West Coast of British Columbia, Ucluelet and Tofino areas - 2021
Dear Friends.
An other few months are gone since my last blog entry.
Most of us are still dealing with Covid-19 issues. Unfortunately it will continue into the future.
Regional travel restrictions in British Columbia (BC) were lifted by 15th of June 2021. It allowed me and other boats revisit beautiful West Coast of BC near Ucluelet and Tofino. I have sailed up there many times before. It is usually longer trip against the wind. Figuring out a weather window for this trip is essential. It can get pretty nasty at West Coast of BC.
I ended up stopping by Sooke harbour, which was pleasant surprise. I have not been there for a long time. Anchoring in Sooke harbour is good in beginning of the summer. Sooke harbour gets very busy at the end of the summer with smaller fishing boats (August and September - Salmon runs at Juan de Fuca).
Broken Group Islands in Barkley Sound (near Ucluelet) are part of Pacific Rim National Park. Broken Group Islands are well known for sea kayaking World wide. This summer was fairly quiet there due to Covid-19. Tofino area and Clayoquot Sound were quieter as well.
Fog was definitely an issue this summer in comparison with other seasons. Fog usually occurs in these areas in August and September. This summer fog was developing already in June and July. The fog can be only a few meters (feet) high. It is annoying when top of sailboat's mast is in the sunshine, but deck and cabin is in fog. Fog develops usually over night and gets burned out by sun's heat towards mid day. Fog gets created by temperature differences between cold sea water and warmer air, including humidity. It is less foggy deeper inside sounds and inlets. Sea water is also warmer inside.
Fishing was OK, but it is noticeable, that fish stocks are declining everywhere. It is harder to find fish and legal openings for fishing are getting shorter.
I have spent whole summer on the boat away from Vancouver this year. It felt more like offshore living (cruising) again. Including provisioning from local stores and other offshore chores. Will do it again next summer (personal freedom and peace).
Encounters with sea life were enjoyable as usually. Large Humpback whale with young calf produced great show inside Barkley Sound in June. Family of Orcas put on good show playing inside the Clayoquot Sound. Daily visit from Porpoises (Dolphin family) were very nice in couple of bays inside Clayoquot Sound. Gray whales can be found in area between Vargas Island (near Tofino) and Flores Island during the summer.
Hot Springs Cove marine park has been closed due to Covid.
Over all the trip was good, considering politically screwed up World and Covid.
As I always say. "Life is short and fragile". I have plenty of experience in fragile part of life, trust me.
I wish you all Happy Holidays. Personal freedom and peace.
Stay safe and be positive! All the best in year 2022.
Kind regards. JJ (Jara) Holcman s/v Ocean Echo 1
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Google translate does good job converting text to other languages.
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Ocean Echo 1 - index/list of blogs sorted by the date is located at the bottom of this page.
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Ocean Echo 1 - index/list of blogs sorted by the date - 39 posts by December 2021
2021 - December - West Coast of British Columbia, Ucluelet and Tofino areas
2020 - December - Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls, British Columbia
2020 - January - Philippines 2019 - Coron Island to El Nido, Palawan Island
2020 - January - Philippines 2019 - Manila to Coron/Busuanga Island
2019 - October - British Columbia - Barkley Sound and Strait of Georgia - 2019
2019 - February - B.C.- Vancouver, Whistler, Inside waters - 2018
2018 - November - Clayoquot Sound and Hot Springs Cove - West Coast of B.C.
2018 - November - Vancouver to West Coast of B.C. and return - Barkley Sound
2018 - April - The life goes on - British Columbia CA
2017 - November - The untold truth - British Columbia CA
2017 - January - Ocean Echo 1 - details of investigation
2015 - April - Passage from Fiji to Tuvalu and Marshalls - End of Pacific trip
2014 - September - Lau Islands, Fiji
2014 - September - New Zealand to Fiji
2014 - April - North Island, New Zealand
2014 - January - Tonga to New Zealand
2013 - October - Kingdom of Tonga - Tonga Islands
2013 - September - Bora Bora Island to Niue Island
2013 - June - Tuamotus, Bora Bora
2013 - March - Marquesas Islands - cyclone season
2012 - December - Moorea, Tahiti to Nuku Hiva, Marquesas
2012 - October - Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Bora Bora, Raiatea Islands
2012 - September - Marquesas, Tuamotu and Tahiti Islands
2012 - June - Marquesas Islands
2012 - May - La Cruz, Mexico to Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
2012 - February - La Cruz - Banderas Bay, Mexico - winter 2012
2011 - December - San Carlos to Manzanillo, Mexico's Pacific Coast
2011 - October - Santa Rosalia to BLA and Refugio, Mexico
2011 - July - Loreto to Santa Rosalia, Mexico
2011 - June - La Paz to Loreto, Mexico
2011 - May - La Paz, Mexico
2011 - May - Mazatlan, Mexico
2011 - March - Isla Isabel, Mexico
2011 - March - Ensenada to Banderas Bay, Mexico
2010 - December - San Diego California, USA to Ensenada Mexico
2010 - November - Long Beach, L.A. to San Diego - California
2010 - October - Avila Beach to Long Beach, L.A., California
2010 - October - San Francisco to Avila Beach California
2010 - September - Vancouver, British Columbia to San Francisco, California
