get to be out on the water again in this spectacular part of the world but settling into “Heron Time,” there’s no question.  It’s worth it!  

All the last-minute stresses faded away as we motored through the San Juan Islands  admiring Heron’s Winter 2015 Improvement Projects:

~Finally after years of shower-rationing, a Spectra 340Z Water Maker! (More later on how this wondrous device works through reverse-osmosis to turn saltwater into drinking water and most amazing, long hot showers!)

~We pitched our quirky old British SMEV stove/oven for a sleek Force 10 (which doesn’t require a fire-stick to start, has an oven which actually works).

~Replaced original windlass with a new Lewmar Windlass.

~Dissembled and serviced the six Main Winches.  

~Rebuilt Start Motor.

~Upgraded to a 9.5’ aluminum-bottom AB Dinghy with an 8H Yamaha outboard (from a dinky inflatable Zodiac with a 5H Honda), thanks to the Captain’s Best Friends on his 60^th Birthday.
 

~Switched out Main Salon lights to LED (Jury still out on these... too bright)

~Replaced old plastic lifelines with stainless.

~Upgraded GARMIN AIS transmitter.

~Installed emergency EPIRB beacon. (Hope we don't need this, ever.)

All paled in comparison, however, to One Day's Wild Things Count:  one orca, three dolphins, one juvenile raccoon, one Bald eagle, one pigeon guillemot, and small flock of marbled murrelets, diving.

Our favorite Marbled Murrelet

                  

                 

Sixth Season Afloat

Ahoy sailing friends...   Heron Adventures here, headed north for our sixth season afloat! 

This summer’s goal: The Queen Charlotte Islands, now officially named Haida Gwaii.

The plan: We're going to stage this trip, moving Heron to the northern tip of Vancouver island during the first stage (and leaving it in Port McNeill), then flying back in early August to rejoin the boat and continue north to Hecate Strait. There we'll wait (but hopefully not too long!), for a good weather-window in which to make the 55-mile crossing to the Queen Charlottes.

Why the Queen Charlottes? We've dreamed for years of visiting Haida Gwaii’s remarkable abandoned Haida village sites – and in particular, Ninstints, finally recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.  Ninstints has the world’s greatest collection of Haida heraldic and mortuary poles, many still standing just steps from the  beach in a state of arrested decay. 

The Queen Charlottes, an archipelago of about 150 islands 60 miles off the mainland coast, are known for their remoteness and wild, rugged shores. (We hope we’re not too late in the season for the Hecate Strait crossing.) Sometimes called “the Galapagos of Canada,” the islands have one of the Pacific Coast’s finest remaining old-growth rain forests, as well as some of the highest density of sea lions, sea birds, eagles and falcons! Scientists believe that portions of the islands escaped glaciation during the last ice age, providing refuge for all this rare flora and fauna. 

        A friend gave us this cool "Haida Gwaii Salt" a few years back...                                          

And finally, we both loved John Vaillant's fascinating book, "The Golden Spruce."

If you haven't read it, we highly recommend! Based on true story: in 1997, a "British Columbia timber scout named Grant Hadwin committed an act of shocking violence - he destroyed the legendary Golden Spruce of the Queen Charlotte Islands. With its rich colors, towering height and luminous needles, the tree was a scientific marvel, beloved by the local Haida people who believed it sacred."

My turn on watch, more to come!

Kim