Expedition Canada

Just Awesome Mon Jun 7th Skookumchuck Today was our planned visit to the Skookumchuck Narrows.  The part of the northern Sunshine Coast where the ocean flows through a narrow funnel to fill and empty the Sechelt Inlet each tide.   The Sechelt Inlet is a huge body of water that covers some 1500km2, and the tidal flows in and out are huge.   "Each day, tides force large amounts of seawater through the narrows—200 billion US gallons (760,000,000 m3) of water on a 3-metre (9.8 ft) tide. The difference in water levels on either side of the rapids can exceed 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height. Current speeds can exceed 16 knots (30 km/h),[1] up to 17.68 knots (32.74 km/h).[2] Although it is sometimes claimed to be the fastest tidal rapids in the world,[3] Norway's Saltstraumen reaches speeds of 20 knots (37 km/h)." It is an awesome sight and sound and having seen it on the way in, the 'flow' wave, I rather like the idea of seeing it on the way out, the 'ebb' wave!  So...

Exploring Egmont Morning Visitor Thu June 3rd A new mix of visitors today, starting with the Otter over my morning coffee, who was contravening the fishing restrictions and taking trout from the lake.   Soon after a Red-breasted Sapsucker popped by to extract insects from one of the pines in the garden, (not sure why they are called Sapsuckers if they eat insects?) closely followed by a Western Tanager, (a member of the cardinal family,  brightly coloured but quite common ) were added to the list.   Breakfast done, my main focus was the formal Transport Canada PCOC (Pleasure Craft Operators Certificate) examination.  All very formal, we are allowed 75 minutes and need circa 78% to pass.  After yesterday's online courses and tests, it took me 20 minutes for a 96% pass-rate on 50 multiple choice questions - quite chuffed.  I suppose knowing Port from Starboard on an aircraft helped!     I now know what a Cardinal buoy and a Bifur...