Log Entry: Monday, August 2nd, 1999

Limestone Island to Queen Charlotte:

In the morning, at Limestone Island, we went ashore for a walk, and took the 530-meter path (every five meters was marked with the current distance from the research station at the other end) across the island to the research station: beautiful views, with a wonderful toilet straddling some rocks, called "self-flushing", as the tide rose and fell below.

Taking apart the line to shore was a bit more challenging, as it was now low tide, and the rocks to be climbed were both steeper, lower, and much more slippery.    However, we managed: I rappelled up and down the rocks ...

We sailed part of the way back; we had salmon and mayo sandwiches ...

I find the spit at Sandspit quite disorienting: it's hard to line up visually and understand where the spit actually is in the water.  We got around it safely, of course, and as we approached the museum the water got quite choppy.  As we were preparing to take Nathalie ashore in the dinghy, Terry and Charlotte approached in their boat Kingii, and then continued on their way to Queen Charlotte.  I took Nathalie ashore in the dingy while Jane hovered offshore: the dinghy ride was bumpy, to say the least.   I had to travel quite slowly going back out against the chop, otherwise I would have been swamped.  We had our first taste of trying to get onto the boat from a wildly gyrating dinghy: something I'm sure will happen quite often as we travel.

We continued on to QC and anchored in the bay.

Jane's log:

"Checked engine oil, water, and transmission as well as battery water levels: all OK.

"Headed back to Skidegate. Got a chance to put up the jib at Cumshewa Inlet. Sailed for a few hours before the wind eased so we lowered the sails and had lunch. Close to Sandspit the wind picked up again but we decided not to sail.

"Anchored off QC City for a few days, before heading in to the dock, while we went to the cabin at Tlell."

the self-flushing toilet at Limestone Island