BROUGHTON ARCHIPELAGO BRITISH COLUMBIA

The Broughton Archipelago is made up of dozens of interesting islands, passages, destinations and marinas north of Desolation Sound within the inside passage of British Columbia east of the Queen Charlotte Strait. 

Sunday, July 17th ( day 110) TURNBULL COVE, Coast Mountains Inside Passage

Our friends Chris and Brigette on Endless Tymes.

Once crossing the strait from Port McNeill our first anchorage was Turnbull Cove. It was beautiful despite the rain. One day in the rain, we tried bottom fishing for halibut but only turned up rock cod. John even got two on one lure and I had one within minutes. That was pretty exciting. One evening we experienced an electrical storm which lead to 180* rainbows. There were many other boats in the bay, apparently also waiting out the rain.  When the weather cleared one evening, Tom, Kay, John and I went over to Roaring Hole Rapids in the dinks. It was a an awesome evening. While slack tide, John and I braved going through the rapids briefly... Tom and Kay opted out.  We stayed in Turnbull for 3 days looking forward to meeting up with friends at our next moorage. 

Waiting out the rain inside Turnbull Cove.

Alaska Sea-Duction with Pairadice in the background.
We went to Roaring Hole Rapids in the dinks. 

Great picture of Tom and Kay, our friends on Alaska Sea-Duction's. 

Outside Turnbull, 3.7 knots is at idle! 
I drove around in circles while John tried for halibut.

Rock cod kept taking the halibut bait.

Even I caught one within minutes.

Roaring Hole Rapids in the distance.....

...close-up of the mist created by the bubbling rapids.

From the pilot house.

These dolphins surrounded us on both the port and starboard sides.
There were over a dozen, they ran with us for over 30 minutes.

Humpback Whale at rest.

How about that picture!!!  Humpback on the move.

The whales were all over the place on this particular day.

Monday, July 18-20  SULLIVAN BAY, NORTH BROUGHTON ISLAND

We lifted anchor at 10am, and it seems Kay and Tom brought the Alaskan sun with them heading south. I actually drove the boat through the narrow inlet, tide pools and eddies...  until I lost control and my confidence and handed it over to the skipper. 

We made our way to Sullivan Bay Marina, which is actually a known for it’s halibut fishing. The floating settlement was established in 1945 by one couple who developed the float village. The housing, general store, machine shop, fuel dock, restaurant, “happy hour float dock” and more.... has developed quite nicely over the years.   They have lately added a “sport shack” with gym equipment. That evening I made crab pinwheels for happy hour. Everyday after happy hour, there is a one hole golf tournament. The line forms at the end of the dock, you get one shot for a hole in one on the float set at appx 160 yards. The winner gets to sport the plaid jacket to dinner AND one nights FREE moorage. I’m not sure what we did but Kay and I ended up in the brig that night.

Tues/Wed, the sun was bright and shiny.  Everyone wasted no time getting their poles in the water... in search of the elusive halibut. We had been here once before Tom and Kay arrived (still waiting for Chris and Brigette to join us and become the trio) and we watched a fellow land a 52lb halibut. It took him an hour. One of the cool things the marina does is not only help you bring it in but you get to mark your trophy (w/a marker) on the dock. We tried really hard to leave our mark, but even with a third days free moorage it didn’t happen. However, John did manage to caught three weird Dogfish... and two Skates. It was exciting to have the skates on the line because they are bottem fish, so deep and fighting the whole way. Everyone on the dock, including the managers, turn out to help with their gaffs, nets, VHF radios and bonkers. Everyone was sure it was halibut, until it surfaced and turned out to be a skate. The skates are like sting rays... had to be very careful throwing them back. It was comical to watch.  We had a ton of fun trying though! 

The floating village of Sullivan Bay Marina.

Happy hour float under the canopy, restaurant to the right.

General store with guest showers and laundry on the right.

Before and during happy hour.
Everyone brings poo poos and 
gets together to tell lies.

John with Tom and Kay at "happy hour".

After happy hour everyone takes a turn at the golf tee.
A hole in one wins a free nights moorage and you get to wear the winners jacket! 

This prize weighed in at 52 pounds.

Fellow mariner proves the elusive halibut are down there.
He adds his mark on the dock.

Kay and I in lockup, but we were innocent, I tell you!

Everyone was sure John was fighting a halibut!

Staff shows up with a harpoon to lend a hand.

Turns out to be a rather unhappy Skate.
He actually caught two of these, which were released.

Santa paid us a visit.

The Dogfish also liked to steal John's bait.

Preparing for the sold out dinner party.

Debbie and Chris do a great job running the Sullivan Bay Marina,
as well as preparing and hosting wonderful dinner parties!
Wednesday dinner was BBQ Chicken for a sold out crowd. 
All the different boat owners get a chance to introduce themselves, 
talk of about their boat and explain their cruising adventure &/or goals.
A great time was had by all! 

Coming up next..... Peirre's Echo Bay Marina, Gilford Island.