Kynoch Inlet & Cruising South
Coastal British Columbia is a maze of forested islands cut by deep fjords. Today we explored this wooded wonderland and were amazed by its beauty, lushness, and wildlife. Whether scenic cruising in the ship, by Zodiac, or paddling by kayak, everyone came away with an experience of high peaks, spawning salmon, abundant birdlife, and pure wilderness.
In the early morning we entered Kynoch Inlet and set out to explore its various arms and streams. Rounding one point, a narrow cut opened into a two-mile long fjord. Intrepid kayakers were dropped at one end and paddled their way back to the ship, surrounded by peace and tranquility.
The undersea world was filled with mussels, multi-armed sunflower stars, and Dungeness crabs. Chestnut-backed Chickadees flitted through the trees, while Bonaparte’s gulls fed in the tide rips. Sitting alone in a kayak, surrounded by jumping salmon and dense, forested slopes, was a perfect way to spend the morning.
Others of us explored the coastline in our fleet of Zodiacs and were able to head up into the various streams that drain into the inlet. Both pink and chum salmon were spawning, and bald eagles filled the trees like pigeons back at home. Dead salmon carcasses littered the shoreline, their nutrients feeding the surrounding forest. A few lucky folks saw a black bear feeding on salmon, while kingfishers perched on small branches.
The afternoon involved weaving our way south. Multiple waterfalls plunged into the sea and various sightings of wildlife interrupted our time. A few humpbacks, sea otters, and seals were spotted, along with many birds including loons, gulls, auks, and a flyby American Pipit. After a bit of the Taste of British Columbia in the lounge, lighthouses dotted the shoreline as a fiery sunset welcomed us into dinner. It was hard not to think of the early explorers, and wonder how they didn’t get completely lost in the maze of passages.
