2011 Trip 5 - Pacific Swift

We departed Nootka Island in beautiful amber sunlight at 0700. Sea
otters dove and collected their breakfasts before breaking them open on
their tummies while they bobbed over the swells. The sun was veiled by a
dense fog bank around 0900 and we spent the next 7 hours cloaked in the
indistinct grey of sea and sky. When we reached the head of Hesquiat
Harbour  at 1630 the sun had warmed a small patch of clear and bright
land. We met up with the Grace and shared a tasty dinner on the beach
and played  a game of soccer. Later we rafted the two ships and spent
the remainder of the evening playing games and singing together.This
morning we slipped away from the Grace and anchored off Boat Basin. Boat
Basin is the site of an old homestead started in 1915 by Cougar Annie.
We headed ashore and there met Peter who now looks after the site. He
has painstakingly reclaimed the original homestead and garden from the
encroaching rain forest. We spent several hours walking our sea legs
along the split cedar boardwalk in the garden and under the towering
cedars that protect the warmer garden from the sea breeze. It was a
wonderful time and a great opportunity to appreciate the history and
ecology of the west coast.We will teach some lessons at anchor early
this afternoon prior to sailing south to Hot Springs Cove. Hot Springs
Cove provided wonderful shelter from the wind and seas in addition to
the temptations of its name. Another winding cedar boardwalk will take
us through the wild forest and along the jagged coast to the springs.
The springs emerge from the rocks steaming to pour over a shelf creating
a waterfall shower that then trails in pools nestled between steep
cliffs. The pools decrease in temperature as they drop towards the sea,
allowing one to find the seat and temperature of their choice.It has
been left totally natural and the open Pacific is visible from the
bottom of the pools. The sun often sets spectacularly over the waves,
bathing the springs in its golden light.