We had a great little stay in the Muirhead Islands at the end of Drury Inlet, but with rain on the way we decided it was time to move on. The day started calm, and we made good time heading out, threading a really narrow passage at high tide to reach a quiet anchorage inside Carter Passage, the divide between Broughton and North Broughton Islands. We dropped the hook in a peaceful little notch with almost nobody else around, just one small sailboat tucked in a nearby cove.
While we were there, we spotted a bear foraging for mussels at low tide a couple of times, watched hummingbirds, herons, seals and kingfishers, and enjoyed the reflections and calm water even though the crabbing and fishing didn’t produce anything. Another highlight was the haunting calls of a pair of loons echoing along the narrow waterway.
After a few on-and-off rainy but very still days, it was July 27th, and we had been out more than two weeks since our last resupply. A short stretch of lighter weather gave us the window we needed, so we exited Carter Passage again at high tide and crossed Queen Charlotte Strait. A few rain squalls rolled through, but the wind stayed light, and we made it into Port McNeill Harbour without any trouble.
We anchored out in the big protected bay among sailboats, tugs, and working boats, with the two marinas, the ferry traffic, and the logging activity all part of the busy scene.
We’ve been on the dock now for a couple of days and will head out again soon for more explorations of this gorgeous part of the BC coast. Fingers crossed we get some good stretches of summer weather in August, as July has been a little on the gray and rainy side even for the Broughtons.
End of July 2026 Boating BC Video
*Check out the 2026 Boating Season Playlist*
