2011 Trip 5 - Pacific Swift

Yesterday evening we were treated to another spectacular sunset. Vibrant pink tendrils eased down from the clouds to the purple water and 2 humpbacks breached close bye leaping from the water before crashing down on their backs. This morning was clear and warm and after breakfast we took the time to teach some lessons while calmly sitting at anchor. We weighed anchor at 1000 and slipped up the protected inside waters of Checleset Bay. Otters abounded, dotting the sea as they drifted languidly on their backs amongst a camouflage of bull kelp. We tried our hand at some fishing and were a able to land some few small bottom fish. The wind and sea were calm and we motored to the south side of the Brooks Peninsula. Brooks is a wild uninhabited stretch of land untouched by forestry or glaciation, making it unique on the coast. We anchored off a remote sandy beach and headed ashore laden with provisions to have dinner on land. It was hot out and the white beach with the Swift rocking gently at anchor beyond the clear lagoon felt as if we were on a tropical offshore voyage to Mexico or the Marquesas. We had a nice walk on the beach and did some team building exercises prior to building a fire to roast hot dogs, marshmallows and our fish. The south side of the peninsula is a beach combers delight and a couple glass fishing floats were found amongst the driftwood. A wonderful table and benches were made to sit around and enjoy our meal while enjoying the view of the still Pacific and Vancouver Island trailing into the distance. The sun is again setting dramatically while we are rolled gently in our cradle of the deep.