2011 Trip 4 - Pacific Swift

Otters cracked their breakfasts on their stomachs and humpbacks lolled gently on the surface as we woke to another clear warm day. The humpbacks moved slowly out of the sound and one breached spectacularly about two cables off the beam during second sitting for breakfast. The beach on the other side of our anchorage is one of the most splendid on the coast and we set out after dishes to take advantage of low water. We weren´t disappointed when we arrived through the salal at the hard flat white sand stretching for a mile under the blue sky backed by the rich green of the forest. It is an ideal beach for playing games and after some brief skirmishes of soccer, rugby and volleyball a big game of sticks was played by everybody. It was one of the better games played, rivaling even the trip 3 game on Savary Island as the hard sand allowed for a quick pace and good strategies had one round extended to an hour and a quarter. After the game people body surfed in the clear waves and took long walks down the pristine beach. After returning to the Swift for a late lunch we have been preparing the juniors for their written
exam this afternoon and intermediates are learning and practicing their chartwork skills. The Grace should be joining us in the anchorage near supper time and we will raft up to them to enjoy an evening of communal games and singing. Tomorrow will likely be an early start to take advantage of a strong NW wind and make southing towards Clayquot Sound. The group is doing very well, nicely settled into life aboard and enjoying one another´s company.