Our first night, We enjoyed dinner at a restaurant (say whaaaa?!?) with our flotilla. I got fish and chips but upgrade to poutine, and a caesar to drink and Brian got a fried chicken sandwich and an IPA.

The restaurant was a lot busier than I imagined it would be. That’s great.

On day 2, the group had reservations to visit a ‘big house’ at a nearby native town called Bella Bella. The group loaded up onto the water taxi at 9:30 for the tour at 10:30. I couldn’t join because I had a client meeting already scheduled, but I was able to get on the 11:30 sea bus, and I arrived just as the tour got done. Brian and I quickly went into the grocery store and I loaded up a bag with fresh groceries for Brian to bring back to the boat while I went for a walk around town with Susan and Steve.

Flotilla crew enjoying dinner on the outdoor patio at the Shearwater restaurant on a sunny evening

First Nations big house in Bella Bella with vibrant painted facade and totem pole out front

Rachel riding the water taxi from Shearwater to Bella Bella, checking her phone in the cabin

Bald eagle soaring with wings spread against a clear blue sky near Bella Bella

Pink wildflowers on the rocky shoreline with mountains and calm blue water in the background at Bella Bella

Interior of the big house in Bella Bella with massive cedar beams, totem poles, and visitors gathered around the central fire pit

Person hiking a lush green forest trail on a sunny day near Bella Bella