Day 20- Part 2

After rounding Cape Scott the seas calmed down with a moderate swell.
The wind finally built up and we were able to sail 4 hours to the
entrance to Winter Harbour. We were underway from leaving the dock at
Bull Harbour to tieing up (after visiting the fuel dock) in Winter
harbour in just under 12 hours.

As we entered the first part of Winter Harbour we saw 3 sea otters ( not
very common) floating calmly on their backs with all their feet in the
air, looking for all the world like bathers on an air mattress. We had
to stand station once inside the harbour to wait for a boat to finish
fueling so that we could tie up at the fuel dock. As an observation ,
we've noticed that in the fishing communities, like Port Hardy, where
there is a lot of sport fishing there are a lot of eagles hanging about
in the harbour. They seem to congregate to pickup the left overs after
the fishermen clean their fish. Here a sea gull managed to get a large
piece of cod and drop it on a dock ready to eat it. Immediately an eagle
came in and snatched it; we were so close I heard the eagle's claws/feet
hit the dock when he got the fish.

The "town" of Winter Harbour seems to be one of those towns going
through a transition like a second growth forest; the commercial fishing
is gone evidenced by the abandoned fish buying station. However, there
are at least 2 groups with sport fishing/guiding operations going. We
stayed at "the outpost" since they had showers ( and sold beer). The
public dock did not have showers ( and as it turned out charged .75 per
foot vs .50 that we paid at the outpost). A large portion of the
original boardwalk still exists as do many old, deteriorated homes (
some still occupied). The new/changed building is pretty rough and
ready, but after all this is not Vancouver!

The skipper has not had a shower for some time and not shaved for even
longer; the crew were beginning to make snide comments about my
appearance, so it was time for a shower and a shave. The shower felt
wonderful. The shave was not so successful; I had to shave in a
washroom without a mirror; i missed a large chunk ( actually more than
one chunk on second inspection) on my chin which will disappear tomorrow
or become the start of a funky beard perhaps??

While celebrating Canada day with a beer and watching life unfold in
Winter Harbour while Ralph was doing his laundry, Stewart and I watched
a sea otter near us opening clams by hitting them with a rock and
leisurely floating around eating his dinner. Stewart saw a young eagle
catch a fish only to be immediately charged by two older eagles who
stoled his prize.

Plan for tomorrow is a short day and anchor up inside Quatsino Sound and
enroute we will deploy Ralph's fishing gear and see if we catch a salmon
for dinner! Otherwise it will be clams/mussells and boiled kelp.

Over and out from Bull Harbour, Quatsino Sound.