Amanda's Grand Kayak Adventure

These are a few of..

2011-11-06T09:34:00.001-08:00

My favorite things:
Manta rays
Nightswimming
Dancing in the moonlight

The scariest thing:
Getting woken by a monster truck driving in circles between my kayak and tent.

The hardest thing:
My second day I was blinded by the glare, even with sunglasses and a
hat. I then constructed side blinders for my glasses and also had a
bandana under the hat. In hindsight, the main cause of the pain could
have been sunblock sweat dripping into my eyes.

Photos

2011-10-31T13:58:00.001-07:00

Some of my trip photos are up at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44629959@N00/sets/72157628006217648/

La Paz

2011-10-16T15:19:00.001-07:00

I made it! woo-hoo! I'm looking forward to a shower and fish tacos and
sleeping in a bed. I'm a little overwhelmed by interaction with other
people, but look forward to it once I`m cleaned up and cooled down.

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2011-10-15T14:15:00.001-07:00

N24 12.04 W110 31.6 Saw a ray jump out of the H2O 5 times in a row.here,the waiting is for the shade to come in,not the tide

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2011-10-14T15:53:00.001-07:00

N24 16.35 W110 37.27 BACK PAIN SLOWING ME DOWN.FORTUNATELY CALMEST DAY YET.LOTS OF WATCHING FISH FROM ABOVE

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2011-10-13T15:08:00.001-07:00

N24 27.03 W110 41.38 DOLPHINS JUST INTERUPTED MY MSG,JUMPING OUT OF THE H2O.2 COWS WATCHED ME EAT BREAKFAST,HOPE I WAS ENTERTAINING

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2011-10-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

N24 38.428 W110 44.03 PADDLED OVER LOTS OF HEALTHY CORAL THIS MORNING,WATCH FISH FROM ABOVE.SEA LION SIGHTING.WINDS KEEP CHANGING

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2011-10-11T14:19:00.001-07:00

N24 47.52 W110 39.73 MUCHO VIENTO NORTE.SHARING MY ARROYO CAMP W A COW,DUNG IN ALL THE FLAT SANDY TENT SPOTS.BEAUTIFUL NONETHELESS

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2011-10-10T16:12:00.001-07:00

N24 58.38 W110 45.104 REFILL H2O @RANCHO DELORES.WISH I SPOKE SPANISH.GOOD SNORKLING VISIBILITY.MANY PUNTOS TO ROUND

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2011-10-09T15:24:00.001-07:00

N25 07.417 W110 52.88 SUNRISE ON RED ROCKS WAS SPECTACULAR.HAIR IS THICK WITH SALT & GREASE.BLISTER TURNS TO CALLUS

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2011-10-08T15:25:00.001-07:00

N25 18.334 W110 56.73 WHEN PADDLING WIDE AROUND ROCKS OFF PUNTO SAN TELMO,WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ANOTHER ROCK WAS A SEA TURTLE

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2011-10-07T16:24:00.001-07:00

N25 28.5 W111 01.17 NO FISH TACOS IN AGUA VERDE BUT REFILLED WATER.GOOD PADDLING PROGRESS.SHADE HAS COME AS SUN DROPS BELOW CLIFFS

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2011-10-07T16:23:00.001-07:00

N25 28.5 W111 01.17 NO FISH TACOS IN AGUA VERDE BUT REFILLED WATER.GOOD PADDLING PROGRESS.SHADE HAS COME AS SUN DROPS BELOW CLIFFS

2011-10-06T17:49:00.001-07:00

ALL IS AMAZING BUT I CANT BLOG IT.TOMORROW TO AGUA VERDE.

2011-10-06T17:48:00.000-07:00

--------------
Annalei Babson
annalei@nekinfo.com
69 Curtis St. Rockport, MA 01966
(978) 309-8450 HOME
(802) 535-4468 CELL

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2011-10-06T15:08:00.001-07:00

N25 33.2 W111 08.63 BIG PUFFERFISH SKELETON.SKITTERING SCHOOLS OF FLYING FISH.STRONG HEADWINDS MAKE SLOW GOING

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2011-10-06T06:09:00.001-07:00

NOT SURE IF POSTS WORKING.MANY COLORFUL FISH,HERMIT CRABS,DONKEYS.BRIGHT 1(2 MOON

about to take off

2011-10-04T08:35:00.001-07:00

last internet access for 2 weeks
phone should be working but i havent tested yet
long travel day yesterday
my shuttle awaits
its going to be great
bye all!
amanda

Text test

2011-10-02T16:13:00.001-07:00

Text test

Testing out for a Baja blog

2011-09-29T11:26:00.001-07:00

In preparation for my next kayak trip, I'm testing out how to post to the blog.

trip website

2008-04-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

My grand vision of a trip website is up and running! There is still content to be created, but there's lots to explore. Thanks to Annalei and NEKInfo for getting it out there. Go take a look at
www.kayakinsidepassage.com

extra photos

2008-01-02T13:39:00.001-08:00

One memory card didn't get uploaded this summer, so here are the Prince Rupert to Ketchikan photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44629959@N00/sets/72157603244542153/

also, I chose 50 of my favorite photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44629959@N00/sets/72157602112418858/

last photo batch

2007-08-25T21:13:00.001-07:00

Take a look at my photo set from Petersburg to Glacier Bay and my return
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44629959@N00/sets/72157601659864546/
I'm enjoying wearing a different set of clothes today

Seattle

2007-08-25T07:16:00.001-07:00

We arrived back in warm, sunny, Seattle summer last night. So happy to be back, but this also means that my trip is really over. I was happy to see that the kayak arrived back safely. Also, was able to figure out how to fly with all my gear (had to dispose of remaining camp fuel, wasn't sure if security would confiscate my bear spray).

In Juneau, we saw the Mendenhall glacier and then did a boat trip to Tracy Arm to see the North and South Sawyer glaciers. While we were at Mendenhall, we missed seeing it calve because we were watching bears. The Sawyer glaciers more than made up for that, we got to see lots of calving (parts of the face of the glacier falling off into the water becoming icebergs). It was very exciting. The ferry trip to Ketchikan was just what we'd hoped for, so we were a bit bummed we didn't get to do the whole trip, but most happy to be together and to get to see some of the area I'd paddled.

Juneau

2007-08-19T18:48:00.001-07:00

Hurrah my parents are here! So great to see them. They were of course bummed to hear that we couldn't take the ferry back as planned, but we're all very happy to see each other and have figured out other ways to enjoy our time together. We'll spend an extra day in Juneau, then take the ferry to Ketchikan and fly back to Seattle from there on Friday when we would have arrived on the ferry. so at least we'll get a bit of the ferry experience. Today we took the tram up to the top of Mt Roberts for cloudy views.

got help

2007-08-18T09:46:00.001-07:00

Thanks for those of you who replied, it looks like I've worked out a plan to send the kayak back ahead of me so I can fly back with my parents if that's our best option. Still haven't gotten in contact with them. Huge thanks to Alicia and the Keightley family.
Amanda

kayak pickup assistance

2007-08-17T22:53:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone, please disregard if you're not able to help me figure out an alternate plan for picking up my kayak in Bellingham.

This is a general call for help for anyone that could meet my kayak in Bellingham at 8am on Tues Aug 21. So the ferry we were supposed to take back to Seattle has broken down. I haven't been able to get in touch with my parents yet to figure out what to do instead. One possibility is flying back, but sending the kayak on the ferry that leaves tomorrow afternoon. I've found a friendly family in the hostel I'm staying in that will escort it as they take the ferry back that leaves tomorrow afternoon, but I need someone to meet that at the ferry to pick it up. If you can help me out, send me an email with your phone number by 9am (seattle time) Saturday, so that I can work things out with them before we're locked out of the hostel at 9am Seattle time.

thanks, Amanda

Hoonah

2007-08-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hired a boat to take me and the kayak to the town of Hoonah (across Icy Strait) where I'll catch a ferry back to Juneau tomorrow. My parents meet me on Sunday, and then we'll take the ferry back to Bellingham together (provided they fix the current mechanical problems that have our ferry out of commission, eek).
I think I'll keep posting to the blog until I'm back in Seattle because it's so much fun.
I'm so happy to be done, what a great ending.

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-08-15T22:22:00.001-07:00

BARTLETT COVE I'M DONE!TOUR BOAT PICKUP SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO PADDLE ALL THE WAY BACK,PLUS I GOT TO SEE THE WEST ARM

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2007-08-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

58 47.106 136 04.212 GARFORTH ISL SUNNY STREAK CONTINUES,WIND REVERSED SO STILL AGAINST ME HEADING BACK.INTERGLACIAL WOOD

Glacier Bay map

2007-08-14T09:15:00.001-07:00

Neil here--I found a Glacier Bay park map online which shows the
retreat of Muir Glacier since the 1800s and helped me understand the
last few updates from Amanda better--here it is:
http://www.wideview.it/travel/Alaska_98/Alaska/pagine/gbay_map_big.jpg

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2007-08-13T20:52:00.001-07:00

59 00.041 136 09.674 WOLF PT I DID IT!TODAY I PADDLED TO MUIR GLACIER,MY GOAL.I FEEL AWESOME.STAY TUNED,STILL HAVE TO GET BACK

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2007-08-12T21:04:00.001-07:00

59 03.714 136 10.792 RIGGS GLACIER MORAINE SUNNY,WINDY & AMAZING.BIG VIEWS OF SEVERAL GLACIERS.NORTHERN LIGHTS

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2007-08-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

58 49.205 136 05.296 MUIR PT THIS WAS THE END OF THE GLACIER WHEN JOHN MUIR WAS HERE.SUN,AFTERNOON WIND.SEA LION CACOPHONY

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2007-08-10T22:09:00.001-07:00

58 38.970 135 59.385 LELAND ISL NEW PACKING PUZZLE WITH BEAR CANNISTERS.GLORIOUS DAY.SAW A BEAR SWIM BETWEEN ISLANDS

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2007-08-09T23:23:00.000-07:00

58 27.086 135 53.662 BARTLET COVE,GLACIER BAY PARK HDQRTS!SEA OTTERS.SHOWERS(RAIN & BATH)

new photos

2007-08-08T22:47:00.001-07:00

Neil here. Just got another memory card in the mail, and so there is
new Alaska amazingness on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44629959@N00/sets/72157601293174637/

I'm so glad I'm not a salmon right now.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44629959@N00/1045290484/in/set-72157601293174637/

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2007-08-08T22:27:00.000-07:00

58 20.291 135 32.481 PLEASANT ISL EATING UP THE MILES.GREAT WEATHER.SO MANY SALMON

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2007-08-07T21:14:00.001-07:00

58 18.173 135 04.543 HOWARD BAY BUSY & CHOPPY CROSSINGS.RAIN. WHALE

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2007-08-06T22:21:00.001-07:00

58 22.446 134 43.750 PT LOUISA HAD TO WAIT FOR THE TIDE TO COME IN SEVERAL TIMES,EXERCISE IN CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY.DOZENS OF EAGLES

berries

2007-08-06T07:41:00.001-07:00

forgot to mention last night that salmonberries growing on muskeg are particularly delicious, whereas blueberries on muskeg are not very good at all

Juneau!

2007-08-05T23:09:00.001-07:00

I bet you were wondering what I was doing paddling up to the head of an inlet. Well, there's a handy tram car and track to do the mile long portage over to Oliver Inlet. Had a bit of adventure with that this morning because I could not get the tram up the first steep hill. I even tried unloading everything and carrying it up the hill and then pushing the tram empty. Still couldn't do it. Fortunately, there was a smaller tram waiting at the other end and it all worked out.

I made it to Juneau! very exciting, and it's now been 3 months. hard to believe. the last leg is just icing on the cake, but I'll set off tomorrow afternoon on my way to Glacier Bay. This last leg was a great one. In addition to whales and bears, I met some great people along the way and had more good weather than bad. Saw so many whales because this is a big feeding area for them. Most of the sightings were binocular distance, rather than photo distance, but it was very cool. I could look across Seymour Canal and see 6 spouts at one time (I could see them where they contrasted with the green trees along the shore). Admiralty Inlet's Tlingit name translates to Fortress of the Bears, which is why I saw so many bears there. I saw as many from campsites as from the bear observatory, but enjoyed it much more when I felt like I was watching from a safe vantage point. And they are all brown bears there.

Should sign off now as there are other hostel-ers waiting to use the computer. Happy trails, Amanda

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2007-08-04T22:23:00.001-07:00

58 05.798 134 18.936 SEYMOUR CANAL CABIN I LOVE TO WATCH BEARS FISH,EAT,SHARE FISH WITH THEIR CUBS & RUN FROM A SAFE,BEAUTIFUL PLACE

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2007-08-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

57 53.678 134 15.615 WINDFALL ISL EARLY START TO ESCAPE BEING MUDDED IN.GOT MY PACK CRK BEAR OBS PERMIT FOR TOMORROW!WHALES & GERMANS

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2007-08-02T23:33:00.001-07:00

57 39.545 134 06.010 MOLE HBR SUN MORE WHALES GREAT DAY.THINGS NOT GOING MY WAY TONIGHT

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2007-08-01T21:48:00.001-07:00

57 25.553 133 55.597 GAMBIER BAY 15 MILES OF CROSSINGS,ISLAND HOPPING,GLASSY CALM. SEA LIONS FEEDING & MANY LOUD HUMPBACKS WOOHOO!

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2007-07-31T22:41:00.000-07:00

57 14.563 133 32.282 WHITNEY ISL SO MUCH HAPPIER WHEN ITS NOT RAINING.MANY EAGLES,FLOCKS OF SEABIRDS

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2007-07-30T22:57:00.000-07:00

FARRAGUT BAY 57 06.248 133 11.013 RAIN RAIN RAIN FOG WHALE GOODNIGHT

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2007-07-29T21:04:00.001-07:00

56 58.114 132 49.199 THOMAS BAY BOAT IS ALL FIXED UP.HAD SUN & CLOUDS MOST OF DAY,RAIN TO CAP IT OFF.SCORED A CABIN AGAIN

Petersburg, day 2

2007-07-28T22:02:00.001-07:00

I've had a very pleasant day, got my errands done, visited the local museum, ate fresh foods and went out for coffee with a local minister who is an avid kayaker. It's getting to be close enough to the end that I'm starting to work out those logistics, and even to think about finding a place to live for September. Somewhat tricky to do with only brief periods of phone and internet access. And yet I still have three weeks left which is quite a lot of paddling. I'm excited to be on my way again. Hope all is well with all of you.

Petersburg

2007-07-27T21:05:00.000-07:00

Even if it's only been a few days, I'm happy to be in a town again. Camping in the rain is starting to get to me a bit. Petersburg has Scandanavian roots, with Norwegian style painting on many tourist focused buildings. I've decided to stay for two nights, to have a couple repairs done on my boat (actually they probably got them done this afternoon, shortly after I dropped off the boat; I'm quite glad the local shipwrights were willing to take such a small job) and because I felt like I didn't have enough time in Wrangell, getting in late afternoon and having to take off in the morning before things opened up.

I'll be mailing off the latest set of photos tomorrow, and when they go up, they're going to be great. I took enough photos of bears and icebergs that there have to be some spectacular ones in there.

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2007-07-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

56 46.747 132 37.909 NORTH OF LECONTE BAY WENT TO SEE LECONTE GLACIER,WOW!PADDLING THROUGH ICEBERGS IS EXCITING & BEAUTIFUL

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2007-07-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

56 44.095 132 33.606 CAMP ISL,NEAR LECONTE BAY PETROGLYPHS IN MORNING,ICEBERGS IN AFTERNOON.BIG MTN VIEWS CAME OUT FROM HIDING

Wrangell

2007-07-24T20:43:00.001-07:00

In town again, out of the rain and clean and comfy. I find the pace of Wrangell much more congruous coming in from being solo than I did Ketchikan (though I had a great time there). Wrangell is small and slow, and there's only a little tourist infrastructure. Actually it's quite annoying because the one grocery store in town closes at 6, but I thought I had until 7. But I'll be in Peterberg in a few days and can get more perishables there. And the library is open from 7-9 on Tuesday night. I'm off again with an early tide tomorrow to cross Dry Strait (part of the delta of the Stikine River that dries at low tide).

Marine weather forecasts in BC were only for 2 days ahead, but in Alaska they do a full week forecast. It's quite depressing when the entire week ahead has rain predicted.

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2007-07-23T22:05:00.001-07:00

56 21.131 132 07.14 WRANGELL ISL NOTICED FRONT BULKHEAD WAS BROKEN THIS MORNING,NOT SURE HOW THAT HAPPENED.TOO RAINY TO TRY TO FIX NOW

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2007-07-22T22:03:00.001-07:00

56 13.52 131 55.91 BLAKE ISL GOT TO SEE ANAN BEAR OBSERVATORY!BLACK BEAR CUB CLIMBING A TREE.GRIZZLY EATING HEADS OFF SALMON.AWESOME!

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2007-07-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

56 03.680 131 58.065 FROSTY BAY MORE RAIN THAN SUN.SAW PORPOISES TWICE.THE PROSPECT OF A CABIN IS A GREAT MOTIVATOR,I WIN AGAIN

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2007-07-20T20:44:00.001-07:00

55 47.798 132 09.720 VIXEN HARBOR OUT OF WAVY WATERS BY AFTERNOON.TODAY,WHEN NOT EXPECTING ONE,I FIND A CABIN,GO FIGURE

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2007-07-19T22:20:00.001-07:00

55 38.982 132 12.274 NO CABIN COVE WIND CLEARED FOG BY MID-MORNING,WAVY CROSSING,WAVIER REST OF THE DAY

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2007-07-18T20:41:00.001-07:00

55 28.864 131 49.61 PUP ISL SUNNY DAY BUT FOG STUCK IN BEHM CANAL UNTIL 6PM,PUT OFF BIG XING TIL TOMORROW.MANY SPORTFISHING BOATS ABOUT

new photos

2007-07-17T22:34:00.001-07:00

Neil here. This is a special guest post just to let everyone know that
there's a bunch of new photos to see:

Amanda's from mainland BC
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44629959@N00/sets/72157600841741711/

Amanda's from Haida Gwaii
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44629959@N00/sets/72157600842125495/

Neil's from Haida Gwaii
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilbanas/sets/72157600859241714/

you can also skip straight to the bears:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilbanas/832300384/in/set-72157600859241714/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44629959@N00/822337435/in/set-72157600842125495/

Ketchikan

2007-07-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

Given the rain, I pushed the extra distance yesterday to make it to Ketchikan a day early to stay someplace warm and dry. There were four cruise ships in the harbor as I approached, and I heard that there are 6 arriving today, so it's a bit of a sensory overload. But my senses were so happy last night in clean, dry clothes, after a shower, going out to dinner. Yum. I ordered crab because I had turned down an offer of free crabs a couple days before from some friendly folks on a motorboat who had too many. In order not to smell attractive to bears, I don't want to cook fish while camping, but it sure was tempting.

Today is beautiful and sunny, but instead of paddling I'm doing errands in town. But I also am leaving my wet things out to dry. Tomorrow I head out again.

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2007-07-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

55 13.44 131 09.38 ALAVA BAY HARD RAIN LAST NIGHT,LIGHT TODAY,HARD AGAIN TONIGHT.CAMPING IN SHELTER BY CABIN OCCUPIED BY FRIENDLY FOLKS

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2007-07-14T21:10:00.001-07:00

54 57.168 130 56.451 FOGGY BAY LUCKY TO HAVE GREAT WEATHER WHILE EXPOSED TO DIXON ENTRANCE.BIG FISH JUMPING.22 FT TIDES

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2007-07-13T20:59:00.001-07:00

54 46.246 130 44.279 TONGASS ISL,ALASKA!WAITED OUT THICK FOG & THUNDERSHOWERS THIS MORNING,STILL MADE BIG XING B4 WINDS INCREASED.TIRED

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2007-07-12T21:23:00.001-07:00

54 38.311 130 26.041 MASKELYNE ISL MOTOR BOATS OUT ENJOYING PERFECT SUMMER EVENING.BUGS DROVE ME INTO MY TENT,BUT VIEW STILL MAGNIFICEN

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2007-07-11T20:01:00.001-07:00

54 25.326 130 28.878 TREE BLUFF HAPPY TO BE ON MY WAY AGAIN.SUN GLORIOUS SUN!CAMPING ON BEACH WITH LOTS OF TRACKS,LISTENING TO BELLBUOY

back in Prince Rupert

2007-07-10T20:19:00.000-07:00

I took the ferry back to Prince Rupert today and will set out north again tomorrow. First I'll fill in some of the details on our Haida Gwaii trip. Gwaii Haanas is the giant park in the south of the Haida Gwaii. We had a sailboat take us and our kayaks down to the southern part of the park over four days, with stops along the way for at least one amazing activity each day. Then Neil and I paddled on our own for three days, and got the weather window we needed to paddle out to Sgang Gwaay (also known as Ninstints or Anthony Island among others), which is the village site of the Kungit Haida, with the most remaining poles and house remains in the park. It was spectacular and beautiful.
And then yesterday we waited around for hours for the speed boat that would take us back up, and then it sped us back up (with fine weather), splashing all the way, just in time to make the last small ferry of the day back over to the town where we had a hostel reservation, but after the taxi in town decided to stop for the night, but we made it there eventually, and I made my ferry back here this morning and hopefully Neil made his flight back to Seattle this afternoon.

Next city stop is Ketchikan. Hope summer is treating you all well, today it actually feels like summer weather here.

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2007-07-08T21:45:00.001-07:00

52 09.757 131 06.636 STORMY MORNING TURNED TO SUNNY AFTERNOON.QUIET PADDLE EXPLORING UP ROSE INLET

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2007-07-07T20:43:00.001-07:00

SAME CAMP,SGANG GWAAY DAY TRIP.KELP,URCHINS,EAGLES,PUFFINS,SEAWOLF,RAVENS,BEARS,GUILLEMOTS,FROG,SOME CARVED ON MORTUARY POLES

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2007-07-06T21:43:00.001-07:00

52 07.646 131 09.828 MORESBY ISL BETTER WEATHER IN TIME FOR KAYAKING & CAMPING.LAZY AFTERNOON ON BEACH,HELLO MR BEAR

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2007-07-05T23:12:00.001-07:00

52 08.994 131 05.189 ROSE HARBOR LAST DAY ON SAILBOAT.BIOLUMINESCENCE IN HEAD.

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2007-07-04T22:50:00.001-07:00

52 21.135 131 20.740 BURNABY NARROWS HOT SPRINGS BLACK BEAR ON BEACH.BLACK BASS COOKED IN KELP FOR DINNER.MORE RAIN

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2007-07-03T23:17:00.000-07:00

52 34.684 131 26.002 TIDEPOOLING.NOT SEASICK.HALIBUT FOR LUNCH AND DINNER

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2007-07-02T22:55:00.001-07:00

52 54.680 131 38.255 LIME GREEN SAILBOAT,SEASICK SEAS.TOTEM POLES BECOMING NURSE LOGS

off to the ferry

2007-07-01T08:18:00.001-07:00

Neil and I take the ferry to the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) today, We'll be there until July 10, sailing, kayaking and seeing the sights. I'm still planning on sending blog updates, but maybe not every day. Yesterday we went to the Museaum of Northern British Columbia, which had some great artifacts, art and history. Sun is out today, hurrah!

Prince Rupert, Day 3

2007-06-29T18:17:00.001-07:00

Enjoyed puttering around Prince Rupert for the past couple days. I've done a few errands, read in a local cafe and generally taken it easy. Tonight I'm going to the movies; that's a good sign that Prince Rupert is large enough to have a movie theater. My guidebook says its population is 16,000. I've heard before that it was a pretty depressed town, previously a boom town, but it seems to be doing well enough. People have been friendly and I've enjoyed poking around.

Filling in the gap

2007-06-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

I'm still not sure why messages after Bella Bella didn't post, but were still telling me that the message was sent. I think it has to do with reception. The thing about satellite phones is that while they're supposed to work anywhere, they need a clear view of the sky. And the coast here is steep with tall trees that don't make for very good reception while in camp. So I'll post the missing messages below (roughly, I write them out beforehand to get in the right ballpark for number of characters).

June 13
N52 12.878 W128 13.136
Horsfall Island
picked up my resupply box in Shearwater
bear hang much heavier
on my way in new place
rain stopped when I reached camp

June 14
N52 20.910 W 128 23.622
Lady Douglas Island
paddled hard
exposed sections, wind picked up in afternoon
rewarded with cabin, thank you Heiltsuk!
whooping cranes

June 15
N52 30.725 W128 17.102
Susan Island
perfect weather, 16 ft tides
curious seals
sunset behind island at 9:45 but more to go

June 16
N52 35.449 W128 31.174
Klemtu
paddling going smoothly, will have long day tomorrow
ravens around town are noisy
bursts of eagle

Prince Rupert

2007-06-27T22:09:00.001-07:00

Well I've made it to Prince Rupert and the comforts of town. I'll be here until Sunday, waiting for Neil to join me, when we'll take a ferry out to the Queen Charlotte Islands, so I'll be posting more in the next few days. Until then, Neil has posted my photos from the Gulf Islands to Port Hardy at http://www.flickr.com/photos/44629959@N00/sets/72157600443890231/

Highlight of today's paddle was watching a group of at least six otters (river otters I think) play in the water. When they saw me, they disappeared, but then I saw them next watching me from shore.

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-26T19:49:00.001-07:00

QUIET DAY BEING A TOURIST,READING,PLAYING SOLITAIRE

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

54 11.632 130 13.315 NORTH PACIFIC CANNERY MUSEUM BUNKHOUSE-WILL STAY HERE TOMORROW,TAKE A TOUR,WAIT OUT A FORECAST GALE.SALMONBERRIES!

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-24T20:05:00.001-07:00

53 59.812 130 14.988 PORCHER ISL SUN!COMBINATION OF WINDS,CURRENTS,ISLANDS & SKEENA RIVER MADE FOR WEIRD WATER THIS AFTERNOON

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-23T19:26:00.001-07:00

53 49.947 130 01.709 PITT ISL MORE SUN THAN RAIN.HUMPBACK WENT CLOSE BY MY LUNCH SPOT.DID I MENTION HOW DRAMATIC THIS LANDSCAPE IS?

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

53 40.17 129 45.45 KLEWNUGGIT INLET LAZY CABIN MORNING WAITING FOR FLOOD CURRENT,THEN ZOOM,GOT HERE FAST.TOMORROW EBB TAKES ME NORTH

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-22T10:11:00.001-07:00

SORRY IF GAP IN MSGS,DIDNT KNOW,WAS SENDING DAILY SAME AS BEFORE.PHONE GLITCH?WILL LOOK INTO IT.ALLS WELL

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

53 33.357 129 34.317 LOWE INLET CABIN ORCAS BEFORE BREAKFAST.LOTS OF CURRENT ASSIST TO GET ME HERE.DRYING OUT & WARMING UP

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-20T20:17:00.001-07:00

53 18.989 129 07.817 GRIBBELL ISL RAIN CONTINUES & SO DO I.PADDLING COMPANION MOTIVATED ME FOR A LONG DAY,THEN HE WENT FURTHER

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-19T20:18:00.001-07:00

BUTEDALE POURING THIS MORNING WHEN TIME TO LEAVE,OPTED TO STAY WARM & DRY IN FORMER MESSHALL.STILL RAINING HARD

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-18T20:01:00.000-07:00

53 09.612 128 41.734 BUTEDALE CANNERY GHOST TOWN.IN LONG STEEP-SIDED CHANNELS PART,SO MANY WATERFALLS & HARD TO LAUNCH NEAR LOW THIS AM

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-17T21:01:00.001-07:00

52 55.290 128 29.942 GREEN INLET WHALE SIGHTING!SMALL HUMPBACK,MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE SOUNDS THAT WOKE ME UP LAST NIGHT.FOG,LIGHT RAI

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-12T21:15:00.001-07:00

52 08.252 128 08.755 BELLA BELLA 10 HR FERRY RIDE,CAMPING BY LANDING,ON MY WAY AGAIN TOMORROW.RAINY

Port Hardy, day 3

2007-06-11T15:56:00.000-07:00

The welcome to Port Hardy sign lists fishing, logging and mining as the town industries. There's a bit of tourism, especially surrounding the ferry comings and goings, but there's not tons to entertain oneself with for 3 days. Today I did some more errands, walking around in the rain, reading and puttering. Looking forward to being on my way again tomorrow, but happy for the rest stop.

What other interesting tidbits to pass along. Most of the fishing boats between Texada Island and Johnstone Straight were prawn boats, with traps - which is great because the sustainable seafood guides list trap caught prawns as the happy kind of shrimp to get. Not that I could get local prawns at the restaurant I ate at in Powell River. Now there are a lot of different kinds of fishing boats, and a cannery.

Port Hardy, day 2

2007-06-10T15:58:00.000-07:00

I've spent today doing low key town things like switching from the expensive hotel by the marina to the hostel in the middle of town, getting ferry reservations for me and my kayak for Tuesday morning and figuring out the logistics of that (ferry terminal is across the bay and of course doesn't have an easy place to approach by kayak). The local kayak tour guy is great and is letting me store my kayak at his shop, driving me to the ferry Tuesday morning and then when I brought my boat over, he let me wash out my gear and helped me touch up the gelcoat on the bottom of my boat where it's been scratched up already.

What else to write about when I don't have to limit it to 160 characters? One thing that I'm bummed I missed along the way is Robson Bight. This is the reserve where orcas are known to go rub on the rocks to get rid of parasites. The morning I was first going to cross Johnstone Straight, it was too foggy, and so continuing north and crossing over where I did, I missed Robson Bight. I looked across the way, but didn't see any orcas. Oh well, hopefully I'll have another chance to see orcas by kayak.

Tomorrow is another town day, so I'll have a change to ramble more then. Amanda

Port Hardy

2007-06-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Port Hardy! I've already had a shower, done laundry, called my parents and eaten a non-camp-type meal. I'll likely be here for a few days. I decided to take the ferry for the next leg, from here to Bella Bella, and I think the next one isn't for a few days (well there's one tonight, but that doesn't leave me enough time to get my town errands done). Sorry to the purists out there, but I decided to use the excuse of the combo of spending extra time in the San Juans with Warren and needing to meet Neil in Prince Rupert by the end of June, to avoid Cape Caution. I've always said that if I wasn't comfortable doing this part alone, I could take the ferry. Maybe some day I'll come back and do this leg, preferably not solo.

Town errands to do. Hope all is well with all of you.
Amanda

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-08T19:52:00.001-07:00

50 43.478 127 23.848 PEEL ISL PADDLING THROUGH KELP FORESTS ANTICIPATING COMFORTS OF TOWN TOMORROW BITS OF SUN FEEL SO GOOD

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-07T20:16:00.000-07:00

50 35.943 127 01.565 HADDINGTON ISL MUCH LESS WINDY.STOPPED IN ALERT BAY TO SHOP AND SEE U'MISTA MUSEUM POTLATCH MASKS

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-06T17:41:00.001-07:00

WEATHER DAY,JOHNSTONE STRAIGHT TOO WINDY,IS CALMER NOW SO HOPING GOOD TO GO TOMORROW.LOW ON TP,OUT OF CHEESE

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-05T21:07:00.001-07:00

50 31.931 126 36.501 W CRACROFT ISL ONE MONTH,WOW! CRUISE SHIPS PASSING.WINDY,SLOW GOING,BIT OF RAIN

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

50 30.848 126 17.631 BROKEN ISLS SAW MY FIRST BEAR TODAY,SAFELY FROM MY BOAT WHILE IT WAS HAVING LOW TIDE LUNCH.FOGGY,RAINY DAY

SMS from 881631611816@msg.iridium.com

2007-06-03T19:14:00.001-07:00

50 26.810 125 58.325 YORKE ISL LAST OF THE RAPIDS,WHIRLPOOL,IN THE MORNING,BACK ON REGULAR SCHEDULE.PORPOISES,FISHFARMS,CLEARCUTS