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| A magical morning cruising the inlets |
One of the real pleasures of being on board Swell is its hot tub. Located at the aft of the vessel affording
superb viewing of the passing landscape.
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| A dip on a cool day |
Our first soak was under blue skies and the setting sun. Our next under angry skies, choppy seas and
boiling waterfalls that thundered into the passage.
The Captain always seemed to appear with one
burning question “what’s missing from this picture” and then a generous serving
of wine would appear.
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| Poor old rat fish |
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| Hard to describe, you had to be here |
Doug's adventures with the fishing line unfortunately did not produce the massive halibut we had caught on the last trip. A rat fish was the result. Poor thing, a bottom feeder, he returned it to the deep.
Our journey continued south through Mathieson Channel, the mountainsides
on either side towered skyward, wispy clouds floating on their peaks.
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| Breathtaking landscape |
Waterfalls disgorged furiously around us until we reached an opening in
the channel, slowing and anchoring in Kynoch Inlet.
The zodiac ride into Culpepper Lagoon was magical with sunlight breaking
through the sea smoke that had formed on the water’s surface.
Birds skimmed the water, seals popped their
heads up curiously while eagles looked down imperiously on the infiltrators to
their paradise.
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| Colourful vistas |
The overhanging branches laden with thick swaths of moss dripped excess
water from the early morning rain into the lagoon sending ripples through the
glassy water.
The vista was simply spectacular – crisp on the senses.
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| Water and Sky at one |
Leaving the Lagoon we motored slowly up Lard
Creek in hopes of more Grizzly Bear sightings.
The spawning salmon were in various stages of their spawning cycle
providing copious food for the foraging bears.
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| Vibrant waterfalls |
Unfortunately the light wind was not in our favour. An adult Grizzly Bear was spotted in the creek but
our smell had been immediately recognized by the Bear. He shot up in the water
giving us a long hard look then scampered away, splashing
furiously until he disappeared from view.
A short sighting but a dramatic one.
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| A salmon graveyard |
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| Kainet Inlet landing |
In the afternoon we explored Kainet Inlet.
Wading ashore in the estuary we strode over sedge, mud, rock, seaweed,
rice root and dead salmon. It was
poignant to see so many carcasses strewn around. In the streams other salmon were in their final
death throes after spawning. A sort of
salmon graveyard.
Gulls swooped down to
forage newly deposited salmon eggs while the salmon below them thrashed in the
water, continuing on with the final act of their life’s work.
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| Wine and Cheese afternoon |
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| Laughter on a chilly morning |
Back on board we enjoyed the ambiance of the vessel and the company of our fellow travellers.
A book or two was read on the aft deck this trip, often interrupted by breathtaking brushes with nature.
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| What a pleasure! |
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