Butedale

It was cold and wet when we left Prince Rupert for Butedale, together with Orpao. We would be travelling over 2 days so were aiming to reach East Inlet on the Grenville Channel for our first night.

Leaving Prince Rupert in this direction, we got to sail past their port. Canada use a lot of trains to transport cargo and have some remarkable train routes. A train was in port, you can see it below.

Looking in the other direction, the carriages went as far as our eyes could see. It took ages to get to the end of them.

Once we got into the channel there were many many trees floating in the water.

While we encountered a few logs and trees in Alaska, particularly after heavy rain, here they are everywhere, I think due to the many rivers entering the waterways, and the huge amount of logging undertaken. While the tree above is large and easy to spot, we are more concerned about ” deadheads”. They are large water logged tree trunks hanging vertically in the water with only the tips sticking out, so very difficult to spot.

The channel was very calm but I had a mainly indoors day, and just relieved Dean occasionally so he could have a break and warm up. It is supposed to be picturesque and cruise ships travel down to view the waterfalls. In fact it still was. There were enough breaks in the clouds that we got to see some of the waterfalls as well!

We saw an orca fin, but that was it for wild life and other boats, both. We dropped anchor around 1800 and Dean rowed over to Orpao to discuss our plans for leaving the next day. Careful consideration needs to be given to currents and tides. Thankfully as we head south, our days are becoming ever so slightly longer.

We agreed to get away at around 0700, at first light. Thick smelly mud had to be washed off the anchor but it had made for good holding. It was still raining and continued most of the day as we headed down Princess Royal Channel towards Brendale.

There aren’t many choices of anchorages along here. Brendale is another abandoned cannery, and yet another example of how advances in technology and someone having a different vision changes the way a whole industry works.

As we entered Brendale, we were greeted by an enormous waterfall cascading down a rocky slope. There is a large lake situated further back and I believe when the area was still inhabited they used to get power from a hydroelectric set up here.

We had a jetty to tie up to here. Orpao already in at one end were non to pleased with its integrity. A group had been fixing it up, but ran out of money, or it was too far gone. Whatever, it is now abandoned, and the big building frankly dangerous.

Frederique and Bruno came over to ours for dinner, when the man off a small motorboat said a large yacht wanted to fit in, so could we move up closer. So Dean and Bruno braved the pouring rain to make adjustments. It was a large charter yacht with about a dozen guests, all wearing masks. Very funny to see after so long!

We made our arrangements for the next day. We both want to be down on Vancouver Island by 1st October, and with yet another low pressure system not too far away we need to plan carefully and ensure we always have safe harbours along the way.

Orpao left ahead of us. Here they are passing the waterfall.

And this is the view looking back on Brendale.