June 16th - Cordero Lodge, Cordero Channel

The day ended up longer than we anticipated. We left Kwatsi Bay shortly before 8 AM in order to hit slack in Chatham Channel at 11:30 AM and catch the flood down Johnstone Strait. We managed all of that and realized that we could also go through Whirlpool Rapids and Green Point Rapids in the same day.

With flood behind us, we raced through Whirlpool at 11 knots. Since the boat was actually doing less than 7 knots through the water, we had a 4 knot current in our favor. The whirlpools in the rapids name actually occur downstream from the narrowest section and were easily avoided.

We hit Green Point Rapids about a half hour before slack and comfortably rode a 1-1/2 knot current through the narrow section. All in all, it worked out really well.

There aren't many anchorages along this section so at 6 PM we tied up at Cordero Lodge (June 16). We had an authentic German dinner as well at the restaurant. The couple that runs the lodge emigrated from Germany in 1969 and opened the lodge 28 years ago. It certainly is a different way of life than most of us are familiar with.

Tomorrow, we'll continue our journey south transiting three rapids, Dent, Gillard and Yucalta, in quick succession. At that point, we'll be in Desolation Sound.