Ran into some mechanical problems at the head of Philips Arm last week. So we made our way back to Shoal Bay on East Thurlow Island where Mark and Cynthia came through to help us out in a big way. Mark and Cynthia run the lodge and Government dock.
So here goes the story...
Heading up Phillips Arm, we came across this guy scrounging for grub on the foreshore.
We continued on to the head of the inlet, set our crab gear and returned to this perfect little loggers float close to the mouth...From here we went for a hike down a logging road and with many signs of bears all over the place, thankfully we didn't spot any of his buddies. It was a great hike and good to get off the boat.
After the hike, we headed back up the inlet to pull our gear. That's where we blew a chunk out of the mixing elbow. When I opened the engine compartment and cleared the
exhaust smoke, I found this chunk of metal in the bilge.
With no sign of life for miles, no answer from Shoal Bay on the
radio and no wind I temporarily jury-rigged it. With this fix, we limped down the inlet to Shoal Bay with the engine compartment and all the
hatches wide open.
Once we got to Shoal Bay, I found Mark back in the work shed. He dropped what he was doing and got me some stuff so I could do a better fix that would get us on the road again.
I fitted the chunk of metal up against the mixing elbow and wrapped it in sticky back aluminum tape. Then I took a piece of aluminum
stove pipe I trimmed to size and wrapped that over the tape, then a little more tape and finally secured it with doubled up hose clamps.
We spent some time at Shoal Bay....We wondered over to the pub where we fired up the wood
stove and had a few drinks with some fellow cruisers.
This is the pub...A great place with a few interesting characters just passing through. Mark pours a very generous scotch whiskey to say the least.
Cynthia is an artist, and everywhere we looked we found many of her creations.
This is "Cedar Chick" work in progress. Eventually it will be a shrine.
Looking out toward Phillips Arm
The floats at Shoal Bay Lodge on East Thurlow Island. That red boat is a nice Contessa 26 about to go around Vancouver Island single handed.
Now that we were up and running again, we headed north through Green Point Rapids. These rapids only get up to around 5 or 6 knots so they're pretty mellow much any time.
Coming into a light fog bank - Green Point Rapids.
From here, we headed on up around the top of Hardwicke Island and on to Kelsey Bay. The
repair held up very well buuuut...time for some much required
repairs.
If your in the area, go to Shoal Bay, it's a great stop heading north up the back way.
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