Sailing through Switzerland

Sunday, June 29, 2008: Khutze Inlet up Fraser Reach with Princess Royal Island to port to Ursula Channel and Bishop Bay to McKay Reach, across Whale Channel to Grenville Channel and Lowe Cove: 13 hours

Up Ursula Channel to Bishop Hot Springs

"We’ve got to get out of here!" Russ called.

"What?" I was barely awake.

"We’ve got to go!"

I went up on deck to see 12 ft of water. We draw 7 ft. You could see the sea grass in the clear inlet waters at the surface from the transom step.

"I’ll row ashore and get the stern line." Russ said.

"Your job is to watch the depth if we swing too close to shore once the stern line is untied—raise the anchor and stay in a good depth."

He said this as calmly as if he were asking to pass the salt.

Ja, no problem—I never raised the anchor alone or even with someone. Please don’t let us drift ashore I willed. Please don’t. "Hurry up Russ get back!! We are in 6 ft!!" I called.

He sauntered along the slippery rocks, coiling the yellow propylene line with no sign of urgency. Row the dinghy back!! Hurry.

On board he says, "Hey Marilyn, we’re in 22ft, you were reading wind speed!"

Put my head in another packet.

Out into deep still inlet waters. 150 ft. Haul the dinghy up, turn to starboard, into Fraser Reach with Princess Royal Island to Port. It’s massive Whalen Lake high up and out of reach hard to imagine. The sun is out. The water bounces light. Unending waterfalls cascade. The mountaintops are snow white. Now into Ursula Channel. To stern a panorama of white mountains with tiered waterfalls. Port and starboard are mountains capped with snow. Forward the channel’s V reveals another wedge of snow-capped mountains with ribboned waterfalls.

We’re sailing through Switzerland. Encircled by snow-capped mountain—wind-etched sparkling blue waters—blue skies. No need for a symphony. Moving through the universe—insurmountable.