Port Hardy/Port McNeil/Alert Bay. September 24, 2024

This is the only picture I took of Port McNeil. It's much like Port Hardy.  The big difference I noticed is that Port Hardy has a Save-on-Foods and Port McNeil has an IGA. This is where we caught the ferry over to Alert Bay. You only pay one way. Foot passengers pay $7.60 except seniors who pay $0. I pays to get old!

This is the first sign you see when getting off the ferry.

This is the second one.

Our first stop was at the visitor centre. The woman there had lived her whole life except 8 months in Calgary in Alert Bay.  She's First Nation and was very active in the community. She shared the many First Nations sites in Alert Bay. There are 2 burial grounds currently being used and one historical, a long house, many totems throughout the village and a cultural centre. She recommended seeing the cultural centre to start. It's about a 45  minute walk.

Alert Bay is one of the earliest settlements in the North Island. In the early days the fishermen and loggers would come into town after being away. Often spending $1000 in one night.

Some building have been maintained 

And others not so much

Art work is seen everywhere. 

We made it to the cultural centre. Most impressive was the collection of potlatch items. The potlatch was a very spiritual ritual.  have no pictures as photography was not allowed. I was amazed by the beauty and diversity. The many masks were beyond compare, absolutly amazing.

We did not see many of the totems, the burial ground or long house as we had had enough walking

This building is where the fishermen hung there net to do repairs.

Dave just kept walking. 

And that's the end of our visit. We plan to return some day.
                 

🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️