I am in Louisiana, waiting for TS Isaac to blow over us. It has ravaged the gulf coast and is slowly moving towards us. No requests for federal assistance yet. Were ready if and when they ask however.

Well, hard to believe but were home. Two nights ago we were in Nanaimo but it looked like Hurricane Isaac might generate an activation of my FEMA IST so we started home. I decided to get into a position that I could respond if I was activated so we made it to Bedwell harbor yesterday. This morning I woke up at 7 and got a text at 710 telling me that it looked like the White IST was going to be activated so we started the engines and headed south. Went through Customs in Friday Harbor at 9 am, took all of 10 minutes. Had a bit of a current against us going through Cattle pass but by the time we got half way across the straits we were getting pushed and once in Admiralty inlet I was getting a 5 knot push, going at one point 16.1 knots at our standard 2000 RPM which generally gives us 9 to 10 knots. We made it to our dock at 5 pm, just a 10 hour day. At about Kingston got the word however that no activation was going to happen so it was all for naught or so I thought. At about 730 i checked email and saw where FEMA had reserved a bunch of cars in Houston for the white IST. I called headquarters and sure enough, the orders were being cut and we were going after all. So tomorrow morning I am off to Texas and then Louisiana for Hurricane Isaac. Almost a repeat of last year for us as we were activated late in August for Hurricane Irene.

August 25th Headed for Nanaimo. Stayed in Buccaneer Bay last night, very pretty anchorage, pretty exposed to a South wind but in settled weather a great spot. Cruised down from Grace Harbor, Smuggler cove was full up so we crossed over and found a spot just off the sand beach. Dropped Sherm and Nancy off in Campbell river on the 22nd, stayed at Fisherman's Wharf again, good inexpensive spot, friendly marina staff. Picked up a new kitchen faucett and got it installed, Yesterday or the day before was our anniversary, 38 years give or take a day. Chris thinks its the 23rd, I think its the 24th, will have to check it out again when we get home. Neither one of us really knows for sure. Heard Noon Baloon calling on the VHF when we were leaving Campbell River. He was supposed to be up north so I called him. He was headed south because Lenore burned her leg when a pot of hot water spilled off the stove. Hope it was not the broken foot side! Nothing worse than a burn, especially out here. Talked to Linda Collier yesterday, they, Stewarts and Driscolls are headed south as well, they were headed for Tribune Bay for the night, should see them in Nanaimo today. Assoon as Sherm and Nancy left the weather warmed up again. While they were here it was cool, gray and cloudy, go figure. Right now were crossing the straits of Georgia, visibility 15 plus miles, light wind, 1 foot chop and quite warm. Same yesterday. Last night was an amazing display of luminescence in the water. I got up to check depthand their were streaks of light all around the boat. Small fish swimming were lighting up the water. Chris and I were up for over an hour just watching the show. My fishing line and lure got everything excited and moving, just an amazing light show, probably the best I have ever seen it.

August 20, 2012 We picked up Sherm and Nancy in Campbell River after running down Discovery Channel against a 7 knot current. Using the back eddies it took no time at all to reach Seymour Narrows, we averaged 9 knots, and it was still running strong. We had no problem challenging the narrows and made out way to the other side gaining another eddie and were in Campbell River by noon. Filled up with fuel, about the same amount as we took on in Friday Harbor but with only 34 hours of cruising, burned a bit more up here with all the currents to deal with. Got a spot in Fisherman’s Wharf, about a third of the price of Discovery Marina. Definitely a working harbor but they were very nice. We did the laundry, on a very hot afternoon and next morning walked about a mile to the grocery to do some shopping. Chris got a hair cut in addition! Sherm and Nancy arrived about 3 pm and we were underway by 5 after a quick snack on the fishing pier of deep fried shrimp. 25 of the buggers for 4 dollars. We stayed in Gowlland Harbor as the currents were really cooking in front of Campbell River and no way were we going to get through Seymour as it was running at 12 knots. Once again, just as before we had difficulty setting the anchor, bouncing along on the bottom. Got it on the second time, about Had a pleasant evening in Gowlland Harbor and took the dinghy the next morning over to April Point Resort where I mailed some business papers home. Sherm needed wine so he and I ran into the town, which is about a mile down from April Point just above the ferry landing. A short ride and a short hike and he had his wine and I had my first paper since leaving home. Nothing changes; the news was about the same as always, depressing. We left Gowlland at 12 pm for a 1 pm slack at Seymour. We got a push all the way through and were in Kanich Bay, Long Inlet by 2. We anchored all the way in the back behind the small island in 15 feet of water; it was like being in a lake. It has a feeling of remoteness, with no sign of development anywhere around and all signs of logging long gone. We kayaked around the bay and then went ashore and hiked the half-mile trail to Waiatt Bay. Left Small Inlet about 1100 to try some fishing before we headed through the upper and Lower Okisollo rapids at 105. On our way through we passed Colliers, Stewarts and Driscoll’s on their way to Thurston Bay. They heard rumors their were fish their. I told them I caught them all, they needed to be their last week. Story of their life they said. Were anchored in the back bay of Octopus Islands, another rocky bottom to anchor to, got it on the third try. Had a large rock stuck on the anchor on the second try so I moved around to the other side and got a good set in 12 feet of water. (Low tide). Sun is out after a cloudy cool and misty day yesterday. Still cloudy but it’s much warmer and drier. August 21, 2012 Had a great night in Octopus Islands, beautiful spot and beautiful night with lots of stars out. We left at slack tide, about 1230 and headed off through hole in the wall with our destination Tekerne Arm. We found a spot just to the north of the dinghy dock, which is totally destroyed by a wind storm in March. We are just a few feet off the rock wall on our port side, a bit close for chris’s comfort but were in 30 plus feet of water so we should be fine as long as the wind does not blow hard tonight but were pretty well protected by rock walls on three sides. We hiked up to the lake to swim, well Sherm and I swam and so did Sophie. She was running around on the rocks all excited about something when she suddenly looked over the edge of a 30 foot rock edge and slipped. She proceeded to slide head first for about 10 feet then got turned around on her belly and slid another 20 feet right into the lake, luckily for her the rock was as smooth as it could be for the entire 20 feet of her slide and there was a young girl right their to catch her and keep her head above water. I swam over and treaded water while she struggled over to a spot where she could claw her way out. She was quite startled by the whole event. Chris was panic stricken but all turned out well and she was just wet, not hurt.

August 18, 2012 Were in Campbell River waiting for Sherm and Nancy to join us this afternoon. Doing shopping and laundry. We left Shoal Bay on the 16th and went exploring down Frederick Arm. We were surrounded by a school of Porpoise then stopped to watch a small pod of Killer Whales swim by in Nodales Channel. We stayed at Handfield Bay, stern tied to the small island just like the book says. Another boater cruised over and asked if I was going to be ok in that spot, he thought it was kind of shallow but I told him I had 18 feet of water under my keel and low tide was only going to loose 8 of that so I figured I was fine. I was, had plenty of water in the morning when we left and would have been fine at even a lower tide. We used the back eddies against the strong 7 knot Ebb current to reach Seymour Narrows about 30 minutes before slack, it was a big tide with lots of current but we averaged 9 knots using the back eddies while others in the main channel looked like they were moving backwards. We had two porpoise join us for several miles swimming in our bow wave and then surfing our wake behind us. It was great fun to watch. Weather is still amazing, very warm, lots of sun and forecast is for more of the same.

August 12, 2012 We left Gowlland Harbor about quarter to 2 to hit slack at Seymour narrows by 2:30 to 3. Used the back eddies and did 10 plus most of the way despite the 3 knot outflow of current. Amazes me how many boaters have no idea how to use a back eddy, they just sit out in the middle and plow along burning fuel while I get a push in close to shore. Thought it might get fairly rough when we turned the corner and the tide changed to ebb against the 20 knot winds but it never really got bad, a bit of spray a few times over the top but otherwise it was a good ride all the way to Nodales Channel where the wind died and the water smoothed out completely. We were right behind Big Sky and anchored in Thurston Bay behind Block Island. This is another fantastic anchorage with spectacular views to the west. Jim and Cheryl and Gary and Lenore are also here. Its so nice were planning on staying a couple days here to do some fishing. Hemming Bay is just across the channel to the North so we will have to go exploring tomorrow after some fishing. Apparently the pinks are in over at Shoal Bay so we will run up their in the dinghy’s tomorrow to see if we can catch a few with a casting rod and reel. Dropped the shrimp pot in 300 feet so we will see in the morning if I have any better luck with them than I have with crab. Forecast is for some rain tomorrow then back to sunshine. Clouds are forming over the hills so maybe it could happen. A bear was sighted on shore this morning; right behind where we are anchored so will keep an eye out for it. Jim took Gary’s dog to shore this evening and honked his horn to scare it off, good plan. Had cocktails on Big Sky this evening, everyone simply enjoying not having to be anywhere in particular and spending a couple days in each location before moving on a few miles. Very relaxing. August 13 2012 Caught 4 20” salmon this morning 3 pinks and one Chinook, in about an hour in the small cove right behind the boat. It was tons of fun. Jim and Gary tried the same spot later and got nothing. I was using an orange Buzz bomb and they just attacked it. Gary got several dozen small prawn in his trap, I had none so moved it over to where he was. Saw the bear this morning while I was fishing, to busy catching fish to pay him any attention though. Rain never came today, clouded up but was still warm and Chris and I paddled the Kayaks over to the small cove on the other side of the bay, very nice anchorage, bombproof in a storm. Not sure why this area does not get more attention in the guide books. Books say entry has only 2 feet at zero tide but I never saw less than 10 feet at half tide and most of the way in it was 15 plus. The book says there is room for only a couple boats but there was room for half a dozen or more with stern ties. Very nice secure anchorage and several small coves within the bay to be secluded. Most everyone seems to use the spot behind block Island but there are several other spots that are just as nice and probably more secure. August 14, 2012 Caught two more salmon this morning same spot. Pulled the shrimp pot and had 16 good sized prawns in it. We moved up to Shoal Bay this afternoon, grabbed a spot on the dock, the winds were very squirrely, one minute blowing hard off the dock the next not at all. Apparently it blew very hard in here last night right out of the north down Phillips Arm. Not a good place to anchor, deep and then shoals very quickly at the head of the bay Caught 3 more salmon right from the boat while at the dock. Whole schools swim right by the boat just a few feet under the surface, drop anything pink in front of them and they grab it. I am catching and releasing as I am limited again today and I have even given away a fish! Go figure, Tom has enough fish to give them away! Salmon again for dinner tonight. Last time we were here was May 9th, 2008 our first night with Glen and Liz on the way to Alaska. It was gray, wet and cold then. We never did see the spectacular view up Phillips arm across from the bay. We were the only boats here then, not so much now. August 15, 2012 We decided to stay at Shoal Bay, just a beautiful spot and friends we met here talked us into staying. Gary and Pam and their daughter Kelly and Fiancé Graham are great people from Orange County California. They keep their boat in Friday Harbor and come up here a couple weeks each year. They told us about the river at the head of Phillips Arm which we went up exploring. Caught another two salmon and Chris caught several and released them in a great little eddy about a mile up stream. We tried to get all the way to Phillips Lake but it swallowed out too soon. The Jet boat from Dent lodge made it up but we were stopped by the threat of rocks vs. propeller. We found out later that Gary, Kelly and Graham were fishing in the same spot, which we told them about, and were on shore casting when the Dent Island jet boat came by and mentioned that a Grizzly was just approaching from the upstream side and they jumped into their boat just before he crashed through the brush onto the same little sandbar they had been fishing from and the same sandbar we had been sitting by just 30 minutes earlier. We were so busy casting we probably would have never seen the dang bear until he was 10 feet from us. By the way Kelly makes a dynamite Margarita! Wow! We are probably coming back with Sherm and Nancy to this spot, it is a great place, crabbing, shrimp, salmon, halibut, lingcod and bears. What more can one ask for. It,s 8 pm, the sun is setting, the salmon are jumping, a continuous show up here, simply amazing to watch and hear. During the day the schools of fish are visible in the clear water and there are thousands of them in huge schools. Pretty cool to watch. Tomorrow we may stay one more day, Need to get fuel for the Dinghy but Gary says Blind Channel 5 miles away has fuel and he knows of a good ling cod spot. A ling cod and a halibut would be great to add to the list of successful fishing.

were going to head further north today, up to Hemming bay on Nodales Channel about 20 miles north of Seymour narrows. We will hang out up in that area for the next several days trying our luck at some fishing. Then back down through the tidal rapids of Okisollo Channal to the Octopus Islands. From their we will be back to Campbell river to pick up Sherm and Nancy. Weather forecast remains the same, sun! Tried crabbing here in Gowlland Harbor but no luck, lots of little flea like critters ate my bait to the bone, a couple of small rock but nothing edible. would have been better off eating the bait fish.

Were in Gowland Bay across from Campbell River today. Ran up the remainder of the straits this morning with just a few miles of 2 foot waves, the rest was fairly calm. Pushed in against the outgoing current from Seymour Narrows up discovery channel but used the eddies and managed to average 10 knots all the way to Gowland. Pretty spot, well protected but a bit difficult to get the anchor to bite. Three tries, first two times it just bounced across the rocky bottom.

Made th run up the straits of Georgia to north end of Denman Island, anchored in Henry Bay next to Sandy Island Marine Park. Beautiful place, staying for a second night. Jim and Cheryl and Gary and Lenore are here as well. Nat and Linda had to leave this morning for Campbell River to replace a fresh water pump. Doug and Gail left early for Gail's Reunion of Ocean Falls residents in Campbell river. Were going to hang out in the Desolation Sound area, Sherm and Nancy will join us on the 18th in Campbell river instead of Port McNeil. were going to hang out south instead of trying to run that far this year, winds have been consistently strong in Johnstone Strait and 10 days is just not enough time to do the Broughtons justice. Were having a great time hanging out and doing not much of anything but enjoying the weather and the world around us. It's nearly noon and I wonder where the time has gone. Getting ready to go exploring by Dingy. Tomorrow I think we will try Comox a whole 5 miles north of us as we have never been in there before. Try someplace new. I think we will run up to Princess Louisa on the way home at the end of the month, as we have not been there for years.

We are in Nanaimo for the third day. We got a spot, Barely in the marina on Sunday night and did laundry. Next day we re supplied at the grocery store but it was a holiday so the liquor store was not open. Will have to restock today. Moved to the Nanaimo Yacht Club reciprocal dock, slipped in just as one boat was leaving, only one other slip opened up that day. The Anchorage behind protection island is chock full. Jim and Cheryl Matheson, Gary and Lenore Timm and Doug and Gail Stewart came in while we were taking a bike ride and we found them while we were getting ice cream cones. Ended up we all went to dinner at the Dinghy Dock Pub later that night and had a grand old time. We have our first major crisis of the cruise. Chris needs her nails filled and she cannot find an opening in any of the salons to get them done. We cannot leave until she gets them done. I can think of worse places to be during a crisis. We will head out tomorrow morning, weather is for calm winds building out of the SE by evening. no rain in the forecast for the next 7 days as far as Campbell River. It has been snotty up in the Broughtons from what were told from those headed south.

August 2, 2012 Time for an update. So the last few days have been great, weather just about perfect. We dropped Becky and Chloe off in Friday Harbor to catch the 1055 ferry to Anacortes then did a little re-provisioning. We had to leave Rosario early to get out before the low tide made it to dicey. At low tide there is just a little over a boat length between the end of the dock and the rocky shoreline. We also had to wait for the tide to come back in before we tried to slip into Fisherman’s bay since the channel there is very shallow. We had 4 feet under the keel going in. When we got their the outstation was available so instead of anchoring out we took that and joined the rest of the club who were on their 4 th day of the on the move cruise. Had a great dinner and the Islander restaurant, they did a good job of serving 56 people and the price was very reasonable. Next day the tide was even lower so we started breaking away about 2 pm. Some of the folks were concerned about the weather reporting gale force winds in the east entrance of the straits and southern Gulf Islands. They opted to stay at the dock for another night but most of us headed to Garrison Bay figuring even if it did blow the wind would be less their than at the dock. As it turned out the winds never materialized and we had a perfectly calm night in Garrison. We had 17 boats anchored stern to stern at the end of the bay in about 12 feet of water which meant the boats with 5 plus feet of draft were about in the mud at low tide the next day. A hike to the top of Young mountain behind British camp started the day off for a small group of us. Then a trip to Roche for groceries and ice cream pretty much finished off the afternoon. So far crabbing is so so, with no one coming back with limits yet. Lots of females, few males in the pots. When we break up tomorrow were off to Sucia with Steve and Michelle and maybe some fishing for who knows what.