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Join us for 11-days of exploring British Columbia's Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound, Johnstone Strait and Broughton Archipelago where the your day's events are based Nature's ebb and flow. Here, amongst glacially carved islands, the currents run quickly through constricted narrows and only allow us passage during times of slack water. This cruise will take you to uncommon anchorages and out-of-the-way places as we explore the lesser known channels and islands of the Inside Passage that runs the length of Vancouver Island.

Day 1 - San Juan Islands and Southern Gulf Islands

Board the David B in Bellingham at 9:00am:

Cruise from Bellingham to Roche Harbor on San Juan Island. We'll clear US Customs and then head to Sydney, British Columbia to clear in with Customs Canada before arriving at our evening's anchorage in Bedwell Harbour.

Day 2 - Southern Gulf Islands

The anchor will be raised early and you'll spend the day cruising through the Gulf Islands and Georgia Strait to Lasqueti Island where we'll anchor for the night. There are lots of opportunities for taking great pictures as you cruise past picturesque islands.

Day 3 - Desolation Sound

After breakfast you'll have time to spend a couple of hours paddling along the shoreline of Lasqueti Island. Once back on the David B, the rest of the afternoon will be spent cruising to Desolation Sound where we'll spend the night at Parker Harbor in Malaspina Inlet. While we are there you'll have time to go ashore and stretch our legs or hop back into a kayak to spend sometime exploring the shoreline.

Day 4 - Desolation Sound

We'll be timing our departure from Parker Harbor based on the time for slack water at Yucluta and Dent Rapids. Along the way you'll continue your tour through Desolation Sound by cruising through Waddington Channel, Pryce, Raza and Calm Channels. When we get to the Yuculta and Dent we'll keep our eyes open for Eagles, Seals and Sea Lions that congregate in these nutrient rich waters. On occasion we have seen orca whales waiting for slack water to transit through the rapids. Once through Yuculta and Dent we'll end the day's travel by anchoring in Bickley Bay.

Day 5 - Inside Channels

While at Bickley Bay we'll have some time for hiking around Blind Channel and even a stop at the Blind Channel Marina and Resort. Like the previous day we'll be leaving our anchorage based on the time of slack water at Green Point and Whirlpool Rapids. Depending on our timing we'll either cruise Wellborne Channel or Johnstone Strait, either way we'll drop anchor at Port Harvey.

Day 6 - Inside Channels, Knight Inlet and Broughton Archipelago

After exploring Port Harvey, you'll be cruising between the mainland and East Cracroft Island through the narrow Chatham Channel, into Knight Inlet and over to the Broughton Archipelago. We'll have lots of time to explore on foot and in kayaks once we've anchored in Waddington Bay.

Day 7 - Broughton Archipelago, Blackfish Sound and Johnstone Strait

In the morning we'll get underway early to cruise through the islands of the Broughton Archipelago and to arrive in Johnstone Strait early. We'll keep our eyes open for orca whales while we pass through Blackfish Sound and through Johnstone Strait on our way to Port Neville for the evening.

Day 8 - Johnstone Strait

We'll continue down Johnstone Strait and then into Discovery Passage and into Okisollo Passage to Owen Bay. We'll also plan for the next day as to whether we'll continue down Discovery Passage and through Seymour Narrows or take the lesser-known Surge Narrows route. While in Owen Bay we'll have time for exploring this out-of-the-way anchorage.

Day 9 - Strait of Georgia

We'll leave Owen Bay for either Seymour or Surge Narrows depending on what we decided the night before and what time slack water is for the Narrows. We'll have lots of ground to cover today to get to Deep Bay off of Vancouver Islands near Denman Island.

Day 10 - Gulf Islands

We'll leave Deep Bay and return to the Gulf Islands. Our route will take you through Dodd Narrows again, but the rest of the day's cruising will be through different passages and channels from the ones you cruised through on the way north. Our destination for tonight is Montague Harbour. Once we are anchored and after dinner you'll have the chance to catch the Pub Bus to the Hummingbird Inn. It's an experience we highly recommend.

Day 11 - Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands

Your last day of the trip will be spent mostly cruising through the San Juan Islands. We'll be making a short stop in Roche Harbor to check in with US Customs before heading back though the San Juan Islands and to the David B's slip in Bellingham.