Betty was getting increasingly more itchy and more swollen. Her airways were ok so it was assessed by the Chief and Lieutenant that a trip to Alert Bay Hospital might be in order. It wasn't felt that any eminent danger prevailed so there was no concern to contact emergency personal. We decided to check and see if Alert Bay had a medical facility. It was at this point the Canadian Coast Guard decided that we should not take any chances and dispatched a boat out of Telegraph Cove. Betty's rendition was" It's a great way to have an instant face lift. The Coast Guard fast boat travels at 45 knots. (80 km/hr).

Alert Bay is a fascinating village. It is located on Cormorant Island, amidst splendid scenery and abundant wildlife. This crescent shaped island is situated just off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, approximately 180 miles by water from the city of Vancouver. Located on the beautiful Inside Passage of British Columbia. Alert Bay offers visitors an incredible look at the 'Namgis First Nation heritage as well as a unique experience in this friendly costal community. We didn't have a chance to visit the Alert Bay Big House and discover the rich past of the KwakwakaÂwakw through their traditional dances. This tradition is something I am truly looking forward to on another visit. We walked the streets along the waterfront. Like so many communities along the coast, many businesses of the past are now closed. I wish I could have witnessed some of the husssel and bussel of the thriving communities. During our brief visit we talked to several fishermen waiting to depart for their salmon season. The allotment of time that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada gives these fishermen is less and less each year. Like the farmers their costs are going up but their profits are plummeting.

We were standing in front of the First Nations cemetery when an Elder from the village stopped. We asked her why some of the totems were beautifully painted while others were left toppled over and uncared for. We learnt a very important fact. The totems are not like headstones in our cemeteries. These totems are erected in memory by the family and tell the history of the person whom they represent. The actual physical bodies (in times gone by) were taken to an outer island where they were suspended in trees. They were then left for nature to take its course. The totems were then erected months or even years later in the honour of the deceased. The totems are to be left as is and allow natures forces to prevail. The idea is that the totems will eventually become part of the earth once again. The circle of life.
The next morning we headed out to do a little fishing. We caught a few Salmon but still not that elusive Halibut. We headed to our next destination Malcolm Island.

Originally established as a Finnish settlement nearly a century ago, the Finnish culture still exists today,on Malcolm Island and is evident in the neat and tidy houses and gardens that surround the town of Sointulta. We wandered up the main street and spoke to a few of the locals. What a wonderful little town. It was at this marina that a neighbouring fisherman gave us a few lessons on what to look for to catch the Halibut. Not to mention how to look at the depth sounder to determine the best anchoring spot. Learning from the pros.

We headed out early the next morning to Port McNeil. We anchored in the harbour waiting to be welcomed into the gas dock, where we would go into town to reprovision and top up our water tanks, and switch crew. We bid our farewells to Betty and John and said hello to Bev and Stan.