Dear Friends.
I hope that all is well with all of you.
Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted in BC, Canada, hopefully for good. International travelling is slowly coming back with some adjustments and much higher prices.
I have left Vancouver at beginning of May for 4 months sailing trip. First 3 weeks were in local waters of Strait of Georgia, waiting for warmer weather at West coast of Vancouver Island. May is still cold, wet and bouncy at West coast of BC. The beginning of June is usually much better and still not too busy at Barkley Sound. May turned out to be very cold and wet this year due to La Nina weather event. The June was better and summer worked out very well. Dry and warm for 3 months, which is very unusual in BC. Dry and warmer weather continued until October, then it turned into early winter with cool temperatures. Definitely different year in comparison to most of other years by weather pattern.
Central and North coast of BC including Alaska had rainy and cooler summer. Pacific High deflects Low pressure systems further North away from Southern BC's coast during summer. It is usually dryer and warmer at Southern BC.
I have visited couple of new areas in Clayoquot Sound, which I have not seen before. Bedwell Sound is most scenic inlet in Clayoquot Sound near Tofino. High snow caped mountains are impressive. Ritchie Bay is full of fish farms. Herbert Inlet is smaller inlet with decent scenery.
I had some interesting events with the sea creatures and the birds this summer.
Pair of swallows was hanging around my boat for a few days while I was moored at Kendrick island. They were trying to build their nest inside my kayak stored upside down on dinghy davits. They even inspected inside the boat for possible nest location. Eventually I had to cancel their plan. It was actually very entertaining watching their actions up close around the boat!
One day I was jigging for a Lingcod and fishing line with the lure got really stuck to the bottom. Eventually it got loose, but very heavy with some resistance. Finally large octopus appeared and his/her arms sucked onto bottom of my dinghy hull. It took a while to unhook 1.2 meters (4 feet) long octopus and let it swim away. Definitely beautiful creature! Very interesting watching it in action with color changes.
An other small octopus showed up in my prawn trap two days later (picture in the blog). Good fun trying to free up this small guy from prawn trap and letting it go.
Large humpback whale surprised me while I was fishing in Barkley Sound. She was hanging around for a while diving and feeding. Eventually she started getting too close for the comfort while I was drifting in my dinghy. She created good waves when going down (diving). Time to leave!
Group of transient Orcas appeared on horizon at the entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait on my way home. Couple of Orcas ended up swimming nearby while my boat was drifting. Orca whale research vessel was having very productive day in calm ocean waters.
Clayoquot Sound near Tofino has healthy population of Sea Otters (picture in the blog). They float at surface munching on sea shells. Fun to watch them with binoculars. There are 2 kinds of otters in Pacific Northwest waters. River Otters with long tails and slim body which live in ocean water. Original Pacific Sea Otters which live mostly on west coast of BC. They have short tails and chunky body.
Hot Springs Cove marine park has been reopen last summer. Double check the status if you are planning to visit Hot Springs.
The summer turned out well over all. Hopefully will do the trip again next summer.
World is screwed up politically. Stay safe and positive.
Wishing you all personal freedom and peace.
All the best in year 2023.
Kind regards. JJ (Jara) Holcman s/v Ocean Echo 1
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Any comments can be sent to - oceanecho1@gmail.com
My blog address - https://oceanecho1.blogspot.com/
Please, excuse my poor writing skills and grammar.
Google translate does good job converting text to other languages.
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Blog's pictures can be enlarged by clicking or tapping them on computer or mobile device. Quality of pictures at the blog's page is fairly low, quality is better when clicking or tapping on pictures.
I have also some short videos posted on YouTube (listed in this blog). Swimming with Whale Sharks, wild Dolphins, Steller Sea Lions, boys playing drums at Bora Bora.
Ocean Echo 1 - index/list of blogs sorted by the date is located at the bottom of this page.
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Vancouver, False Creek (boat houses)
Barkley Sound (white sand paradise)
