Travel Post: Discovery Passage

Campbell River is approximately two thirds the way up Vancouver Island. From Campbell River to Victoria at the southern end is roughly a four hours drive on high speed highways to help you get an idea of the size of this place.  There's roughly two and half  to three hours of driving north of us as well!

  

From Campbell River to Victoria the waters between the Island and the Mainland is fairly open with many smaller islands like stepping stones.  The waters were known as Georgia Strait and more recently renamed to the Salish Sea in honour of our aboriginal peoples.

Here at Campbell River the Salish Sea is pinched off as the density of islands increases. The passage in front of CR is the most open and means that not only do we get a large transit of returning salmon stocks, but we are also a route for cruise ships as they slowly make their way northwards to Alaskan waters.
  

As for the fishing, our neighbour said she met a couple this past week that had gone out fishing at 8 am and were  back and done by 9:30 am. They had bagged two large chinook salmon weighing roughly20-24 pounds each and that the fish were biting at 'anything' thrown in the water!  (They are allowed one fish each per day).  We call ourselves the Salmon Fishing Capitol of the World

Meanwhile the cruise ships leave Vancouver around four or five in the afternoon and so cruise  up the Sea and slowly pass by our town in the evening as they enter the Discovery Passage so to connect with Johnstone Strait and again on the return journey.  Its great fun for residents to go down to the Spit and watch them go by relatively close in the channel, but they can be viewed anywhere there's a beach, and we have many miles of beaches!

The harbour with its man made breakwaters. The large centre and parking lot is the major shopping centre.  Further up town there is another dock with more fish boats and a fishing pier where you can rent gear, get a license, and catch a salmon right there! Fishing nets and cleaning table provided and hungry gulls waiting. 

We were driving back along highway 19A , or known as the seaside route, when near Oyster Bay we spotted this..... so we carried on closer to town and eventually parked north of Willow Point and watched this Nordamm vessel float down the end of the Discovery Passage and the end of Quadra Island.

Imagine our surprise when this happened!   Two ships in the channel heading south ....

The one above and below are the closest we could get with cell phone cameras. We couldn't see the ship's name but it has the classic dark blue hull of the Nordam Line.

Here's a better shot taken by a CR citizen in the narrower Discovery Passage from an elevated view, with a much better camera too!

Cape Mudge lighthouse on the southern end of Quadra Island

Moving very slowly, possibly in view of new laws to protect orcas and other whales,  she carried on down the ever widening Strait.....

The next vessel looks like one of the Princess Lines, but I don't know for sure.  It could be any of the newer ships built in recent years with many decks and basically HUGE. I wondered how it handles in rough seas and high winds with so much superstructure?

Here's a brief video of her under way... (sorry about the noise but we were parked along a busy road)

So here are some pics taken  by other residents:

Baby orca leaping at Cape Mudge

Spring at the waterfront 2018

One of many nature walks in the area

Miles of beaches to stop and enjoy.... and some make driftwood art, or simply a campfire and watch the sun go down .

We were down at what they call the spit here  the other night and the waters there in the passage were full of men in row boats fishing.  Seems they were all trying to become members of the Tyee Club. To become a member you have to use (inspected) special fishing gear, be in a boat that is being rowed (no motor during fishing time) and catch a Chinook salmon 30 (yes, thirty !) pounds and higher.  Here are the official catches to 2017.   Very exclusive club and has had many illustrious and international members, of all ages and gender,  over the years.

In Discovery Passage rowing for the big one!

Next post will be weaving related as I have had some shawls finished up and soon will be photographed.  Company is coming for a week as well.   Don't you love summer?   

Travel Post: Cape Lazo and Marina Park, Comox

On July 3rd, 2018 : We had come from our appointment at Comox Hospital and had been given the 'all's clear' for Bruce's scan so we were feeling happy ....and a bit adventurous.  We drove up Comox's Lerwick Road heading southwards until it reached the end and found ourselves at Cape Lazo.   Its roughly just below the horn shaped  piece of land.  It was a glorious day with a cooling breeze, not overly warm  and low tide.  In the map below you can locate Lazo Road and where it hits the shore line. The video below was taken from that point. The area in the map above Cape Lazo is the bottom end of the Comox Airforce base

The islands you see off in the distance of the Salish Sea (formerly known as Georgia Strait) are Texada Island where you can see the limestone quarrying operation, and beside it is Lasqueti Island (pronounced 'lass-skeeti').  Closer to the coast of Vancouver Island is Hornby Island.   Yes, many people live on these islands and have rather self sufficient communities. They use the inter-island ferry system to get to either the big island or over to the coast and Vancouver . Its quite a lifestyle.

Here is a brief sweep of the view from the Cape. Starting towards the mainland and Powell River, with Texada and its obvious mine right up close. Then sweeping right past Hornby and towards the Island and you can see the snow covered mountains that run mid island. It stops short of showing you the Comox glacier...

There was a low sandy grade and a natural pool that was perfect for kids or dogs to play in. Sun warmed water; lots of sticks, sea shells and tide creatures to find under shore debris. Or simply squish toes in the warm wet sand.

These three pictures are a panorama sweep of the bay from right to left. I was surprised by how few people were here. Parking was right where we stood and lots of it.....  It was like a best kept secret.

So we carried on our journey around the bottom end of the peninsula, heading roughly west towards the downtown area, but still near the water and found ourselves at Marina Park.  A very large open green space right down by the water. Trees, grass, a public gazebo, concession stands and public facilities.  There was a children's playground and waterpark and people enjoying the day. 

Nearby was the marina facilities and Government dock, complete with a restaurant nearby and stunning water views. Now if you click on the picture below and enlarge it, you'll see just under the cloud layer, the Comox Glacier. The winds that blow over that bed of ice keep temperatures in the valley cooler. (or as a friend who lives here says 'sweater weather' 😊)

I have two maps for you to view: The first gives you Vancouver Island and you can see how far the distance is between Campbell River and the Courtenay / Comox area is. It takes us about 35-40 minutes.  There's a fast highway mid island or the more scenic ocean side drive.

The second map brings up the smaller island names with a closer in view of things.

We hope to do more day trips and share them here with you. Vancouver Island is larger than some states, or countries for that matter.  From Campbell River and heading north, there is still half an island to go yet!  

Travel Post: Deep Bay, BC

Deep Bay is along the east coast of Vancouver Island, south of the town of Courtenay.  Very pretty little community and most homes have stunning ocean views.  We had an offer on a home here for a time 18-20 months ago which fell through.  It all worked out fine for us so we're happy.....  but we went for drive to see the community we almost called ours.

Panorama view of the interior bay.... at low tide.

This view is facing the mainland and shipping enters by moving leftwards and it curves around to enter the Deep Bay. The mountains you see are over on the mainland.

The vessels enter the bay approx mid picture towards the marina. So we were standing on a spit of land, wide enough for large homes with water views front and back!

Deep Bay marina.... totally protected, deep anchorage. It seems an earthquake in 1946 caused the bottom of the bay to drop 84 feet!

The head of the bay with access road on the spit.