We set off early with the plan to explore the burial caves and paddle onward in wind and currents but with a hot lunch on the menu and sleeping bags packed JIC.
First we checked out the outermost of the triplex group but no evidence was found. Jill and I stopped and the next Island and easily found the caves just as she remembered behind a large rock. The 3 caves were low, deep adn open. One had remnants of planks and wooden boxes, some shells, and bones in disarray. The inside cave was the largest and housed several skulls and bones.
Paddled across Nuchatlitz inlet in moderate swells. Belmont Point had huge breakers so we continued south rounding cave laden coves to sandy but blowing Benson Point. Brenda hauled out her cooking gear and prepared a hot lunch=turkey sausage and pasta with salad.
Found the stream falling from a rock face on the outside beach where the creek and resulting pools in rock were so tempting I washed and shampooed in the crisp, clean water.
A few of us walked to the east end of the beach and climbed a rock face in an attempt to access the next beach but the tide was coming up so it was kaiboshed.
The wind was still gusting at high tide at 1800hrs but we decided to attempt a return trip to home base. I had fear of having to seek shelter in some hidden pocket cove enroute but once we rounded to the outside of Benson the wind seemed to calm a slightly. It was a steady but not grueling beat against a ‘nor wester'.
After crossing the channel in moderate swells we found shelter amongst the kelp and rock formations where I stopped to watch an eagle dying his wings and spying an otter nursery with crying baby otters. I came across a sleeping otter in a kelp bed and stopped paddling to watch him close up till he woke with a startle and disappeared in a splash.
Once back at camp, dry clothes and a fire were in order to warm or chilled and aching bones. Anna provided some hot miso while we off loaded and tied up boats.
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