Day 2 - Darcy Island

The morning of day 2 found us waking up on Posey to, what was to be a hallmark during this trip, a glorious sunrise. If fact, the only difference between this mornings sunrise and last nights sunset was the direction in which they took place.

We had been anxious to get on the water and sever our ties the previous evening, and used this morning to better organize our gear and make last minute adjustments. However, that didn’t keep up from taking a moment to pause and soak up the tranquility and beauty around us. I marveled at the number of colorful Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) swimming pass the island searching for their breakfast.

Once we where satisfied with gear and boats, we slipped into the calm waters and made our way around the north end of Henry Island. Jason filled me in on the history of Battleship Island which apparently got it’s name by being mistaken for a ship in the morning mist by a British Naval Captain. Traveling south we decide to make our crossing of Haro Strait at Mosquito Point.

Haro Strait is a major shipping channel hosting extremely large and extremely fast ships. It shouldn’t be crossed without a good dose of respect and full understanding of navigational principles, including ferry angles, natural ranges, and ‘angle on bow’. Using a natural range off the north end of Darcy Island, we at times where paddling 30 degrees off our projected course, yet we couldn’t have better conditions to make the crossing; ebb current, light winds, and unlimited visibility.

We landed on Darcy Island, and set up camp near the old leper lazaretto. It’s a sad story to long to tell here, but from 1891 to 1906 those suffering from Hansen’s disease in nearby Victoria where banished to this island with no medical staff or hope of every seeing loved ones or returning home. After 1906, due to pressure from concerned groups, a caretaker was assigned to the island with their cottage being built on the opposite side of the island. Nothing stands of the lazaretto, but after some lucky bush whacking we located what remains of the caretakers cottage.

That evening as we sipped our after dinner tea, and watched the moon reflect off the water and foundation of the old lazaretto, it dawned on me that we where just a couple of nights from Halloween, on an island home to unmarked graves, under a full moon! Hmm….I admit I slept with one eye open that night!