July 23rd Windy Bay to Butedale to Bishop Cove

July 23^rd                       Windy Bay to Butedale to Bishop Cove

Malispina Cruise Ship

We fish a little on our way out of Windy Bay then head for Butedale.  We are travelling in the “Inner Passage” not to be confused with the “Inside Passage.”  The Inner Passage is the main marine highway for moving north.  There are very long narrow passages and channels protected from the main ocean wind, waves and swell.  We pass numerous commercial fishing boats, pleasure boats, large ferries and even a small cruise ship passes by, the “Malispina.”  

We arrive at Butedale, another cannery gone bust and it has fallen into miserable repair.  There is a caretaker on site and a nice, newer dock.  However the chalet style buildings and the cannery plus its massive machinery is literally falling down around the caretaker’s house.

Butedale Falls

The Butedale falls on the other hand is breathtaking with wide multi-level cascades. 

We fish the area hoping to catch the wily halibut but we only bring up rockfish and flounder.  These however will make another nice dinner and we can put a couple rockfish fillets in the freezer. 

Fishin again Butedale Falls

We leave home with a freezer full of pork, chicken and elk burger and sausage.  As we travel we take them out and begin to fill the freezer with fish for a nice fish dinner with the family when we return.  We have added nice sized rockfish fillets to the two salmon fillets provided by Walt and Odile.

Leaving Butedale we continue up Ursula Channel in search of an anchorage.  We pass the beautiful Kate Marie, first seen in Green Inlet.  Under green canvas she lives up to her name.  The four aboard wave and take many photos of us as we do them.  They are on a different schedule than we and they take the time to slowly tack back and forth in Ursula Channel, summoning what little wind they can find.  

Kate Marie

We pass the Canoona River as it cascades out of the mountains and splashes into Ursula.  There is so much fresh water in these areas that they often have a current of their own that floats on top of the salt water current.  

Kayakers from Kate Marie

Canoona River

We decide to bypass Bishop Bay and head for Bishop Cove instead for our evening anchorage.  In the morning we will return toBishop Bay for a nice soak in the hot springs.

We set our anchor in 45’ of water in the northwest corner of Bishop Cove.  It dragged the first time and came up with seaweed and shells attached but firmly sets the next time and B Mondo is tied up alongside.

As evening falls I sit quietly reading, my focus on my book sometimes interrupted with the blow of a whale, the haunting call of a loon or the cascading water nearby.  What words can describe my thoughts and the beauty and enormity of a landscape that I may never set foot in again?