Aug
14
2009
by Mr Cubes
Port Hardy to Port McNeil (26.0 miles)
Total Miles: 2,206.7
It's amazing how much noise other people make when leaving campgrounds at 5am. You've probably never even noticed, but let me assure you that it's almost a skill to be able to shout, slam doors and rev motorcycle engines without any regard to other campers. By the time the early morning starters had all left it was fairly pointless trying to sleep anymore and so I got up myself to see just how badly I'd put up the tent the night before. Still, it did the job. After using their odd facilities of toilets without locking doors, showers without curtains and a mirror that was 90 per cent cracks, I got ready to leave. As I was 
wheeling out of the site I noticed another biker so pulled over to find out where he was headed. Shaun was a local and gave me some advice on the best way to get down the Island. As we were chatting a salmon dropped from the sky and landed just a few feet away from us. Shaun went to pick it up and ask the hosts what they wanted to do with it and was watched the whole time by the bald eagle whose prey had been lost.
One of the things Shaun told me was that in Port McNeil there was a decent supermarket where I'd be able to get all the groceries I'd need to last me till Campbell River. It only took a couple of hours to get there and although there was a long 
downhill to the port, which is normally enough to put me off visiting a place, I decided I could do with some provisions so went to check it out. It turned out that it was the first day of Orcafest, a local festival with live music, BBQs, shows and other activities I didn't understand. While I was checking out the visitor information centre I ran into Patrick, a South African Canadian who was sailing from southern BC up to Alaska. We chatted for awhile and then I got to meet his girlfriend Emily and was invited me to spend the night with them on their boat.
I initially wasn't too sure about the offer, but thought it might be fun to spend some time with them anyway so we went over to 'Sea Sea Rider' and chatted about our respective adventures for the afternoon while listening to the music drifting over the harbour. I then figured it would be easier, and cheaper, to stay there than get to a campsite so they prepared one of the additional beds and we set off out for dinner. Had been another remarkable day, from eagles dropping salmon to sleeping on a 5ft long, 2ft wide piece of foam rocking back and forth on the ocean, and that is why I love this trip so much. What will tomorrow bring?