Alaska
15th July, Prince Rupert CA to Anacortes WA
Leaving Brundige Inlet after our chance meeting with Mark, Mog, and the girls, we proceeded south to Prince Rupert to check in with Canadian Customs, before continuing further south.
After some confusion where we had to tie up, we finally got the Customs guys on board, and after initially hiding some grog, I retrieved it back to it's spot to keep our record clean.
Apples aren't wanted into Canada so we all monstered what we had left, but then threw the cores overboard, which is what I imagine they didn't want either. However our check in was cordial and friendly, and the boat wasn't searched. This is fairly tame compared to coming into Oz and NZ.
Our next night was spent further south at Kumelian Cove, which was one of the best places we had anchored at, and spent a peaceful night awaiting first light to claim Bottleneck Inlet at Roderick Island. In fact all our time, going up and coming south in Canada we were blessed with perfect weather for the whole transit period.
Next night was at Secure Anchorage at Penrose Island where we put "Allcock", our dink in the water, and went to explore the area and visit some other boats that had anchored in a nearby bay, that we had rejected because of our need to secure lots of swing room at anchor.
Here we went ashore to visit one of the hundreds of huts throughout the region the government provides for travellers, and particularly kayakers.
Next night onto Sunday Harbor, Crib Island, then off to Gowlland Harbour, then the third night Boho Bay, Lasqueti Is.
Boho Bay was pretty crowded which put into perspective of what it would be like if we had left later with lots of boats that were just starting to head north from down south.
Next destination was Vancouver which we were dying to see, and to drop off Pete and Sal who were catching up with a Canadian cousin, and were leaving the boat to have a good look at Canada's interior.
Vancouver
We absolutely loved Vancouver and tied up at the Coal Bay Marina which was right in the downtown of the city, with supermarkets in close proximity, and a couple of blocks away from the main downtown shopping strip.
This gave me a chance to walk around the famous Stanley Park which was great, and long overdue place to finally get some exercise after some time. Marg was happy to have some time out on her own as she had had people around her for the previous three months, and was probably a bit sick of me as well.
One afternoon we heard a knock on the boat to find an expat Aussie there who saw our ensign, and decided to come down, introduce himself, and invite us up to his apartment right on the waterfront, for a glass of wine with his Canadian retired doctor wife.
Anacortes
After 3 days in beautiful Vancouver we headed back into US waters and claimed a berth at Anacortes WA for customs check-in, and top up with probably the cheapest fuel that was on offer for the whole Inside Passage.
Anacortes was the only place where we had trouble with unfriendly customs officers over the whole trip, going up and coming down, but the welcome and treatment we received in all Alaskan towns and cities was outstandingly friendly and so very courteous. They went out of their way to welcome us to their State which made us feel so welcome.
The US has gone through an enormous change in rules attitude (not Alaska - attitude) since 9/11, and if you are a foreign-flagged boat you are guilty of something until proven otherwise.
Officer Roberts wanted us to prove we weren't trying to reside in the US. My response was rather rude in comparing where we live compared to where he lives, and how illogical it would be to consider otherwise.
I expect we will see more of this as we head further south, which is a top reason to whiz down as fast as possible to Mexico.
