June 7th - Rescue Bay, Susan Island

Another early start timed to hit near slack at the first Briggs Inlet Narrow. We were away a little before 6 AM. We rode the ebb current down Return and Seaforth Channels. The weather was cloudy but the winds were light and cruising was pleasant.

As we approach the entrance of Seaforth in to Millbanke Sound, the ocean swells started to make their presence felt. Since the incoming swells were hitting the outgoing current, it shortened their period making for a bit of hobby-horsing as the bow rose and fell over the waves. This didn't bother Marcia or I but it did the cats. Maggie seems the most affected by the motion and she poo-ed, pee-ed and urp-ed. Fortunately Marcia was cautious and sequestered them in their carriers as the rocking began.

As soon as we entered a protected channel and the motion died away, everybody felt a lot better. At the north end of Reid Passage we anchored in Oliver Cove a couple of hours to hit slack as we went through Percival Narrows at the south end of Mathieson Channel. It may have been overkill because we observed a couple of small craft transit the area as we waited with not much trouble.

We arrived at Rescue Bay (June 7) just east of Jackson Narrows shortly after 2 PM.

We took advantage of the fair weather and the pleasant bay to break out the kayaks and paddle around the shore. Lots of loons and other sea birds here. As we paddling on the west shore, I spied a bear walking along the shore. After we both checked it out, we believe it may have been a grizzly based on its color and size. We stayed a good ways offshore (~150 yards) at that point so we'll have to go with what we could determine through the binoculars.

Tomorrow we continue to the head of Mathieson Channel and back down Sheep Channel. We'll be in Fiordland Provincial Park at that point.