August 19 & 20, 2023 - Cordero Islands

August 20, 2023

We woke to an overcast sky and calm conditions. We trekked down Johnstone and chose to travel up Sunderland Channel and through Whirlpool Rapids to avoid the strong opposing current in Current Passage. After reaching Chancellor Passage, we tried fishing near Green Point, however, we received a radio call warning us that we were in a “No Fishing Zone”. With that warning we pushed on through Green Point rapids and into Cordero Islands. After lunch, we lowered the kayaks and took a pleasant tour around the islands, noting the increasing haze from BC fires.

We took a leisurely start to our second day as it was initially cool and overcast. Lois took to some cleaning while Geary did a bit of reading. During lunch, we watched a pair of eagles with a fish catch – one ate while the other stood guard chasing away crows and gulls. After lunch, the air had warmed, and the sun was burning through the haze of smoke from BC fires, so we took to the kayaks again for another tour of the area. Unfortunately, we were not able to get through the small rapid due to low tide, but we were able to get near some non-breeding Bonaparte’s Gulls along the rocks. Returning to Raven, we pulled up the kayaks to prepare for our departure the next day. The kayak fins were on the swim step when Lois noticed a couple of very small fish which we believe were tide pool sculpin, perhaps picked up when Geary had made a brief stop.