Monday, Linds Nate and his family set off on the Teylu for their trip around Gwaii Haanas with hopefully some fishing on the west coast of Haida Gwaii beforehand.
In the morning we visited the museum, before the call to the boat came (things had been a bit up in the air regarding departure timing due to tides and weather). They were due at the dock at 1400, so we quickly packed up in Skidegate and headed for Queen Charlotte. I walked/rode around town scoping out some camping locations and said my goodbyes before lunching on a burrito at a cafe.
Alone, I headed north to the Misty Meadows campground on the south tip of the Naikoon provincial park. Set up camp and headed for a 5km walk up the beach to the Pestua shipwreck on the beach. I crossed a river to get to it. I made the 5 km return trip on a different route along the river and through the forest. I started at 1720 and didn't return until 2136 - I had planned to call in to change my ferry to the sailing the following morning to give myself more time on Vancouver Island and with my dad, but alas, I had no cell service the whole time, and I returned too late to ride to find some. The decision was made for me.
Tuesday I learnt some things... The morning was lazy, coffee and oatmeal for breakfast, and I headed off on my bike. I rode up the road parallel to the river I'd been on the wrong side of the previous evening, and found a beach access. I attempted the sand on my bike. No dice. I dumped her twice before making my way safely back to the main road. I now know I can lift her on my own!
A camp service staff guy helped me fix my mirror and clutch leaver location (they'd rotated on impact), and he recommended I pressure wash off the sand at a car wash in Port Clements. I headed that way, needing cash anyway to pay for the campsite.
After hosing off my bike I headed farther north to Masset, in Old Masset I headed back to Sarah's to buy a ring I'd seen the previous day. It is a Raven with a killer whale. The Haida have 2 houses (?) Eagle and Raven with many clans in each. Back in Masset I stopped at a food truck for an early dinner - we'd chatted with the owner on Sunday when he was only serving ice cream. I had 3 tacos: tuna, prawn & smoked salmon. All delicious.
On the ride back to my campsite I stopped in Port Clements to inquire about the keys if dropped somewhere on the highway and to grab a beer to enjoy while reading back at my campsite before bed. I tried to make a fire 3 times and each time was thwarted by the rain only to have tmit stop a few minutes later. Wasn't meant to be. Still, that night was probably one of the best sleeps I've had so far on this trip.
Today I took my time packing up and trying to dry my tent. The rain mostly off that morning. And headed back up the highway towards Masset for a calm walk to Pure lake. In the rain. So much rain. I hid in the toilet before gathering my things and putting my rainsuit on under its roof. I rode back to Port clements for fuel, it wasn't raining there. Until after I visited the museum and hit the road again. I finally escaped the rain on the west side of the island near Tlell (where I'd been camping). I stopped for some cheese and bread from my pack at Crowsnest (a closed cafe but open post office! I'd been checking all of the post offices for my keys).
I rode the rest of the way to Queen Charlotte, stopping briefly to inquire about scuba, no dice, but Larry called to me from the truck window! Linds and Nate and crew were back after a day of fishing before heading south. I later caught Linds for a quick chat before I tucked into my halibut dinner at Blacktail (a local upscale restaurant in Charlotte), all after I'd set up camp at Haydn Turner. Right on the water! It's a bit of a hike, but not too bad with the gear from my bike.
