Showing posts with label Strait of Georgia. Show all posts

Island in the Sky

On our last boat trip on the Georgia Strait, we stopped by Mitlenatch Island. In the language of the Kwakiutl First Nation people on Vancouver Island, it's name means "it looks close, but seems to move away as you approach it."

As we were approaching from the north it not only looked like it was moving away, it looked like it was rising into the sky.

In the Coast Salish language the name means "calm waters all around." And the north bay did give us a calm anchorage so we could explore on shore. -- Margy

Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park

We had a wonderful overnight cruise in the Bayliner. We left Powell River in the afternoon and arrived at Heriot Bay on Quadra Island in time for an early dinner at the Inn. With Halcyon Days' tanks and our tummies full, we motored over the adjacent Drew Harbour to spend the night at anchor.

Today we stopped at Mitlenatch Island. The whole island is a Nature Provincial Park. The environment is very different from neighbouring islands. Because it is in a rain shadow, you will find the rocky cliffs covered with low growing bushes and few trees.

In winter, you will find California sea lions basking on the shores and feeding in the rich waters. In spring you will find wildflowers and nesting sea gulls. Today, most of the wildflowers were gone, but the gulls were roosting in every nook and cranny on the exposed cliffs.

If you follow the path from the north anchorage, you will come to a bird blind. From here you can view the gulls on the cliffs below without disturbing them. A handy guide above viewing window give you tips on behaviour and species identification.

We hiked back down the trail to our waiting Halycon Days. It was such a nice day that we decided to slowly troll on the way back to see if we could catch a salmon. Wayne did hook a nice ling cod, but we let him go. We are the catch and release kind of fisherpersons.

What a wonderful place to live. So many options: boat, quad, hike, kayak and live up the lake. Powell River has something for everyone to enjoy. -- Margy

Sailing into the Sunset

The city of Powell River BC looks across the waters of the Strait of Georgia towards Vancouver Island. That makes for some really spectacular sunsets.

Not long ago I looked out my front room window and saw this lovely sailing ship passing by.

We are in the middle of some of the best cruising territory in the world. To the south of us are great little coves like Pender Harbour and Princess Louisa Inlet. To the north of us is world famous Desolation Sound and the many glacial carved inlets and islands along the BC coast. They would all be wonderful to explore in a magnificent ship like this. Can't you just imagine yourself on board? -- Margy

Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park

After leaving our friends in Campbell River, we decided to stay out one more night in Halcyon Days. This time we wanted a place to anchor. We left Campbell River and cruised around the bottom of Quadra Island to the Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park. Along the way we did a bit of trolling for salmon, but from the looks of the boats out on the reef, we were in the wrong place.

Rebecca Spit is a very popular park with boaters and non-boaters alike. You can drive into the park for picnics and hiking along the beach. You can kayak across the protected bay (check with the Taku Resort for rentals) or take a dinghy ashore. No matter how you get there, it's a beautiful, restful spot.

The long spit divides protected Drew Harbour from the outer waters of the strait. It provide a protected anchorage with good holding in most weather. Driftwood piles up on the sloping beach and is often relaunched at high-high tides. One night I remember waking to something bumping along the side of the boat. When I went out I saw a parade of driftwood passing by.

Nearby Heriot Bay Inn and Marina offers fuel and moorage. It is also a good place to go for breakfast, lunch or dinner if you don't want to cook aboard. If you need provisions for your cruise, the Island Market is within walking distance from the marina dock. Short term parking is available if needed for meals or shopping. Moorage is also available at the Taku Resort.

Wayne and I spent the day just enjoying the sunshine and reading. Just what the "doctor" ordered. -- drmargy

A Nautical Trip to Cortes Island

Cortes Island at the northern end of the Strait of Georgia is a nautical paradise. Last summer Wayne and I took an overnight cruise to several marinas on the south side of the island.

Our first stop was in Gorge Harbour. This was an overnight stop with our friends Ken and Sam from Gibsons. The Gorge Harbour Marina is a popular moorage for locals and visitors alike.

East of Gorge Harbour is Manson's Landing. There are only a few spaces at the Government Dock so most boats anchor out. The bay is open to southwest winds and swells, but on a nice day it makes a good spot for a day hook. You can hike about a mile to the village with its restaurant and store, swim in the fresh waters of Hague Lake or bask on the sandy beaches of Manson Landing Provincial Park.

Next head south then northeast to Cortes Bay. In addition to the Government Dock there are outstations for the Seattle and Royal Vancouver Yacht Clubs. If there aren't any spots at the Government Dock and you aren't a yacht club member, anchoring out in well protected Cortes Bay makes a good overnight stop. If you have a bicycle aboard you can ride the island's roads. They are a little hilly, but even for a pedal wimp like me you can get to lots of destinations.

For more information check out:

Cruise to Cortes Island: Day 1
Cruise to Cortes Island: Day 2
Fall Cruise to Cortes Island
Up the Airway on Floats
Up the Strait
Free "Up the Strait" Podcasts

So, if you are looking for a destination for a nautical cruise, head up the strait to Cortes Island and it's plentiful anchorages and marinas. -- Margy

Ferries at Sunset

To reach Texada Island or cross the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island from Powell River, you have to take a ferry. Sunset arrivals make a beautiful picture.

The Northern Island Princess in the foreground it the ferry to Texada Island. She is a 49 car and 293 passanger ship built in 1958 in Vancouver. In the distance is the Queen of Burnaby, the ferry to Comox on Vancouver Island. She is a 192 car and 695 passenger ship built in 1965 in Victoria. I invite you to come visit Powell River, we have the best sunsets in the world. -- Margy

Harwood Island

Last week you read about the Strait of Georgia. It is an integral part of our life in Powell River and creates the spectacular view from my condo window. In the strait you find many islands. Probably the most famous are the Gulf Islands near the tip of Vancouver Island, but directly in front of Powell River is Harwood Island.

Like many other locations in the Strait of Georgia, Harwood Island was named by George Vancouver during his exploration of the Puget Sound and Coastal BC in 1792. In this case, Harwood Island was named for Dr. Edward Harwood, a scholar and naval surgeon. Geologically, Harwood is pretty distinct. It's flat top is the result of glacial action in the region over 10,000 years ago. This is the same action that gouged out Powell Lake and the many inlets along the coast.

At the turn of the 20th Century, it was logged. The second growth trees have grown to substantial size, but you can still find evidence of the past. This old winch on the shore of the sandy spit pays tribute to the island's history. Today, it is uninhabited and is a traditional and sacred place for the Sliammon First Nation.

Harwood Island is a popular destination for sea kayakers. Leaving from Powell River or nearby Gibsons Beach, you can reach Harwood fairly easily on a calm day. For those with more skill and energy, you can circumnavigate the island and view the sea lion rookeries on the back side. It is also prime salmon fishing territory. For more information about sea kayaking, I recommend Powell River Sea Kayak, Alpha Adventures and Alpha Dive Services. To learn more about kayaking in our area, I recommend reading Sea Kayak Desolation Sound and the Sunshine Coast by Heather Harbord. And of course, there's Wayne's Up the Strait available online at www.PowellRiverBooks.com.

Come visit Powell River. You will find outdoor sports and activities all year long. -- Margy

Strait of Georgia

The Strait of Georgia runs north from the Canadian border between the southern tip of Vancouver Island and the mainland. It flows past the beautiful Gulf Islands all the way north to the Discovery Islands near Campbell River. This section of water is a busy marine highway. Tugs pull heavy loads of containers, sawdust and logs. They travel day and night in all kinds (and I mean ALL kinds) of weather. From my condo in Powell River, I can watch all of the pleasure boats, tugs, cruise ships and fishing boats passing north and south. It's like a parade, day and night.

Logging has a long history in British Columbia. I found an interesting blog called Tim-Ber with an informative post on the history of log booming. Do you like historical pictures? Here is a link to the Library and Archives Canada with lots of old logging pictures.

You can also take a boating adventure on the Strait of Georgia in Wayne's book Up the Strait available online at www.PowellRiverBooks.com -- Margy