This part of VANCOUVER ISLAND is historical with passage of Europeans (Spanish then English) when France was still busy with the revolution; YUQUOT was also a major trading center for the first nation culture n  it seems than with the new comer,  trading remain stronger than fighting.

It appear so strange than now this place is almost deserted: Only the Lightkeeper n the parents of the carver Sanford Williams stay in winter after the departure of the locals in the sixties.

Anyway slowly the natives, after a massive departure in the sixties organize some events in summer here; the place is really strange, with a church and a few bungalows to rent around a beautiful lake, and the workshop of the local carver Sanford Williams

https://www.sanfordwilliams.com

A south wind push ALCYONE to sail north following the THASIS inlet, wild waterway as not many places to stop, then west through the THASIS NARROWS before reaching the HECATE CHANNEL,  the ESPERANZA INLET, very disappointing wich look like a motorway to ZEBALLOS with fish farm almost each mile, the ESPINNOSA inlet and fortunatly one of the best place in

YUQUOT; One of the longest pier in the island

Inside the small church...a unusual mix between christian n native culture...

First nations were living here from thousand years...

...until end of 18th century...classical inside a church...

...less classical this display of totems...

...Egyptian ANUBIS is not far as a form n a symbol...

So many...but not only: As often when people has left, trees continue to live n give other fruits (plums here) for years

The seaview workshop of Sanford with the house of his parents in the back

It takes 3 month to Sanford to carve such a Totem, this one, almost finished will go to TAHSIS

Totem's raw material arrive often naturally to him

A few bungalows around the lake are for rent...but very few are occupied on this 18th august

Fiji, Canada...the tourism is an alternative for locals but with the same jobs

Anyway this "friendly cove", even with some trailerboats fishing salmon restless, is a place of great authenticity...

no noise, no internet, the powerfull mix between history n art give to the rare visitors a magic feeling !

Bad weather from the south...perfect to sail north in narrow THASIS inlet

Disapointed by ESPERANZA INET,  a kind of motorway with fish farms

Same about ESPINNOSA INLET, destroyed by logging ...

...despite the background, NUTCHALITZ anchorage, closer to the sea...

...is one of the best of the west coast, with an absolute protection in the middle of a maze of islands...

...A lot of wild life...

n natural creations.

No crabs with the reintroduced Sea otters, but how fun to watch them !

Eelgrass: good for animals but a nightmare for the outboard

Same about these huge rafts of kelp drifting with the spring tide.

Opposite to this vaccant house n ALCYONE,  I experience for the first time the wolves...Jack LONDON is not far !