The Francis Barkley

After a pleasant conversation in the morning with members of the Port Alberni Yacht Club, stationed at beautiful Robbers Passage, we motored across Trevor Channel to investigate Poett Nook. 

Poett Nook has plenty of room to anchor 

Not a nook, but a spacious bay with a narrow entrance, Poett’s Nook has excellent protection from all winds with perfect anchoring depths of 25-35 feet.  The west end of the bay is cordoned-off with a series of floats and buoys connected by lines, but there is still plenty of room to anchor in the bay. 

Poett Nook Marina has ample side-tie for larger boats

Poett Nook Marina is located at the northeast end of the bay and offers numerous slips for sport fishing boats and has ample side-tie for larger boats.  The marina has a convenience store, gas dock, and is a popular stop for RV camping as well as sport fishing.

Exiting Poett Nook into Trevor Channel

As we made our way back out the narrow opening into Trevor Channel, we saw the Francis Barkley making her run to Bamfield. 

M/V Francis Barkley making her run to Bamfield

We, too, were on our way to Bamfield which gave us the opportunity to take some photos of the ship in action, making her deliveries of mail, cargo, and people.  Managed under the company name of Lady Rose Marine Services, the Francis Barkley can accommodate up to 100 passengers with ample indoor seating. 

Kayak rentals are available at Sechart Lodge

Kayaks and canoes can be rented through Lady Rose Marine Services; rental equipment is available at the Sechart Lodge in the Pinkerton Islands, one of the scheduled stops.  The Francis Barkley also makes stops in the Broken Island Group.  The company’s namesake ship, the MV Lady Rose (built in the 1930’s) operated in Alberni Inlet from 1969 to 2008. The MV Francis Barkley, built in Norway in the 1950’s, crossed the Atlantic, transited the Panama Canal, and motored up the west coast to Port Alberni.  The Francis Barkley makes scheduled stops at Kildonan (Uhucklesit Bay), Sechart (Pinkerton Islands), Haggard Cove (Native village), Bamfield, and Ucluelet. 

The Francis Barkley, delivering people and cargo at Bamfield

Upon our arrival in Bamfield, it was evident that the busy season had begun.  The Francis Barkley had brought supplies and visitors, a seaplane had just landed, the Coast Guard were practicing maneuvers, and the water taxi was busy providing transportation between West Bamfield and East Bamfield.  When we approached the West Bamfield Public Dock, we discovered “reserved” signs had been posted on the dock and learned that a “NW Explorations” flotilla would be coming in later that afternoon.  A resident boater at the public dock was kind enough to call the adjacent Bamfield Lodge, who gave us permission to tie-up to their float. 

Guest Dock at Bamfield Lodge

Though not widely advertised, the Bamfield Lodge has space for about two or three boats on their dock directly in front of the lodge.  Moorage is accepted on a space available basis or when the public docks are full.  The moorage rate is slightly more than that charged at the public docks. 

"NW Explorations" flotilla at West Bamfield Public Docks

As it turned out, we met many of the flotilla participants and we were invited by the Pemberton’s, operators of the charter flotilla business, to join them for happy hour; of course, all the boats had a copy of the 2018 Waggoner Cruising Guide.                      

Bamfield Water Taxi

 

The Bamfield Post Office along the West Bamfield Boardwalk

The Boardwalk along West Bamfield