Desolation Sound

There’s just something about this particular boat that inspires confidence…
– A. Bryant

…even after Skipper Jonas and deckhand Karie discover that the maps are clearly stamped “not to be used for navigation purposes”. Seriously…you both get five stars from me!
– A. Bryant

As this was my first-ever trip up Desolation Sound, I kept track on my cell phone…
The return voyage is expressed in the lighter color. Total voyage length = ~62 km
– A. Bryant (and Google Earth)

I call this “Family-Day at Littlenatch”
– A. Bryant

A nice breeding-plumage marbled murrelet off “Littlenatch” Island
– A. Bryant

Nice to see the Pisaster ochraceous numbers coming back
– A. Bryant

We anchored for lunch in the “slot”
– A. Bryant

Yes. It’s just an anchor-chain…and it’s not swimming weather…
– A. Bryant

I thought the Turkey Vulture seemed a bit out-of-place here…
– A. Bryant

ooh. When your “member-message” says “dress for the weather”…believe it!
– A. Bryant

Yup…we’re here
– A. Bryant

And we’re not apparently not alone. I’m pretty sure that’s a Glaucus-winged Gull in the background
– A. Bryant

Long-time member and man-in-motion Dave engaged in some speed-shopping at Refuge Cove
– A. Bryant

More marbled murrelets in Refuge Cove
– A. Bryant

Yup. Just another happy day on the west coast…
– A. Bryant

…with a wee glimpse of Mt. Denman along the way
– A. Bryant

Desolation Sound
by Andrew Bryant, 28 June 2018.

After our traditional pit-stop at Nancy’s Bakery, nine of us boarded the Misty Isles in Lund for a cruise up Desolation Sound.

Ably skippered by Jonas and deck-handled by Karie, we travelled north on the lee side of the Copeland Islands.  We mostly ignored the impressive big-money homes at “Bliss Bay”.  Instead we focussed on pictographs, marbled murrelets and that wonderful little island that, at least aboard the Misty Isles crew, has come to be known as “Littlenatch”.

Ooh ya.  Harbour seals, Pigeon Guillemots, Marbled Murrelets, apparently a few nesting Glaucus-winged Gulls, oystercatchers, assorted shorebirds, and some evidence of recovery from the sea-star “wasting” event of 2014.

We dropped anchor and lunched at the “slot” before entering Homfray Sound and Desolation Sound Marine Park.  Hopes of great views of Mt. Denman were dashed by the weather.  Oh well.   We then proceeded SW to Refuge Cove, where we endulged in some local shopping and local snooping…

All in all?  Another great day out.

P.S: Special thanks to Heather Harbord (coordinator) and Mike Moore (Misty Isles) who generously refunded payments to 3 of our members who couldn’t make this trip.  Thank you!