Today was another day of fits and starts, (as my mother used to say). We had intended to go from Bligh (Maquinna) Cove to Friendly Cove, a short 5 NM jaunt across Nootka Sound. Friendly Cove was OK but not spectacular, next I pulled in to Santa Gertrudis cove but it was extremely shallow. Times like this is is nice to have a boat that is responsive and can back out of a tight place. So, on to a small cove about 3/4 mile up. It was a nice little cove and would be perfect for one boat with a stern tie but inconvenient for trying to get two 43 ft boats anchored and rafted together. By this time the wind was starting to get brisk at 12 to 16kts so we decided to head for Rae Basin around Hesquiat Peninsula with the thought that we would be able to close reach for the better part of the 40+ miles to get there. Poseidon, was having none of our brilliant plan. the fog settled in requiring combination of charts and radar and we had to tack a half dozen times just to get out of Nootka Sound. By then the wind had died to 5 to 8 kts and the swell was building. when I finally gave up on sailing (2.8 kts speed over ground isn't sailing, IMO) I started to motor. as the evening wore on the swell increased to 6 to 8 feet. Because the depth is so shallow and land close the swell period was pretty short so instead of a reasonable rolling ride I was tossed from port to starboard sometimes as much as 20 degrees of more to each side and I still had over 15 miles to go. I was thankful, as I turned up Hesquiat Inlet I got a brief respite from the fog and the swell lessened to a manageable level. Now, still 6 miles from Rae Basin the fog settled back in but cleared somewhat as I entered the anchorage. Rae Basin was a nice anchorage and the next day we explored the area by dinghy and walked a mile long beach near Cougar Annie's Garden. We set out our crab pots but were unsuccessful. It seems since the introduction of sea otters in the late 70's they have decimated the crab population on the west side of Vancouver Island. If they ever make it to the east side of the island, the Broughtons, Desolation Sound or into the San Juan's or Puget Sound there wont be a crab left, and with no apparent predators that seems all but certain.