As the sun sets we look out the narrow entrance of Anna Cove and feel secure for the night.
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FROM SANDSPIT TO GORDON BAY TO SKEDANS JULY17TH & 18TH

After we left Sandspit we sailed south to Gordon Bay to anchor for the night. In the morning when we attempted to pull our anchor it appeared to be caught on something. From the wheel I could see the bow of the boat being pulled down when Lou activated the windlass which eventually failed. Gary re-anchored his boat and came to our rescue. They attempted to pull the 110 lb. Bruce anchor up by hand. They then attached the chain to the main halyard and winched it up. We thought our adventure in the Charlottes was over until Gary and Dayle graciously invited us to raft to Forever and Ever for the next 2 1/2 weeks.
We proceeded on to Skedans where we rafted and took the dinghy ashore. We were greeted by two young Haida Watchman named James and Girl. In the late 1800's there were more that fifty pieces of monumental sculpture recorded in Skedans. Today, few remain due their removal by treasure hunters and the natural process of decay. The Haida people are making every effort to have their treasures returned to them from museums all over the world.

We enter Gordon Cove where we anchored for the night. In the morning we we will visit the Skedans Village site.
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We rafted to Forever and Ever and took the dinghy ashore to explore the Skedans site.
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James and Girl were our hosts at the Skedans site. They were charming and informative. They are examples of the "new" Haida filled with pride and curiosity of their heritage. In the summer they spend three months at the sacred Haida sites acting as "Watchman" to protect and inform visitors of the history and culture of these amazing people.
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Girl describes the circular marks on this memorial pole. It recorded how many Potlatches this chief held. Power was not determined on how much a chief had but how much he gave in the ritual of the Potlatch.
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Girl describes the memorial pole and how the bent wood box was placed at the top and held the remains of the person being honored.
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It is the tradition of Haida to allow the poles to return to the earth. Roots and seeds use the poles as host that will eventually break down the wood. The Haida believe that this represents the cycle of all life.
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Here are the two memorial poles that held up the stolen burial box pictured in the next photograph below. The publication being held up in the photo is used at the Skedan's site as a reference guide.
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This is the decoration from the burial box supported by the two memorial poles pictured in the above photo. It was stolen from the site by tourist before the Watchman program was initiated. It is now on display at the Haida Museum in Skidegate where it was eventurally returned.
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AN OLD PHOTO OF THE HAIDA VILLAGE OF SKEDANS. THE MEMORIAL POLES IN FRONT WERE ERECTED IN MEMORY OF THE DECEASED. THE REMAINS WERE DEPOSITED IN A BENT WOOD BOX AT THE TOP. THE SECOND ROW ARE HOUSE FRONTAL POLES WHERE THE RESIDENTS ENTERED.
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DANIEL RETURNS TO SANTA CRUZ JULY 17TH

Daniel enjoyed the last of his crab cakes for breakfast and we all hopped in a van to the Sandspit Airport. We are sad to him go! We had a wonderful time and now he can heal his "noseeum and mosquito bites" and wounds to the head received in the pursuit of adventure! NORTH TO ALASKA NEXT YEAR DAN!!!!

AIR CANADA FLIGHT TO VANCOUVER FROM SANDSPIT
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DANIEL WISHING US A FINAL "GOODBYE" AS HE BEGINS BOARDING HIS AIR CANADA FLIGHT FROM SANDSPIT AIRPORT
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A Bald Eagle watched the festivities from the jetty at Sandspit

GARY AND DAYLE WISH DANIEL A FOND FAREWELL
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FRESH DUNGENESS CRAB CAKES ANOTHER FAVORITE OF DANIEL'S ADDED TO HIS FAREWELL MENU
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DANIEL COMPLETE WITH HIS "NORTHWEST BEARD" ENJOYS A FAREWELL FEAST ON FOREVER AND EVER TO WISH HIM A GOOD TRIP BACK TO REALITY. WE CAUGHT THESE GIANT PRAWNS AND RESERVED THEM FOR THIS SPECIAL OCCASION
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QUEEN CHARLOTTE CITY, SKIDEGATE, MASSAT JULY 15TH

We rented a car to explore Skidegate and Masset. We stopped at the museum in Skidegate and found a wonderful collection of Haida history. We saw the $19,000,000 First Nation's Cultural Complex being built. The new museum will house many artifacts being returned to the Haida from museums around the world. We proceeded up the northeast coast to Massat where we met a very well known carver, Christian White, who is related to the famous Bill Reid considered one of Canada's finest artist.

$19,000,000 FIRST NATION'S COMPLEX TO HOUSE HAIDA TREASURES BEING RETURNED TO THE PEOPLE FROM MUSEUMS AROUND THE WORLD
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