August 22-23 -- New Friends and a Big Fish in the Broughtons

The weatherman is calling for more strong southeasterlies, so we plan to stay in the Broughtons for a few days. Before we move to a more secure anchorage, we go back to the entrance to Wells Passage and put out the fishing line in the spot where we noticed several boats yesterday. After an hour without a bite, we turn to leave, when suddenly the line jerks and Cliff reels in a lovely 20-pound red spring salmon! What a thrill!

Back at the new anchorage, stern-tied in a tiny cove at the end of Tracey Harbour, Cliff cleans and butchers the fish, and Orma packs the pieces in plastic bags, filling the freezer. With about three pounds of salmon steaks still left, we go bearing gifts to two neighbouring boats.

First , we knock on the side of Teal, a 78-foot restored 1928 Alaska Fisheries Patrol boat. Kit and Carl receive the salmon steaks with great enthusiasm and invite us aboard for a tour. They are new owners of this beautiful classic, lovingly restored and updated, with brass and teak, beams and engines bright and shining.

Next we call on Mike and Lee on Santa Margarita, a Catalina 40 which they have just bought recently after retiring from a fishing career on their seiner, the Bruce Luck (seen in the background on the old Canadian $5.00 bill). Salmon is nothing new to them, but they still seem pleased with the gift.

After a still night, morning brings clouds and rain. We can see the treetops blowing in the wind, but we are well sheltered. Santa Margarita moves into our cove after spending a restless night swinging around farther out in the bay. We dinghy ashore to explore a disused logging site and walk along the logging road, happening upon bear scat and making lots of noise. We find a parked WFP pickup truck, unlocked and ready to go, although it doesn’t appear to have been used recently. Later in the day, we concoct a rice dish to take over to Teal, where we share their freshly-caught crabs and a potluck barbecue, enjoying instant rapport and lots of laughs with the two other couples. It is a sad truth that most cruising friendships begin instantly and end as soon as your routes diverge. We hope that these folks will keep in touch and we can get together again someday.