Our plan was to go to Murchison Island anchorage. We heard there was a mooring ball and it is close enough to Hot Spring Island and Windy Bay that we could take day trips on the Skiff to either site. Both Hot Springs and Windy Bay are Watchman sites we wanted to see.
We have had grey skies and drizzle or rain off and on all week so far. Hoping for some sun soon.
Murchison anchorage had two mooring bouys. There was no one there and we easily got the mooring bouys. They are a little different than ones we've seen before. There is a big orange Scotchman bouy and it has a thick heavy rope with a loop and a small float attached to it. So you have to grab the rope and loop with the pike pole and then put your own line through the loop.
The mooring bouy line has been floating around in sea water and is covered in slimy green algae. It's a little trickier than the normal mooring bouys.
We spent three nights in Murchison anchorage. There are Park closures in the area until July 15th. We were allowed to be on the mooring bouy but not allowed to go to shore anywhere in the Ramsay Island area except Hot Spring Island.
June 22nd - our second day at Murchison the wind was calm and we took the skiff the three miles over to Hot Spring Island.
There is also a mooring bouy at Hot Spring Island. It was occupied. There is also a Clothes line set up for the small skiffs and dingys.
The Watchmen there was a nice young couple. There were a number of Parks Canada employees there that day working on some pipes and pumps and such.
There were lots of rocks and reefs close to the shore. From the skiff we watched as a worker came out on an inflatable dingy - taking note of what he did for the best route to shore.
Once we got to shore the same worker helped Jim take the skiff to the Clothes line - which was a little off shore.
The skiff was set up securely so we could relax and enjoy the Hot Springs.
The Hot pools had drained a few years ago when there was a big earthquake in Haida Gwaii. There have since been new pools built and this is the first summer they are open since the 2014 earthquake.
They are still doing a bit of work there. But there Hot pools were lovely and warm. Not too hot. There are change rooms, as well as a shower room. Jim and I soaked in the Hot pools for quite a while.
We changed and then went for a walk up the hill and saw one of the old pools. Apparently we missed one of the pools. They are starting to refill.
We walked further up the hill to a lovely look out and took a few photos with my phone. We did not bring the camera.
When we were ready to head back the worker took us in his inflatable back to where the skiff was hanging out on the clothes line.
Back to Murchison and a lovely evening.
The next morning we had sun!! And blue sky!!
We ended up staying 3 days here.
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Beautiful! Nothing better than having remote hot springs all to yourself!
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