Blog

  • Denham Point

    Shawna called yesterday after about a 19 nm paddle to Denham Pt. in calm seas and not much swell. It was again a beautiful paddle along the cliffs. With all the cliffs, they couldn’t find a place for lunch so they got to practice the 5 star skills of landing and seal launching off of rocks. They are perhaps two days from QC City and I could tell they are getting close because Shawna was asking how their cat Skinny was doing. I’ve included a photo of Justine dressed for battle and a photo Rowland took of Capt St. James.
    Mike

  • Tasu Sound

    Leon called last night and all is well. Many thanks to Kokatat for sponsoring the expedition by supplying a satellite phone. The phone has worked quite well for the entire trip. On Tuesday they rested up all day in the sheltered waters and cabin in Puffin Cove and Leon recovered from feeling sick. Yesterday they paddled about 23 nm to Tasu Sound. They are camped by the lighthouse on the south side of the entrance to the sound. Again the winds were from the north (not prevailing) but they were light so they didn’t present a problem. Leon said they were in awe of the massive mountains rising straight up out of the sea. They also saw as many as 120 sea lions. They were also impressed by the geology of the area with large cliffs and granite formations. Leon says the last 24 hours was the first with no rain at all. He also mentioned he is craving a cold beer. They could be back in a couple of days but they will proably take their time. I’ve included a couple more of Rowland’s photos taken as they paddled the same shoreline and a photo of the group stopping for lunch earlier in the trip.
    Mike

  • Puffin Cove

    Justine called yesterday from Puffin Cove after an exhausting 13 nm paddle. The seas were again very confused and they again had a light headwind and no swell to help. Today they are going to take an off-day as they have had only one entire day off since the journey began and they need time to rest up after 3 very tiring days paddling. They are staying in a log cabin built by a California couple named Carey, who lived off the land and donated the cabin to the Gwaii Haanas park when it came into being. It is a very unique anchorage and the Carey’s wrote a book about it titled “Puffin Cove”. I’ve included a photo of Shawna on the west coast of Graham earlier in the trip and Rowland’s photo of Woodruff Bay where they were camped a few days ago.
    Mike

  • Anvil Bay / Wells Cove

    Shawna called this afternoon from Wells Cove. Yesterday they visited the Haida site at Nintstints on Anthony island and then spent the day in fog and big seas paddling about 12 nm to Anvil Bay in Flamingo Inlet. When I asked if big seas was 3 meter seas? Shawna asked the others how big and Leon responded big as a house. I’m not sure if he’s talking about their old 12 x 12 cabin or their new barn? But Shawna said it was exciting which gives me an idea how big it was. Today they paddled about 15 nm to Wells Cove. They were paddling with the flood and the wind for a time but then the winds turned westerly. Shawna says the seas were very confused with lots of rebounding waves. At the end of the paddle, they got hit by a squall. Both Shawna and Leon sounded tired and glad to be in camp. Courtesy of Rowland Woolven, I’ve included photos taken during his trip to Haida Gwaii of the totem poles at Ninstints and a shot taken from camp on Anvil island.
    Mike