31 May 23

We woke up about 07:45 and struggled out to meet the cold morning. It was still heavily overcast with intermittent rain showers, so we decided it was time to move on to Bishop Bay to see if we could get a nice soak in the hot springs. I put on my foulies and went out to pull in the anchor, which was aweigh by 9:20. Just as we got to the mouth of Khutze Inlet, the sun poked it’s head out, for a few minutes, which was welcome. The water temperature in Graham Reach was 13 deg. C, as compared to the Khutze River outflow, which was 8 deg C, no doubt one of the reasons we were so cold on the boat the whole time we were here. We gave Butedale and the adjacent waterfall a close look. The waterfall was cool, but the old fishing camp looks pretty run down and deserted. From a half mile out, we could not see any sign of a dock, although the pilings are still in place; it looks like they are letting nature reclaim it altogether. Just before we got to Bishop Bay, “Nordlys” (a Grand Banks 46) passed us on there way in. “Invictus” (a 30 ft, classic-looking sail boat), was just in front of us and snagged the only mooring ball left. So, we had to anchor in 24 m of water and back up to the shore to get a shore-line around an obliging cedar tree. We were all settled in by 15:10. It rained on us sporadically up to and including the time we were anchoring and then the sun came out and warmed and dried us enough that we risked going in for a soak in the hot springs. We made it up to the spring just before another shower and soaked in the lovely, warm water for about 45 minutes, until the shower ran it’s course. Then an adventure/tour boat (a modified old tug from the looks of it) came into the bay with a load of tourists, obviously headed for the spring, so we got out and left it to them. Back on the boat in time for happy hour and dinner aboard.

53-28.042’N, 128-50.206’W; Log = 33.6, Sum (2023) = 649.7 N-m; Eng. hrs. = 6.4, Sum = 3214.2