Tips for tubing the Puntledge River in Courtenay, BC

 By Keith and Heather Nicol

Summer has been slow to really warm up in the Comox Valley but recently it has turned hot in a hurry and the forecast to looking good for the next couple of weeks. So if you like to swim and cool off then tubing is a great way to have fun at the same time. Tubing is an institution the Comox Valley and for good reason –the Puntledge River is ideal for this activity .With a forecast of 2 more weeks of warm weather ahead it is certainly a perfect opportunity to dig out that tube and head down the river if you haven’t already done so. So far this year we have been done the river a couple of times (most recently on July 30) so here are some tips that we can share if you are new to tubing. Tip 1 -Where to put in? Most people start at the fish hatchery on Powerhouse Road.  Park near the fish hatchery access road and walk around or past the gate. Part way down you will see a sign pointing to “Tubers Trail” and take that to the put in. This trail is steep and slippery in places so it won’t be for everyone-an easier put in with tamer water can be done by going to Puntledge Park and starting your tubing adventure from there. Either way our most common takeout is at Condensory Bridge on the right side but you can tube all the way to Lewis Park.   Tip 2-Good footwear really helps on getting down this steep trail and it will protect your feet once in the river.  We tend you use kayak booties or well fitted water shoes since they give reasonable grip and protection. Tip 3- We sometimes use a kayak paddle to help steer and manoeuvre but most people don’t use one. If you have one bring it along since tubes on their own are not very manoeuvrable. Tip 4- We also have found that putting a life jacket over the mesh on the bottom of the tube keeps your bum and lower back from hitting too many rocks. If you are using a truck inner tube keep your “bum up” when you go over rapids to avoid hitting “bottom” in the shallow sections. We hear people complain all the time about the rocks that they hit and how sore their back or bum is- a life jacket in the bottom really helps.

                                              Tubing through some of the rapids in the upper section on July 30, 2025

 Tip 5- Bring along a real water proof case for car keys or anything else you don’t want to get wet. A ziplock bag likely won’t cut it.  Tip 6-The section from Powerhouse Road to Puntledge Park is abit faster with more rapids than the lower section from Puntledge Park to either the Condensory Bridge or Lewis Park. First timers or those with younger children may want to do just the lower section starting from Puntledge Park and we suggest a pull out just below the Condensory Bridge since the last part to Lewis Park can be slow, especially if there is a high tide or the wind is against you. For newcomers to the Comox Valley,  Puntledge Park is at the intersection of 1^st and Urquhart Avenue and the Condensory Bridge is off of Anderton Avenue. Since the river is dam controlled water levels are often similar day after day which is a real bonus. Tip 7- But note that the river can change rapidly since it is dam controlled and hazards like fallen trees in the river can occur over night. Tubing shouldn’t be taken lightly and accidents do happen on the river. Look ahead and be prepared to get off of the river if you see hazards ahead. Tubing is an institution in the Comox Valley and it is the ideal way to spend a couple of hours on a warm day. Check out this video below before you head down.

 

 

The Brian and Sarah McLoughlin Park is well worth a visit in the Comox Valley

by Keith and Heather Nicol

We recently decided to revisit a scenic beach access that we had not been to in several years. our last visit was in the fall of 2018 when the park was first opened. The Brian and Sarah McLoughlin Park is actually an artist's retreat but has it has interesting gardens and a scenic beach access. The Park is accessed by driving to the end of Tasman Road (simply put in Brian and Sarah McLoughlin Park) in google maps. It is about a 15 to 20 minute drive from most places in Courtenay - Comox. There is parking for a few cars and you can see the entrance by a finger board that has info about the Park. You basically walk down the road that leads to the cottage for 500 m or so and there are several beach accesses on the grounds. Don't disturb the artist that may be there by using the deck but you can walk around the grounds. If you want a loop path you can take the Fern Bench side trail that is well marked. Although the distance is short, the road is steep in places with slippery gravel so people with mobility issues may find this challenging. Hiking sticks might be handy in this case.Our GPS showed an elevation change of close to 80 meters but the route is mostly shaded which is nice on a hot summer day. Check it out the next time you are in the area. See you on the trail. 

         

                                                             Walking down the access road to the beach accesses.

The Parksville to Coombs Rail Trail is a perfect way to visit Coombs

 by Keith and Heather Nicol 

On a recent trip to the Parksville area we decided to check out the multi use rail trail that connects these 2 communities. The trail parallels the E and N tracks and is 3 meters wide so you can easily ride 2 abreast. The trail is made of compacted small gravel and we saw many cyclists and a couple of walkers on our trip. The trail is just 7 km long so makes a nice way to visit Coombs which is often very busy in the summer. When we went on July 24 parking was at a premium with all the visitors so we were glad we had our bikes which allowed made parking a breeze. The trail starts in Parksville at Springwood Park or it can be accessed in Coombs at Station Road. There are a few road crossings but other than that you can bike free from cars. Also since it follows the old railway it is mostly level so is suited to a wide range of cyclists or walkers (see picture below.  Check it out on your next trip to this area. 

 Also nearby is Englishman River Prov Park and it has a nice hiking trail loop which is about 1.7 km long and features a nice view of the Englishman River cascading over a rock ledge. The trail is well marked and is shaded so is very pleasant on a hot day. The trail starts from the day use parking area. At the lowest bridge crossing the route has an informal side trail which leads to the river and we saw several people swimming in the river. This is a fun bonus on a hot summer day but use standard cautions when entering water of uncertain depths. See you on the trail.

  

Check out the Parksville Sand Sculpting Competetion before August 17, 2025

By Keith and Heather Nicol

We recently headed to Parksville to see the  Annual Sand Sculpting Competition and as always it is an impressive event to take in. It is located at the community beach in Parksville and there is alot going on in that area through the summer. For instance when we were there they had a youth beach volleyball event going on and there are regular free concerts as part of the Tim Hortons Summer Concert series. The theme of the Sand Sculpting Competition this year is Circus by the Sea and we really liked the winning solo entry by Thomas Koet of the US. There are entries this year from residents of a variety of countries including the Canada, the US , Netherlands, Russia, Columbia, and the Ukraine. Thomas Koet's entry was titled the Juggler and depicts a mermaid juggling balls ( see below) .  We loved the details in her hair and raised collar of her dress. There are 2 person and solo categories and all the entries are worth seeing and they are on display until August 17. For more information see: http://www.parksvillebeachfest.ca  Before seeing the Sand Sculpting event we hiked some of the trails at Top Bridge Park. On this day we saw several people swimming in the river so bring your bathing suit if the weather is hot. See you on the trail. 

 

The Quarry Rock hike rewards hikers with great views of Deep Cove near Vancouver

 by Keith and Heather Nicol
When we go to Vancouver to visit friends and family we usually like to get out for hike while we are there. On a recent trip we decided to check out the Quarry Rock hike since it is fairly short but gives expansive views at the lookout bluff at the trail's end.  To start the hike you need to drive to Deep Cove and find a parking spot. This can be a challenge on sunny weekends but we went midweek and found a free spot on Panorama Drive in front of Panorama Park. We walked down Panorama Drive and quickly found the access trail to Quarry Rock. The hike in is not long --our GPS showed about 3 km one way --but is a roller coaster of valleys so the trails winds up and down with lots of stairs and stream crossings with bridges.  We had done this hike 10 years ago and we certainly didn't recall all those stairs but this means it is more strenuous than you might think. Our GPS showed an elevation gain of over 250 meters so people with mobility issues or families with young children might have trouble on this trail. The viewpoint at the end is a large rocky bluff which is a perfect place to have a snack and get a few pictures.-see picture below. Check it out on your next trip to Vancouver. See you on the trail.

Saratoga Beach Golf Course has more improvements on the way.

 

by Keith and Heather Nicol

On Thursday July 3 we decided to check out Saratoga Beach Golf Course which is located near Saratoga Beach midway between Campbell River and Courtenay, B.C.  We had arranged a tee time for 10 am and we had perfect golf weather.   Saratoga Beach Golf Course is a 9 hole course that is very walkable since the distance is around 2200 yards and the course is quite flat. But don’t let the short distance fool you, there is still alot of challenge to be had for all levels of golfers. The course consists of 4 par 3’s, 4 par 4’s and 1 pair 5 but the course is generally narrow with water hazards that come into play on many holes.  You need to be able to get the ball in the air and carry some distance or else you will lose a few balls to the small ponds and creeks that flows through the course. Last year we played this course and awarded it the most improved course in the Comox Valley and this year they are working on improving many of the tee boxes. This meant that we had to play on some temporary tee boxes on our round - actually this wasn't too bad since it shortened the holes - but General Manager Jordan Irwin told us the new tee boxes will be ready to go by July 11. We look forward to checking the course out again later in the summer to check them out.                                                                 Heather getting ready to tee off on number 1 Jordan told us that they get most of their business from the local community but also from the Comox Valley and Campbell River. They have a Men's League which plays on Tuesday night and Sunday morning and a Women's League that goes |Tuesday morning and Wednesday night so if you want to meet some new golfers you can contact the clubhouse for more information. Also if you want a steal of a deal book a round on Mondays when 9 holes will cost you only $20.00 . Also if you have got young ones wanting to learn to play they can sign up for Junior Days on Thursdays from 2 to 4 pm.  Saratoga Beach Golf Course has a small putting green and a driving range as well as a small club house, food truck and pro shop. If you want to try a challenging course that will reward the straight ball hitter then see:  http://www.saratogabeachgolfclub.ca/   for more information.

As you can see the picture above - the greens are in great shape

                                                

The fairways are narrow so this course rewards the straight ball hitter