Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Hartley Bay, British Columbia 08.17.2013

With our catch of fresh halibut on board and very little ice in the cooler we felt our best hope was to head into the native village of Hartley Bay. 

After raising the anchor we picked up our prawn trap and za-zam!!  We have prawns!! 




 
We are seriously going to be eating well the next week. 

Traveling south on Grenville Channel, into Wright Sound.  Continuing through Coghlan Anchorage on the west side of Promise Island.  Then traversing Stewart Narrows, which leads along the north side of Promise Island.  Finishing the days travel 4.2 miles north on Douglas Channel into Hartley Bay.

Hartley Bay is well protected by an L-shaped stone breakwater and has a three fingered float in a dredged basin.  This dock is frequented by the fishing fleet and was full when we arrived.  Fortunately rafting is not only normal but expected at this dock.

 

 


So we rafted up to a seiner that didn’t look to be leaving any time soon. 

After getting settled we set off into the village to try and find some ice.

We found that Hartley Bay has no roads, no cars, and no stores!  All walkways/roads are boardwalks.  The people in Hartley Bay get around on the boardwalks by 4 wheel ATVs.  They also just took delivery on a specially ordered van that is really skinny and can drive on the boardwalk!  This van shuttles the elders from their retirement home to the community center, medical clinic and such.  It looks like a toy car driving on the boardwalk! LOL!   

We walked to the village medical clinic thinking that they may have an ice maker and maybe they would sell us some ice but unfortunately not.  The gal made a couple of phone calls (which didn’t take long in a village of 160 people) and came up with “The guy you should see is Wally.  He should be down at the marina”. 

So off we went back to the marina. 

While returning to the boat we met a young man named Bart, from F/V Right Sound.  This fish boat long lines for halibut.  Bart had shaved ice and was willing to share 10 gallons with us.  He saved the day!  (We never did find Wally). 

Otherwise it was a cool and wet day on the BC Coast.

No comments:

Post a Comment