Fancy Cove to Shearwater

Just a short hop today brought us to Shearwater, where we were the first to arrive and had the docks to ourselves until afternoon. As always, we were welcomed by Jeff and Molly—now in their fifth season as harbourmasters and still the best part of any stop here.

The docks are missing shore power due to storm damage over the winter, when the “T-Dock” broke free. Jeff tells us power should be restored tomorrow. Fingers crossed that “tomorrow” doesn’t stretch too far into the future.

The store was open, though the shelves were mostly bare, with the next barge delivery a week away. Fortunately, the laundromat was fully operational, and we jumped at the chance to run a few loads ashore.

We couldn’t resist a stop at the legendary Hodge Podge general store—home of my favorite pepperoni cheese sticks—and warmed up with hot drinks on a chilly afternoon. A stroll to the ferry dock helped stretch our legs before chatting with some first-time cruisers heading for Alaska. Their enthusiasm reminded us that the magic of the Inside Passage never fades, even on a repeat voyage.

We’d planned to celebrate Karen’s birthday at the Fisherman’s Bar & Grill, but despite earlier assurances, the doors stayed shut. Plan B? Burgers aboard and a quiet night in port. Not quite the dinner we imagined—but full of the kind of memories we’ll laugh about later.