Logging is still an important industry in this part of the world, and transport by barge is inexpensive. Certainly compared to the cost of building roads or railroads!
A snow covered, and cloud covered, peak somewhere north of Nanaimo. This was to be the first of very many. The dark area at the top of the image is a cloud, not smoke from the boat's diesels!
Nearing Comox (eastern side of Vancouver Island), Brad informed us
that he had arranged an air show for our viewing pleasure! (And if
you believe that, I have a nice bridge you might be interested
in buying). Indeed, the planes I saw flying over earlier were
the Royal Canadian Air Force aerobatic team on their way to the show.
It turns out this is an expected problem, and the solution is easy. The captain stops the boat, the chief mate goes down and opens the inspection hatch on the turbine, and removes the offending item. The hatch is replaced, and off we go. Takes just a few minutes, unless the item is not reachable from the hatch. In which case, the whole operation is repeated after spinning the turbine again.
Remnants of the log, sitting on the bar at the back of the boat. I didn't think to take a photo, but there was also a nicely polished rock which had been retrieved once. The turbine blades must be very tough!
Part of Campbell River, on Vancouver Island.
Sidney to Nanaimo, BC
