Leg 4: Final stretch back to Blaine, Washington

  

Day 12: Port McNiel - Port Neville 40 miles

Sea otters like the islands south of Port McNiel. We saw several slowly moving out of our way as we pasted them by. There is an Orca sanctuary just south of the town. No Orcas this time, even though the chinook salmon seemed to be everywhere. Several humpbacks surprised us. 

Day 13: Port Neville - Seymour Narrows - Gowland Harbor 47 miles

This stretch of water is tricky. The morning forecast called for gale force winds blowing down Johnston strait. With the wind behind us the whole way, we made the harbor easily. However, with the wind blowing in anchorage, we could not see the bull kelp. When the wind settled, we were surrounded by massive kelp fronds that could again break the surface of the water. We slowly pulled up the anchor without using the propellor. I could not even see the anchor when it came out of the water. We just let the current drift Iolair out of the kelp forest. Once we blew out of the kelp we anchored in the center of the channel with some other boats that seemed to know better. 

Day 14: Gowland Harbor - Pender Harbor 57 miles

We hit a clump of kelp as we left the harbor. Seemed to clear past the propellor OK, but we have noticed a new vibration in the drive shaft. Not sure what the cause is, but no leaks and we have plenty of speed. Lots of humpbacks and some orcas in these waters. A massive humpback breached 4-5 times in the distance. Another large humpback surfaced to our surprise just 50 feet from the boat. Heading away from us quickly. Pender harbor is one of our favorite stops. We will rest a day here and I'll get in the water to see if there is anything wrapped around the propellor shaft.