Day 54 - Tuesday July 11/17
(Posted Friday July 14/17)

So, it is hard to know just when ‘yesterday’ finished, and ‘today’ started - as we were ‘en route’ by ferry overnight from Prince Rupert to Skidegate (pronounced “skid-eh-gate”) on Haida Gwaii, from departure at about 10 pm Monday night to arrival at about 6 am Tuesday morning. (photos)

On board the "Northern Adventure" departing for
Haida Gwaii (another ferry coming into port behind us)

Prince Rupert harbour view 

Prince Rupert harbour view

Us in the area of Prince Rupert where we had supper

It was to be a day of touring for us, blogging catch-up, and preparation for our Gwaii Hanaas adventure tomorrow.

We ‘began’ the new day with coffee and a muffin in the ferry cafeteria after they announced imminent arrival at about 5:30 am. We then gathered up our meagre on-board stuff and proceeded to the vehicle deck below, where we waited for our turn to de-bark.

Before heading out, we stopped at the BC Ferries office at Skidegate harbour to have our names put on a waiting list for a cabin for our return voyage to-the-mainland overnight on Thursday. (After experiencing the deprivations of the overnight trip last night we were certainly hoping for a bed on the way back to Prince Rupert!)

Knowing that we were arriving waaaaay too early for either check-in to our accommodations, or any facilities and services to be open, we proceeded on the highway north to the tip of the island.  En route we found a picnic spot to have our breakfast. We came prepared with granola, apple, yoghurt and coffee. It was fresh in the open air but great to be able to see and smell the ocean. After our meal we continued up to Masset and Old Massett (a Haida village). We travelled about 100 km up the east coast of Graham Island (the north island), (photo of Haida Gwaii map)

 stopping at several rest stops along the way to experience the island and the ocean (inside passage) up close (photos)

"Balance Rock"

At "Balance Rock"

One of the stops was at a commemoration of a local chainsaw sculptor at ‘St Mary’s Spring). (photos)

Nancy at St. Mary's Spring on the way to Masset

In Old Massett (a Haida village), we saw may poles. We were struck by the ‘impoverished’ look of the village itself, with many abandoned and dilapidated dwellings, and much evidence of consumer waste (old vehicles, machines, etc.). We had considerable conversation about our mixed feelings about this. (photos of poles)

It was striking to photograph a pole with an eagle on top, and then to photograph a live eagle atop a pole! (photos)

We wound our way back down to Skidegate. After stopping at the Haida Interpretive Centre to get information about their programs for Thursday, and to check in with the tour company for tomorrow. We had a picnic lunch at the Tourist Info centre in Queen Charlotte City, right at water’s edge. (photo)

After lunch, we walked about the waterfront, as we waited for an appropriate time to go and check in at ‘Dorothy and Mike’s Guest House’. After checking in around 2:30, we had a much-needed nap (after the sleep-deprivation of the overnight ferry) for about 3 hours, and then enjoyed bbq’d pork chops, baked potato and corn supper, with the view from our deck (photo)

Queen Charlotte Harbour from our deck at Dorothy & Mike's Guest House