Part 15 Barkley Sound

As mentioned in the previous post we made a side trip to Barkley Sound to visit with Richard and Janice. They have moved there to caretake a lodge and so it was a good opportunity to visit and see a part of the coast we are not familiar with.
The journey started in Port Alberni where we boarded the MV Francis Barkley. This is a 128 foot passenger/cargo vessel that delivers people, freight and mail to the remote places in Barkley Sound and Bamfield.

This boat was built in 1958 in Sweden and was used as a car ferry in the Norwegian ferry fleet. She can carry 200 passengers and 100 tons of freight. These details played a major role in the vessel coming to BC as the ALberni Marine Transportation Company were looking for just such a vessel. She was sailed across the Atlantic and through the Panama Canal in June of 1990 on a journey of 51 days. Today she has a schedule from Port Alberni to Bamfield/ Ucluelet and the Broken Islands with passengers and freight.

Our first stop was in Uchucklesaht Inlet and the community of Kildonan. Here we stopped at a couple of houses delivering a dish washer, one man and his dog, and a quick stop at the post office! Yes, that is the post office in the image above! Their mail comes in much like ours, three times a week.
We were the next stop as the skipper so profesionally told everyone, we were doing a boat to boat rendevous. This entailed Richard and Janice coming along side and us taking a step out of the Barkley into their boat. All done with precision if I say so my self and no wet feet!!
As this boat is a 'working vessel' you never quite know what to expect as far as deliveries are concerned which makes it so very interesting.

Our home from home for the next few days was to be at Eagle Nook Lodge. Richard and Janice have moved their sail boat round there and are established for the winter/spring season. This lodge caters to about 25 people at any one time. They arrive by either boat or helicopter and once here can partake in fishing charters, kayak tours, eco tours or just relaxing with one of the many spa treatments on offer.
We enjoyed the area and went on a few hikes on the 70 acre poperty but spent many hours talking and catching up with our freinds who we hadn't seen since early summer.

This is a view from the top of one of the trails.
Of course some of these lodges have many toys to play with! Boys will be boys!!!

It was so good to see our friends are to see a different part of the country. More to come on the return journey and our visit to Bamfield.