Haida Gwaii Trip - Day 3

In the morning we made our way over to Skidegate for the Gwaii Haanas Park orientation. Orientations were mandatory for anyone planning to enter the park. It was only about 30 minutes long and had a few interesting tidbits. We also got to walk around the Kaay 'llnagaay Heritage Centre.

Some BIG f'ng beams...

The smell of cedar in this room was entrancing

This is the Haida First Nations symbol for the park.  It's a sea otter and a sea urchin.

After the orientation, we made our way back to the boat.  The tide was OUT (something like 1.3 foot) so the gangplank down to the boat looked more like a ladder.

Unfortunately, to get out of the Queen Charlotte City area, you have to go back the way you came in, which involves going quite a ways north through that channel I mentioned.  This is not ideal if you're then planning to head south like we were.  So we decided we would head over to Sandspit to check it out, then try to cross the sandbar at a higher tide the next day.  

On the way to Sandspit, we had a really nice sail.  20 knot winds, making around 7.5 knots wing-on-wing.  Fun times at the helm.

After a few hours, we arrived at the brand-spankin'-new yacht club in Sandspit called Shingle Bay.  Very nice place with a massive breakwater.  Stopped to get gas before tying up.

Does this guy not remind you of Tweedle Dum/Dee from Alice in Wonderland?  That hat in amazing.

Shingle Bay

Again, Nick, Alan and I decided to go exploring.  The yacht club was a ways SW Sandspit itself, but there was a super-long beach to stroll along.  

Turns out, Sandspit (or that beach rather) is pretty much Rope Swing City.  We must have found 4-5 of them along the way.  Awesome times were had.

Semi-Pro Rope-swinger Alan nailing the Look Back

Nick with awesome extension

Me takin' my hands off.  Siiiick

If I've learned anything on this trip, it's that I like rope swings.