2012 Trip 5 - Pacific Grace

The waters of the harbour were so still that schools of rushing mackerel could be heard as they darted across the surface this morning. The cool star-speckled night gave way to the warmth of the sun rising in a clear blue sky while dories were launched in the wake of morning cleanup. After dishes we pulled ashore to explore Cougar Annie's Garden. The property is an old homestead that has been carved out of the aggresive temperate rainforest and has been partially restored and some new features added by the caretaker Peter, who greeted us and explained the unique history of this place on the coast. We hiked along hand split cedar boardwalks, under the watchful gaze of wise and ancient cedars.  Our hike past crumbling and modern buildings brought us to Rae Lake for a refreshing swim. Afterwards we explored the various ingenious structures which are intended for visiting groups of students to learn of the hisrory and nature of the site. It was a very beautiful visit to a unique place and a welcome stretch for our shipbound legs. We weighed anchor around 1400 and are now heading into to Sydney Inlet to take shelter from tommorow's SE wind. A brief stop en route provided one small cod, who lived to see another day as we journey past the sharp peaks of Clayquot Sound.