Lagoon Cove to Kwatsi Bay June 13

Another cloudy morning but no rain.  After a breakfast of waffles (thanks Susannah), eggs and sausage, I headed out for a morning paddle.  I paddled along the edge of the cove and around some of the smaller islets.  As I was passing by a floating home, a local resident hailed me from the window of a small trawler that appeared to be permanently moored at the dock.  We exchanged morning pleasantries and I continued my paddle. 

On board, Barrie took time to address the issue with the winch switch (taking it apart and cleaning the contacts) and I stowed my kayak.  We started the engine at 9:40 and found ourselves in rush hour traffic …. Singularity pulled her anchor at the same time and a 35-foot Nordhaven left the dock.  In fact, there was plenty of room for all but in the Broughton’s – that certainly constitutes a traffic jam!

We worked our way into Knight Inlet and then into Tribune Channel.  The geology here is amazing … steep granite mountains with beautiful waterfalls and deep water.  Our first destination is Lacey Falls.  From the guidebooks, we learn that this is the largest waterfall in the area and that locals simply refer to it and “The Falls.”  We stop with the bow of our boat just a few feet from the base of the falls.  The shore is so steep that there is no concern about hitting bottom.  Standing on the bow, I take a series of photos (hopefully good ones) and then we begin to work our way back to Kwatsi Bay.  There is a small marina here with a reputation for being very friendly and as we motor by, we see three or four boats already on the dock. 

We decide to try our luck anchoring in the bay where according to the charts and books the shore is steep and the bottom is deep (at least 100 feet).  We try setting an anchor on the west shore of the cove where our depth finder tells us that at low tide, the narrow shelf is 80 feet deep.  The shelf is quite close to shore and is likely to require a stern tie – but since our anchor is skittering along a rocky bottom, we won’t have to do that!  A second guidebook suggests that the east side of the cove (just out of sight of the marina) offers good holding.  We pull-up the failed anchor and move a few feet east.  This time our anchor catches in 75 feet of water.  The tide will continue to come in for several hours until it adds another 10 feet of depth.  We let out 250 feet of chain, put on the bridle and turn off the engine.  We have landed and are far enough from shore that a stern-tie is not needed (yeah!).  In moments, the rain begins but we are in a stunning place with towering cliffs and waterfalls.  I sit on the aft deck with a book and marvel at our surroundings.