Exploring Point Holmes tide pools in June

By Keith and Heather Nicol

    We like to head down to the Point Holmes shoreline of Comox when there is a very  low tide since it is one of the few places we know of in the local area that has small tide pools and exposed bedrock which can hide sea stars and other organisms. The tide at 3:00 pm on June 7 was just 0.3 meters and with the sunny and warm weather it was a great day to check out the tide pools. And Point Holmes is a great way to beat the heat which on this day was forecast to hit 30C.

 

For those people not familiar with this area it is to the right of the boat launch and there is parking for a number of cars just off of Lazo Road. Because of the large tides in this area the tide pools are 200-300 meters from the parking area and footing can be tricky especially near the rocky outcrops. We wore hiking shoes but some people we saw were wearing rubber boots. Flip flops or similar sandals are not recommended given the slippery, seed weed covered rocks.                                      The midshipman can be seen to the right with the orange eggs it is guarding to the left

    And we weren’t disappointed. Under a rock we saw were surprised to see a midshipman fish guarding eggs that likely were deposited in May. If you do move rocks take care to put them back exactly as you have found them. We saw many ochre sea stars clinging to the underside of clefts in the rock and in the tidal pools including one collection with purple and orange sea stars. You don’t tend to see many orange ones so we counted ourselves lucky to photograph one this time. We also managed to see 3 leather sea stars which does feel like wet leather. And we also saw a river otter swim along and then get out on to the rocks just ahead of us. So check this place out if you like exploring nature in the Comox Valley. Bring your camera and binoculars since you don’t know what you might see.  Also a kneeling pad helps protect your knees if you want to see what is under clefts in rocks.  So check this place out when the tide is low. See you there. 

                                               A river otter also decided to see what low tide had to offer

An evening sea kayak at Goose Spit in Comox , BC

 By Keith and Heather Nicol

Goose Spit is a favourite destination for many people in the Comox Valley and for good reason. You can go for a beach walk, have a picnic, or go paddle boarding or kayaking. One factor to consider when kayaking is the carry to the water from the car and so we usually kayak at the Spit when the tide is quite high to avoid a longer carry. Recently with high tides in the early evening and warm summer temperatures we decided to do an evening paddle on Saturday, May 20.  The tide was about 4.0 meters and so that meant we just had short distance to carry our gear to the water and winds were very light from the north. The easiest place to put is along the lagoon side and this also provides the most protected paddling. We were joined by many people on paddle boards and other kayakers since the evening was so warm.                                     The end of the Spit has an incredible sandy beach which faces the evening sun We paddled around the Spit and saw many people enjoying the many pullouts that are possible along the spit since much of the shore line is sand or small gravels at this tide.  We paddled around the sandy end of the spit and continued along the southern shore for about 1 km before opting to return to the sandy area facing the sun to have a snack. There were several people enjoying this sandy section of the spit and even some people swimming !! Many people had the same idea as we did- paddling down to the end of the spit in sea kayaks or paddle boards for a picnic. And we love the early evening light on the water with the snow capped mountains in the background. For those not familiar with Goose Spit it is at the end of Hawkins Road in Comox.

We hauled out kayaks up at near the end of the spit to have a picnic

 

 

   

 

The “Pub to Pub” trail makes a great walk anytime

by Keith and Heather Nicol

We always love doing the so called “Pub to Pub” trail which is roughly half way between Campbell River and Courtenay since is a scenic trail with both river and ocean/beach views. We hadn’t done the trail for a few months since last fall and so with a sunny forecast we decided to walk on Sunday, May 14 with some xc ski buddies and a friend of theirs who was visiting from Edmonton.   The trail gets its name from the fact that at one time 2 pubs were located close to the start and end point of the trail. Since the trail is just 3.5 km (1 way) it is suited to a variety of options. If you have young children or walkers that would find 7 km too long a hike, you could park a car at each end and just make the 1 way trip. You can see from the photo below that the trail surface is well maintained and is generally flat so is walkable for just about all ages.

To get there from Courtenay drive north on Highway 19A and keep an eye out for the Oyster River bridge since you want to turn right on the next road (Glenmore Road).  Then travel one roughly 1 block and then turn left on Regent and look for a parking lot with a sign Oyster River Nature Park. The parking lot coordinates are 49. 52.232 N and 125 07.616 W.  There is parking for several cars but this area is popular so we try to go mid week to be able to get a spot. But on this Mother’s Day Sunday parking turned out not to be a problem  There are a few forks in the trail but bear to the left and you should be fine.  After about 1 km you reach the ocean and from there you follow the Jack Hames Trail to Salmon Point. You can walk the trail in either direction although we tend to walk it south to north most of the time. In this case we left a car at both ends since it was a very hot day. Anyone planning this hike over the next few days with the very warm temperatures should plan a morning trek. See you on the trail. 

 

 

Paddling with the Snowbirds- A seal's eye view

 By Keith and Heather Nicol

   The Snowbirds usually come to practice in Comox, BC in late April and early May and this year we had visitors from Newfoundland that were keen to see them .They are also avid paddlers so we decided to see them from the water which certainly gives a different perspective. We have  been out sea kayaking when they have been doing their precision flying one other year so suggested it to our guests. They thought it was a great idea so we headed out to catch their 12:30 show on Wednesday , May 10.  We left Pt Holmes boat launch in Comox around 11:45 and paddled around into Kye Bay to see the show where we enjoyed a seal’s eye view of Snowbirds impressive routine. The snow capped mountains of the BC mainland added to the scenic setting. The Snowbirds may be around for 1 more day so check out this vantage point if you own a kayak or boat.  And if you missed them from the water this year remember you can always try this outing next year. For anyone not familiar with this boat launch it is on Lazo Road near the Comox Airport. Don’t forget to drop your launch fee money in the slot so that this great boat launch can be maintained. And a real bonus is that you can check the water and wave conditions at the boat launch with their handy web cam-- here is the link-http://www.pointholmesrecreation.ca/rampcam/

 

Try this cycling loop on Denman Island

By Keith and Heather Nicol

May can be a great month for cycling in the Comox Valley with trees in bloom and temperatures that are perfect for cycling. So on May 8 , 15 cyclists from the Evergreen Cycling Club headed to nearby Denman Island to cycle an easy to do loop. Note that although the distances are not too long – cycling on Denman like many Gulf Islands is hilly. In our group most people used e bikes which of course tended to flattened the hills but 5 people were on peddle bikes so got a chance to use their low gears. Denman has no shoulders for cycling but the lack of traffic –especially  this time of year makes it a relaxing place to cycle. 

We caught the 10 am ferry from Buckley Bay and soon were presented with our first steep hill just a few meters after we off loaded from the ferry. We turned right on Lacon Road to avoid the main traffic artery of Denman Road. Next we took Mcfarlane Road to East Road which took us back toward Fillongley Park where we had a perfect lunch spot overlooking the ocean.  From there most cyclists took at loop which included Pickles Road to Northwest Road but I headed back directly back to catch an earlier ferry to get ready for guests arriving from Newfoundland. My loop was about 22 km and the larger loop would be closer to 30 km.  Bikes are a great way to explore the islands like Denman and the Evergreen Club usually does trips to Quadra and Hornby as well. 

The Evergreen Cycling Club welcomes cyclists over 55 years of age and for more information contact: ejkimball62@gmail.com   They head out on their bikes twice a week through the year weather permitting. 

 

Spring Wildflowers in their prime along the Tsolum River in Courtenay

 By Keith and Heather Nicol

The Fawn Lilies light up the trail

   On Sunday, April 16 we had a pleasant surprise when we had a walk by the Tsolum River. There were carpets of fawn lilies and trilliums in bloom along the trails which really brightened up our walk. The trails are located behind the Exhibition Grounds off of Headquarters Road in Courtenay, B.C. Take the main trail toward the river and we found many clusters of fawn lilies on the side trail to the right. If you are handy with a GPS turn right at this junction - 49 42.284 N 125 00.373 W. You don’t need to walk very far before you see the flowers along the trail.  We are not sure how long they will last but if like early spring flowers check out this area and don’t forget to bring your camera.A pad to kneel on for getting up close will also be helpful.

Since these plants are low bring a kneeling pad

Trilliums are also out but are not as abundant as the fawn lilies

Thanks for a great season of Nordic skiing at Mount Washington

 by Keith and Heather Nicol
It was a sad day when we cleaned out our ski locker at Raven Lodge on Monday, April 10 to end the 2023 cross country ski season. Raven Lodge is the base of operations of cross country skiing and snow shoeing at Mount Washington near Courtenay, B.C on Vancouver Island. The year saw a mix of weather with lots of snow and very cold weather early in the winter followed by a cool weather in February and then lots of snow in March and early April. In fact on the final Easter weekend tons of snow fell.  We managed over 50 days of skiing which is more than we usually get in.

 I was involved in teaching cross country skiing there seemed to be lots of new skiers from all over Vancouver Island in lessons this year.  We also ran a CANSI Level 1 ski instructors course and Mount Washington now has 3 new nordic ski instructors. If becoming a nordic ski instructor is of interest to you contact me at k2nicol@gmail.com since we are planning another course for the 2023-24 season. This was the second year for Nordic Fest which offered a wide range of activities and we had a good turnout for the advanced skate session held on Sunday, March 26.  

   So next year if you have thought about trying cross country skiing or snowshoeing then check out Raven Lodge at Mount Washington. They have over 50 km of trail groomed for skating and classic skiing as well as many snowshoe trails. Raven Lodge has great mountain views and inside you can check out the ski shop, book rentals and lessons, and buy day tickets.  Lets hope next winter brings the same great skiing to Mount Washington.   For more information see: https://www.mountwashington.ca/ 

 

Just two weeks of cross country skiing left!! Where did the winter go?

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

Well  the countdown is starting. ..just 2 more weeks of skiing at Mount Washington Alpine Resort. The cross country skiing has been great this season with new snow being added regularly through March to keep the trails in good shape. Many people don’t like icy conditions and so far those have been kept to a minimum by nightly snow falls. But if you are afraid of the downhills on those icy days check out this video to help keep you under control- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8_IOJu9aa4     . But later this week we are forecast to have double digit temperatures in the valley and sunny skies which will be appreciated since March temperatures have been chilly than normal. But that will also mean early morning icy conditions so plan your day accordingly. You want hit the trails after the ice has melted abit but has not become too slushy.

But there is lots of cross country skiing left and the mountain is sitting on nearly a 2 meter snow pack so when Raven Lodge closes for the season it won’t be for lack of snow. And it is still not too late to get a lesson and learn some new skills.  So get out there and enjoy the last couple of weeks of skiing and for more information see:  https://www.mountwashington.ca/

 

 

 

“The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022” exhibit at the Royal BC Museum is awesome!

 by Keith and Heather Nicol

The latest exhibit at the Royal BC Museum (RBCM) is well worth taking in and you have about 1 more month to view it. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 exhibit  is now in its 58^th year and closes at the RBCM on April 16, 2023. We have seen past “Wildlife Photographer” shows at the Royal BC Museum and it is put together by London England’s Natural History Museum.  The jury for this exhibit shifts through close to 50,000 images submitted from over 100 countries around the globe so this really is the best of the best!  Pictured below are some of the images we enjoyed. Admission to the exhibit also includes access to the Natural History of BC Gallery which features BC’s amazingly diverse ecosystems and how they formed.  Also coming up at the RBCM is an exhibit of Dinosaurs of BC, SUE:The T rex Experience, and Angkor – The Lost Expire of Cambodia. For more information contact the Royal BC Museum at: https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/

                                      A brown bear stalks sockeye salmon in Alaska

                                      Breeding frenzy Tree Frogs in Costa Rica

                                     The backlit photographs make for amazing viewing

                                  A dying gorilla comforted by caregiver Andre Bauma

Cross country skiers with knee issues should check out these tights by Stoko

By Keith and Heather Nicol
Cross country skiing is a sport known for being easy on the joints but sometimes general wear and tear creates knee problems for many people. And for active people the last thing we want to  have are knee issues that may prevent us from doing the sports we love. Often cross country skiers will wear bulky knee braces which are hard to fit under over ski pants or on top of tights but STOKO has revolutionized managing knee support by making tights that are also act as a brace. Amazing!! 

                        You would never knnow Mike Akey had knee issues the way he skis wearing the Stoko tights

The tights have over 30 meters of cables woven into the fabric in a crisscross fashion from the waistband to the ankle. By tightening the control knobs at the back of the tights you can create the amount of compression and support you need for your knee. If you only have problems with 1 knee you can dial up the right amount of support for that knee and leave the other side with less support. The tights seem to help a number of knee issues like ligament problems (ie ACL etc) as well as meniscus tears as this video (below) shows with Masters Biathlete and avid cross country skier Mike Akey.  The tights will also help you recover from knee injuries as well as possibly prevent them in the first place  

 

The STOKO tights do cost much more than drug store knee braces but they are registered as a CLASS 1  Medical Device and FDA approved. The brace will likely be reimbursable through Health Spending Accounts by Canadian insurers.As for general benefits plans, reimbursement will depend on your exact medical coverage. 

                                                      Mike skating to the Biathlon Range

STOKO makes 3 different tights including warmer tights for alpine skiers to lighter ones for summer activities. They are machine washable (just put them in the bag they come in) and be sure to watch the training videos about putting them on and wearing them for the first time. They need to be worn a few times to get the cables to stretch out. So check them out to see if they might help your any knee issues you might have. And remember they aren’t just for skiers- they will help hikers, bikers, runners or anyone looking for abit more knee support. Click STOKO for details on line- https://ca.stoko.com