Port Hardy and Patrician Cove

Pulled the crab trap up this morning to find only two female Dungeness Crabs, that I had to release. Queen Charlotte Strait was flat calm most the way across today. It was pretty much straight across from Blunden Harbour to Port Hardy. Approaching Hardy Bay, the winds had picked up to around 20 – 25 kts out of the west, and the Strait was getting pretty choppy. I docked just outside of the Port Hardy inner harbor at the Seagate T-Floats. Enjoyed walking through a waterside park, and then stopped at the visitor/welcome center. There were several descriptive signs along the park walk, and a memorial in the center of the park for Canadian and First Nation Soldiers. Tired of my own cooking, I went out to Market Street Café. After lunch I visited the small Port Hardy Museum on the lower floor of the library. After that I went out looking for an Ice Cream shop. What’s wrong with these people up here? No Ice Cream shops, and the one market that did have a small choice of scoop ice cream, was closed for remodeling. I ended up getting a piece of cake for dessert at the Café Guido. I departed the dock to a rather rough choppy Hardy Bay, probably due to the westerly winds still blowing. Passed a large Canadian Coast Guard Cutter coming in, and then rounded Dillon Point, where the water calmed down. I was a little surprised having a whale watching boat overtake me on my starboard side, only 50’ away. Didn’t look like he had any passengers, so maybe just checking my C-Dory out? At least he was going slow so didn’t leave me much of a wake. A little farther ahead, he took off on plane. I then passed through Daedalus Passage and went to the end of Beaver Harbour to view Fort Rupert. I then returned a short distance to anchor at Patrician Cove. There has been a light rain off and on today, and this evening the light rain is mixed in with downpours. I’m ready for some warmer temps and sunshine, and see it in the forecast in a few days. Bill and Mike are in Blunden Harbour this evening, and plan to continue down that side of the Strait until probably Campbell River. If our timing works out, I’ll meet them there.Read more