We started
the morning checking all sources for weather reports with special attention to
the weather at the West Otter sea buoy. All information was the same, winds
were calm and so were the seas, which clearly supported our decision to depart.
We had used our float plan to determine the optimum time to be in the big water.
We departed the dock as scheduled with a secured cabin so we didn’t have any
more ‘accidents’. As we exited the harbor, we had about 50 Dall porpoises
swimming right at us. Eileen slowed the boat to admire them and I grabbed the
video camera. Soon dad reminded us that we were on a schedule and it didn’t
include us slowing to capture “moments”.
Back on
course, we reached our first waypoint, Round Island. The swells gradually grew
as we neared Pine Island to a height of 4 feet. They were soft and coming
towards us which made us feel like we were on a kiddy ride at an amusement park.
We broke out the ginger cookies, just in case, since ginger helps with
seasickness. Once we cleared the island the seas settled to 2-3 foot swells. When
we got about 10 nautical miles from Cape Caution, we looked back and we could
just barely make out the tip of Vancouver Island in the fog. When you can’t see
land in any direction you know that you are at sea!
We were
never able to get a clear view of Cape Caution through the fog bank. As we
entered Fitz Huges Sound, Eileen and I got excited as we spied two large whales
off in a distance. I grabbed the camera and raced to the bridge to get some
good footage. About that time Dad clarified that what we were seeing is the
waves breaking on rocks! Eileen set a
course that meandered through the islands/rocks, Dad vetoed it! It was
interesting how Dad’s risk meter changed when he was in unfamiliar waters.
As we approached
Goose Bay, the sun had finally broken through the fog which allowed us to
observe the beauty of the bay. We wandered down the bay past the closed Duncanby
Lodge towards the once abandoned, Goose Bay Cannery. According to our reading,
it had been purchased by a group of firefighters who are converting it into a fishing
lodge and it had a dock that they would allow visitors to use. 
After we got
settled in, we got a crab pot soaking, then Eileen decided to take a nap on the
dock and Dad opted for the couch. Listening to the water slapping on the bow
and the beach boys in the back ground I actualized our cruise plan and tidied
up the cabin. After nap time, Dad worked on the down riggers replacing the
cable that Dottie and I lost the summer before. Then we decided to go kayaking,
which was more than entertaining. Picture me getting into a kayak – better yet
keep in mind what goes in must come out. Eileen and I kayaked around a small island
while Dad retrieved our crabs out of the trap.
After we got
back, Eileen set up the chairs on the upper deck and Dad rigged my Barbie pole
with a herring jig! Cocktail in hand, I
jigged off the dock and got several pogies that would work for bait. We cooked
up the crab and barbequed burgers for our first feast in the great outdoors. After dinner, Eileen and Dad went to get the
crab pots and then they went back into the area where Eileen and I went
kayaking. The tide was down and they got stuck, well according to Dad they were
technically not stuck because neither of them had to get out of the boat, they
just had to wait for 2 hours and wiggle around. 
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