Part 4. A quick trip!!

For those of you who have been here, will know that we can do a grocery shop in  Port Hardy when the weather lets us cross Queen Charlote Sound.
Robin and Charlotte made a trip in the new year and as I had to renew my drivers license, I went with Robin again this week.
We had been looking at the weather for about a week and things looked good enough to make the trip.
Port Hardy is approx 60 miles but the water can be very dangerous. As it takes so long.....we have a slow boat......we are carefull to keep an eye on the weather reports and lighthouse reports.

We left home on tuesday morning at 6.00am. Sea state and wind ways gave us a 3 metre swell and a little wind from the north west, which would be behind us. Quite a pleasant trip with nothing very interesting happening.
We arrived in Port Hardy at 3.oo pm.
I walked up town to the insurance place, Robin walked up to a friends house to borrow their truck and we met up again in the drug store. Next stop was the welding shop to pick-up some pieces we had ordered then a drive down to Port McNeill to pick up more parts.
Port McNeill is a 25 minute drive heading south.
Back to Port Hardy and to the grocery store before they closed at 7.00pm.
Down to the dock to unload and then to the pub for a well earned lunch/dinner.
Up to our friends to drop off the vehicle then back to the boat and into our snug little bunks.
The fuel dock does not open till 8.00am so we had time for breakfast at 7.00am then across to the bay to the fuel dock.
Departure from Port Hardy was at 9.00am ready for the 9 hours home!!
The weather now was calm and if any wind was to materialze is was to come from the south east, again behind us.

We arrived home at 6.00pm where Charlotte had dinner ready.

This is what we call a quick trip to town!!
It gives a whole new meaning to power shopping!

We travel with a skiff for emegencies and you can see two barrels which we use for some of our fuel.
It was pretty chilly that morning. You can see that the harbour was frozen over!

There are a few sea lions who live on the floats at the mouth of the harbour.

Scarlett Point Light house is just out of  Port Hardy. From here is open water till we get to the mouth of Smith Inlet.

Sorry about the quality of the picture.
The island in the far distance is Calvert Island which is level with Rivers Inlet. That is about 50 miles from this point. There are a few 'rocks' which we aim for but you can also see that the water is very calm.....not usual in february!!

Looking west...next stop Japan!

This posting is just an example of how we shop and the travel plans we have to make. Not all these trips go so smoothly but no disasters......so far!!