To Campbell River

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Logging is still an important industry in this part of the world, and transport by barge is inexpensive. Certainly compared to the cost of building roads or railroads!

A snow covered, and cloud covered, peak somewhere north of Nanaimo. This was to be the first of very many. The dark area at the top of the image is a cloud, not smoke from the boat's diesels!

Comox

As we sailed along, I noticed a number of planes fly over. These were obviously military aircraft, perhaps trainers, flying in very close formation. I didn't realise we would see them again later.

Nearing Comox (eastern side of Vancouver Island), Brad informed us that he had arranged an air show for our viewing pleasure! (And if you believe that, I have a nice bridge you might be interested in buying). Indeed, the planes I saw flying over earlier were the Royal Canadian Air Force aerobatic team on their way to the show.

More Entertainment

Though this was something more of a surprise to us all. The Klondike Express uses a turbine drive system. This sucks water in through the bottom of the hulls, and expels it out the rear. We sucked in a log, and chewed it up. There are many logs floating in the waters here, so even though the crew keeps an eye out for them, one floating just below the surface would be hard to find. And so we stopped.

It turns out this is an expected problem, and the solution is easy. The captain stops the boat, the chief mate goes down and opens the inspection hatch on the turbine, and removes the offending item. The hatch is replaced, and off we go. Takes just a few minutes, unless the item is not reachable from the hatch. In which case, the whole operation is repeated after spinning the turbine again.

Remnants of the log, sitting on the bar at the back of the boat. I didn't think to take a photo, but there was also a nicely polished rock which had been retrieved once. The turbine blades must be very tough!

Campbell River

Our original itinerary had a stop at Campbell River, but the number of passengers on board precluded that option. But we did sail past it!

Part of Campbell River, on Vancouver Island.

/icons/left.gif Sidney to Nanaimo, BC
/icons/right.gif North of Campbell River, BC