Sointula to Port Harvey

We left Port McNeil about 7:45 AM to make the 3 1/2 mile trip to Sointula to be there for the arrival of the fuel truck around 9:15 .  We had been told that the fuel truck comes every Thursday and the fuel is much cheaper than anywhere else.  We needed about 1400 litres of diesel. 

So not knowing what to expect Jim called the Co Op fuel store and we were put on the list for fuel. 

When we left Port McNeil it was quite foggy and got thicker as we got closer to Sointula. It was difficult to see the marina and the docks in the fog. 

We arrived at the marina in the fog and had no idea where to go. There was another boat called Su Sez slowly moving about so Jim spoke to them and they were waiting for fuel as well. The fuel truck had not arrived and Su Sez said they were waiting behind two other boats. We docked - first at the nearest space we could see which was the spot reserved for the sea planes - just to find out more information about where to go - then we moved the boat to another spot and waited for the other boat to move to the fuel dock. 

The fuel truck finally arrived and it seemed there was no real system set in place for fuelling up. There were fishing boats on the far left side of the dock that had priority and then sports fishing gasoline boats on the far right dock that would dart in and out and the centre dock had space for two pleasure boats to fuel with diesel.   It was a mad dash to get to the fuelling spot when one boat left another would make a run for it and try to be there before anyone else could get to the spot. 

Su Sez made a dash for the dock and radioed us to say there was a spot we could move up to behind them. We untied for the second time and moved up - the dock was up too far for us to see from where we were docked.  By the time we got there a sail boat had moved in - so there was a tight spot on the port side - we tied up there to wait.  Now the wind was picking up and we were very close to a small boat behind us. The fuel truck is alternating fuelling fishing boats and then pleasure boats. 

Finally the fuel truck started to fuel up Su Sez. While in the process of fuelling Su Sez the truck ran out of fuel and had to go up the street to get more fuel. 

Once Su Sez finished we untied the our boat - for the third time - and made a dash to the spot they just vacated. There were people on the dock who helped with the lines - a few sports fisherman made comments about us docking in the fuel spot - people were waiting for fuel you know !!??? Really. We arrived at 8:30 AM and it is now almost 1 PM !!  So it is finally our turn. We got over 1400 litres of fuel. 

After fuelling we had to untie the lines and move for the 4th time.  The wind seems to be getting worse every time we dock the boat! 

We planned to spend  the night in Sointula after we finished fuelling - good thing - this was pretty much an all day event. We found a spot at the dock and tied up for the 5th time! And it was really REALLY windy by this point. The guys from the fishing boat in front of us came and helped us as we were getting blown off the dock badly. 

What an event it turned out to be. It was probably close to 3 PM by the time it was all said and done. 

There was a fellow Jim met through Trawler Forum who was in Sointula with his wife. They had their boat in Port McNeil and had come over by ferry. They had seen Phoenix Hunter and came looking for us. We were able to have a nice little visit with them. 

We walked into Sointula around 3:30.  I didn't take many photos as I left my camera on the boat.  It is a lovely little community. Well maintained, pretty views and tidy yards and houses. 

We bought some fresh garlic from a gentleman selling out of his yard. 

The marina is full of interesting old fishing boats and the people are friendly and interesting.  

Another KK42 in Sointula. 

Phoenix Hunter tied up for the 5th and final time at the docks in Sointula 

There are is a very busy boat yard and some very old boat ways on the shore. 

We will make a point of going back there again for a longer visit.  But it is not likely we would do the fuel dock dance again. 

Friday morning the weather forecast was for light wind in Johnstone Straight, so we headed straight down to Port Harvey. It was an easy and uneventful trip. Not CVR at all. 

We had a nice evening in Port Harvey. We met a couple visit a lovely big Seline - Ocean Osprey. We had dinner of Port Harvey Pizza with them at the little restaurant on the dock and then got a tour of their boat. Beautiful boat. Got to see how the "other half" live!  They are from White Rock. And they were heading north.  And we are heading south!