Today’s weather could not have been better for cruising!  The low clouds of the early morning burned off after a few hours and we were traveling under blue skies for the rest of the day.  Flat calm seas amplified every slight disturbance of the water.  As we traveled, we spotted many diving birds including the deepest of the divers, the Common Murre.  These small creatures have been recorded diving to depths of almost 600ft!

The mountain views continued to get better as the day went on.  We had great views of the Coast Ranges on the mainland as well as the still snow-covered mountains on Vancouver Island.  With the sun shining, the sky bright, the seas glassy and the constant changing landscape of islands and mountains, we were completely absorbed by the atmosphere around us.

Today’s route had us navigating the first of a few rapids to come.  We arrived to the mouth of the Beasley rapids ahead of schedule and were rejoined by Bonum Vitae and Patos who had been cruising on their own for the past couple of days.  It was great to get the whole group together again.  We navigated the rapids easily and continued on.

The further north we traveled today, the fewer homes and developments we encountered along the shoreline.  Entering into the Octopus Islands felt like we were leaving civilization behind.  Only a few other boats sat at anchor in the spacious secluded bays of the park.  Three of our boats rafted together and the other two anchored on their own.

A group of us went in to shore and took a nice hike through the lush forest.  Ferns and moss covered everything and the ground was spongy underfoot.  Tall Hemlocks and Douglas firs towered over us.  Other crews spent their evenings exploring by kayak and dinghy and enjoying a peaceful night on board.