This week has been a mix of adventure, wildlife, and boat tinkering. We started off in Namu, and honestly, it was like stepping into a time capsule. Tools left on benches, papers still scattered on desks, furniture sitting where someone last used it—it’s as if people just walked away one day. It was eerie, fascinating, and impossible not to explore.
From there, we headed into Kwatna Inlet on the hunt for bears. We were lucky—one coastal brown bear made an appearance. Same species as a grizzly, but the name changes depending on where they live and what they eat.
Next came Tallheo Hot Springs, and let me tell you—they earn their reputation. At 69°C (156°F), they’re allegedly the hottest springs in BC. We couldn’t soak long before we were cooked enough.
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When we reached Bella Coola, it was time to try out our Honda Ruckuses, Ruby and Roxy. They handled the grocery run with ease and gave us a fun ride around town. You’ll have to wait for the video to see where else we went. Meanwhile, Blaine was in full tinkering mode. First, he dialed in the autopilot—now it’s steering like a dream. Then it was Roxy’s turn. She was loud and over-modified by some previous owner, but Blaine scavenged scraps onboard, built a baffle, and to my surprise, it worked. She’s finally got her inside voice.
He also added foot pegs for Izzie’s comfort, a rack for Ruby, and is now planning a custom box for Maggie—because she’s made it pretty clear she doesn’t enjoy riding in my jacket.
Right now, we’re sitting in Eucott Hot Springs, slowly making our way toward Prince Rupert. I’ve dropped the crab traps, we’re still on bear watch, and we’re hoping these springs aren’t quite as scorching as Tallheo’s. Yesterday’s Sea Trial video was a big one—we finally started the engines after months of work.
And this Sunday? The Never-Ending Sea Trial literally begins.
Spoiler: it doesn’t end.
Cheers
Blaine, Janis, Izzie and Maggie
Hey Crew,
We’ve been hanging out in Pruth Bay on Calvert Island this past week—splitting our time between boat work, hikes, fishing, and the occasional (very cold) swim. Yes, all three of us went in at Beach 7, and yes, there was shrieking. It was freezing. But we did it.
We managed to complete the full Seven Beach Hike, including the elusive Beaches 5 and 6 that you can only get to at low tide. Such an incredible place.
While Blaine was building new ventilation shrouds for the engine room (and loving every second of it), I decided to take Maggie fishing. She’s not a fan—especially when the fish start flopping around in Punga—but I still managed to catch two coho with my trusty Canadian Buzz Bomb. One went straight on the BBQ. Delicious.
Blaine’s new aluminum shrouds? They’re working like a charm. At 1700 RPM, our engine intake temps dropped from 125°F to 105°F. The engine room is noticeably cooler. And yes, there’s a video coming soon.
We moved on to Kwakume Inlet (gorgeous, protected spot), then took a day trip to the Kweye River, expecting bears… but found a massive abandoned limestone quarry and a tunnel through the mountain. Of course I went through it. Wouldn’t you?
Now we’re anchored in Namu, a forgotten cannery town with crumbling buildings, floating docks that have seen better days, and a whole lot of history. We’ll be here for a bit, waiting out the weather—and maybe fishing for halibut if I can talk Blaine into it.
Also—we’ve been updating the online store with some awesome crew-only gear. Sweatshirts, tees, hoodies… all with “CREW” printed on the sleeve. It’s our way of showing that you’re really part of the adventure. Depending on your membership level, you’ll get a discount automatically applied at checkout. You can check it out anytime at www.onboardtangaroa.com.
Thanks for being here and keeping this journey going. You’re the reason we get to do what we do—and we’d love to meet you out here someday.
Wheelhouse Weekly drops Wednesday, as always.
Janis (& Blaine)
What a week! It started with the usual: chasing salmon in Rivers Inlet. Took us a bit, but we cracked the code on Tuesday—hit our limit with coho, pink, a spring, and even a lingcod.
The next day?
Same spot, and we landed three more right in front of a lodge guide. Their guests actually cheered when Capt. Paul pulled in a big coho. Not gonna lie—felt pretty good.
Then it was back to Port Hardy to drop off Capt Paul and welcome our son Josh, who drove up from Victoria for a visit.
We soaked up some quality family time, including a hike to the WWII crash site of Flight 576. It’s a beautiful and sobering trail.
The video’s coming soon on the Exploring the World Onboard Tangaroa channel.
After a few days of provisioning and topping up 400 gallons of diesel (ouch but not a total ouch), we headed north again. This time, we had a much better crossing to Skull Cove, Bramham Island. From there, we hiked to the remains of an old whaling research station tucked in the forest—hidden plywood cabins slowly being swallowed by nature.
And this morning, we tackled the infamous Nakwakto Rapids.
Fastest navigable tidal current in the world (thanks, Guinness Book), but we nailed the timing. We’ll go back through in a couple of days and take Punga out to Tremble Island (the island in the middle of the rapids that you can only access at slack tide) to leave a Tangaroa nameplate. It’s a bit of a tradition—boats that’ve transited the rapids leave their mark there.
Now we’re in Seymour and Belize Inlets—over 220 miles of deep fjords, remote as it gets. This area wasn’t even charted until the late ‘80s, and it really feels like untouched wilderness. We’re officially in the Great Bear Rainforest now.
It’s wild. It’s quiet. It’s everything we hoped this leg of the Great Siberian Sushi Run would be.
Thanks for being part of the journey,
Janis & Blaine