This blog covers travel suggestions and ideas by Keith and Heather Nicol. Most of our travels deal with outdoor activities like hiking,sea kayaking, cross country skiing, alpine skiing and other activities. We also enjoy traditional music and cultures. We have written over 800 articles in various magazines and newspapers. We are frequent contributors to Ski Trax and Saltscapes Magazines. Keith Nicol has also written 2 books and has a popular you tube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/k2nicol
The Filberg Festival opened on Friday, August 1 and featured 140 artisans showing their wares as well as some varied music on both stages. See our previous blog for some tips for helping you enjoy the Filberg Festival (https://keithnicol.blogspot.com/2025/08/movin-and-groovin-at-filberg-festival.html). On Saturday, August 2 we had planned to get down by mid afternoon to catch some of the musical acts on both stages. It was another classic Comox Valley summer day with light winds and temperatures in the low to mid 20 C's. Given the ideal setting of this festival with the tall shade trees and ocean setting this weather was just about ideal for festival going.
The Harpoonist had the standing room only crowd up and dancing
The first act we saw on the Garden Stage were the Backyard Boulevard. They played folksy music that really suits this stage. Then it was time to check out some of the artisans and our daughter picked up a variety of items from specialty teas, to some clothing and art cards. We returned to the Garden Stage to hear one of our fav local groups - Big Little Lions. Again their mix of covers and original material made for easy listening in this perfect venue. With light breezes of the water the setting and temperature were just right.
Daughter Kristie buying some tea from Urban Earth Teas
We then shifted to the main Rotary Stage to hear The Harpoonist. We had heard him play at this event previously and really liked his hard driving harmonica backed music and he had the crowd on their feet and dancing. By this time the main Rotary Stage was full and behind the stands people had laid out blankets and low chairs so they could hear the music but really couldn't see the performers. I don't think I have ever seen so many people at this stage before. The final act of the night were the Juno nominated Great Lake Swimmers. They played an easy listening style of folk rock music which went over well with the standing room only crowd!
The Rotary Stage was very well attended on Saturday - playing here are Luna Land
But
there is lots more music to be played at the Filberg
Festival . We are especially looking forward to hearing Lucarno (which we have seen a few times) and many other groups so head on down to Filberg
Lodge Park tomorrow. Also it is a great place to get that unique or
special gift. With
so many varied exhibitors there is something for just about everyone.
And Remember
the Filberg Festival is a valuable fundraiser for the Filberg Heritage
Lodge
and Park in Comox, B.C. For more information on the complete festival
schedule
see: filbergfestival.com
See you there tomorrow.
The Filberg Festival must be one of the nicest venues for a Music - Artisan Festival in Canada
The Filberg Festival is a
huge fundraiser for the Filberg Lodge and Park which has a spectacular location
in Comox. This year they have over 140 artisans showing their wares plus 45 musicians performing at 2 stages over the 3 days- August 1-3. What a great combination! The idea is you
check out some of the remarkable work by potters, photographers, painters, jewelry,
glass, textile and wood workers and then take in some music. When you get
hungry you can buy some specialty food from some artisans or head for the food
trucks. So the routine is shop, listen, eat and enjoy !
You could not ask for a nicer setting for a festival than the grounds at Filberg Lodge
Although
the temperatures are suppose to be less than the heat wave that has
been affecting the Comox Valley for the last few days, the trick will
still be to stay cool. So we will pass along some tips
based on our past experience. Get there early. Not only will parking be
easier to find but it will be cooler. Secondly, bring plenty of water so
you
don’t get dehydrated. Thirdly, dress with light shorts and shirts and
bring a
hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. We also
brought small foam pads so we could sit on the grass or a low rock wall in the
shade if the seats were all taken.
Railroad Tye and friend played an entertaining set on the Garden Stage
On
Friday, August 1 we opted to listen to music at the
shady waterfront Garden Stage which some musicians said must be the best
stage
to sing at in B.C. ! There was a little breeze off the water and with
the shade
- it was the perfect temperature for listening to music. We caught
Railroad Tye and we loved his varied country - bluesy music. Since we
were so comfortable we decided to stay and listen to Kye Coski , a young
very talented performer from right here in the Comox Valley. He has a
gentle voice that works perfectly with the folksy - celtic- country
music that he plays. Keep your eye on this performer. At this point we
decided to get up and check out some of the over 140 exhibitors on site
before heading home for the day.
Don't leave the kids behind..there is a special area for kids with games, face painting etc.
But
there is lots more music to be played at the Filberg
Festival . You still have Saturday, Aug 2 and and Sunday, Aug 3 to come
and
check it out. We are looking forward to hearing Great Lake Swimmers,
Lucarno , Rockcod and many other groups so head on down to Filberg
Lodge Park this weekend. Also it is a great place to get that unique or
special gift. With
so many varied exhibitors there is something for just about everyone.
And Remember
the Filberg Festival is a valuable fundraiser for the Filberg Heritage
Lodge
and Park in Comox, B.C. For more information on the complete festival
schedule
see: filbergfestival.com
See you there tomorrow.
There are some very fine artists attending this year's event- Here is the beautiful pottery of Gordon Hutchens
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 1st 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
We don't get to Quadra Island very often even though it is just around the corner from the Comox Valley. So with a couple of friends we recently decided to check out some of the short hiking trails and do some exploring by car. We caught the 10 am crossing and were driving toward the Mudge Point lighthouse by 10:30 after a quick stop for coffee in Quathiaski Cove. We had hoped to do a coastal trail in the area but one of the people we ran into at the RV Park thought that it was not in great shape so we opted to do the Haskin Farm trail which friends had recommended to us. It features a nice walk though the tall trees and has an open area which we assume used to be the farmstead and then the trail gets steeper and descends to the ocean. Here you get scenic views of various islands and the mountains of the BC mainland. Our GPS showed a distance of about 3.5 km return and it took us about 1 hour to whole trip.
The Rebecca Spit Trail is a Don't Miss Hike!
By this time we were getting hungry so found a delightful picnic spot at Rebecca Spit overlooking Hariot Bay and then did a gem of a hike to the end of the spit. The trail is a suited to all ages since it is flat and very picturesque. It is just 2 km return and time taken will be determined how many pictures you take or how long you sit on the beach and enjoy the view. Our final hike for the day was one that headed inland and was much rougher than the first two with lots of roots and rocks with an elevation gain of about 100 m. The Hariot Ridge trail (1 km one way) provides glimpses of the ocean back toward Campbell River but we thought it would give better views to the East. Perhaps trees have grown up but next time we want to try a hike that gives good vistas back toward Rebecca Spit. All of these trails plus many more are listed on the Quadra Island map that we picked up on the ferry. Be sure to get one because it lists many other attractions on Quadra Island and even has the ferry schedule on it. We had time for quick snack at Quathiaski Cove before we boarded the 4:00 pm ferry which put us back in the Comox Valley in time for dinner. We had just scratched the surface of hikes to do on Quadra since the map we used listed over dozen other options. See you on the trail.
The so called Medicine Bowls and on the Brown's River near Courtenay
offer another way to see this river which is normally hard to access. A
previous blog this spring discussed the accessing the water falls lower
down on the Brown's River from Piercy Road. If you missed that and want
more info - here it is- https://keithnicol.blogspot.com/2025/06/waterfalls-on-browns-river-near.html.
The Medicine Bowls are also well worth a visit and like we have
discussed in other blogs-if you can ride a bike there instead of hiking
then count us in. In this case the river has carved a series of bowls
and waterfalls in the rock but actually swimming here should be done
carefully as a monument near the site records the deaths of 2 teen age
friends that died here in the summer of 2001.
Biking up the access road
To
access the Medicine Bowls simply type in "Medicine Bowls Parking" in
google maps and it will lead to a large parking lot just off of the
Forbidden Plateau Road. Depending on where you live in the Comox Valley
the actual distance will vary but from our house it is about 15 km (1
way). From there the trail- actually a road - heads uphill and we opted
to bring our bikes since the whole route appeared to be easy to do on a
mountain bike. The trail is less than 2 km 1 way so if you don't want to
bike it is an easy walk to the access trails down to the river. Once up
the main trail we chained our bikes to a tree and then headed down
several different trails that access various parts of the Medicine
Bowls. These trails are steep and some use ropes to descend so will not
be suited to young children or those people not comfortable on steep
slopes or using the attached ropes. We went on a dry day but the steep
trails accessing the river would likely be very slippery in wet
conditions. This is a very scenic spot but use care around the river
since in places the mossy rocks are very slippery. See you on the trail.
Be careful along the river's edge since there are lots of areas of slippery moss
The
Evergreen Bike Group has rides on Mondays and Wednesdays
and is a great way to meet cyclists and explore the country roads and
trails of
the Comox Valley and beyond. The Evergreen group is open to cyclists over 55 years of
age and the
group uses mix of electric , hybrid and road bikes. The rides on Mondays tend to be longer and it
gives us a chance to explore places like Denman, Hornby and Quadra Islands as well as
rides in Campbell River and Parksville. For instance, on Monday June 16 twenty cyclists headed to Powell River to check out the cycling in that community. On Wednesday morning the rides tend to be in
the Comox Valley and run for 2 to 2.5 hours in length. If you are interested in
finding out more about this cycling group contact Ernie at: ejkimball62@gmail.comThe pictures below are of the group cycling in Powell River and along the waterfront in Royston. See you on the trail.
We always would rather bike to a scenic viewpoint or waterfall if we can
since biking is usually so much faster especially on the descent. So
when a friend mentioned a waterfall on the Trent River that they saw
from a black diamond mountain bike trail at Cumberland we decided to
look into how we could get there without the skill needed to bike a black diamond bike trail. Fortunately with the Trailforks app you can
sometimes figure out another way to get to a location using easier
trails. It didn't take long to put together a route that would basically
involve logging roads or easy green trails since one of group had an
old hardtail bike and little experience biking on some of Cumberland's
more difficult trails. We started at the main bike parking lot in
Cumberland and once on the trails headed to Davis Lake Main East to Trent River Main. We
ascended up Trent River Main to Trent Canyon Access Road (these roads are marked on trailforks). We turned
left on that road and followed it to the Black Diamond- Trent Canyon
Trail Lower and after leaving our bikes at the top of the trail we
walked down this trail for a few minutes to a nice waterfall. With
snowmelt there is currently a nice amount of water flowing and after
getting some pictures we walked back to our bikes and proceeded down Trent River Main to Allen Lake Main then to Allen Lake North to Shaker Road and then down Davis Lake Main West to the
car park. Total distance was about 17.5 km and it took 1 hour and 45
minutes to complete. Note almost all of the trails we rode on were wide logging roads except part of Allen Lake North. Be sure to download the Trailforks app if you want
to explore any of the many multi use trails at Cumberland. Remember
those trails are not just for avid mountain bikers- many trail runners
and hikers also use those trails. See you on the trail.
We recently decided to check out a waterfall and trails leading to the Brown's River which is normally fairly inaccessible. This hike is very short - less than 1 km 1 way and starts at the Komoks Treaty Lands and Tribal Park and Wildwood Interpretative Forest Park parking area. This is on Piercy Road and on a hot day you can see lots of cars parked along the road for some distance since the informal parking area is very small. We initially thought all these people were walking in the Wildwood trails but then found out that in fact they were heading to the Brown' s River with its eroded pools and small waterfalls which are nice for cooling off in the summer.
A falls on the Brown's River
So instead of heading into the woods into the Wildwood trails, walk down
the powerline on the southside of the road and shortly you will come to
a side trail heading to the right. Follow it into the forest and soon
will be looking over the Brown's River their are many short trails which
descend to the river and now with snowmelt the river is bubbling right along.
Some of these trails are steep and have ropes to aid in your descent or
ascent. The descents will not be suited to all people so if you have
young children or have mobility issues you might have to be content to
walk along the trail at the top which still gives good views of the
river. This is a fun trail to explore and we want to come back in the
summer to check it out for swimming when the river is flowing more
slowly. This trail looks like it could be quite muddy and very slippery
if it is raining out so it best to go in the late spring , summer and
early fall after a day period. See you on the trail.
Golf
is popular in the Comox Valley with many
courses to test your skills but if you want to try a fine little course
that
allows you to play 9 holes for less than $20 then check out
Mulligans
Golf Course.Where
else can you play 9 holes for golf for just $16 (before 8:30 am and after 3:00 pm) and this goes up to $18.00 (between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm). And these low rates have stayed the same for the past few years.
Keith teeing off on hole 2 with the Beaufort Range Mountains in the background
They offer an executive course which means
there are mostly par 3’s with some par 4’s and the longest hole is 337 yards.
Total length from the blue tees is 1763 yards which is about a mile so it is
also easy to walk for many people from younger children to older adults. But
just because it is short doesn’t mean it is easy. There is water on 7 of the 9
holes and many strategically placed sand traps so depending on where the pin is
placed, making par can be a real
challenge. The course also gives scenic views of the Beaufort Range of
Mountains and has been landscaped to create undulations and mounds which add to
the layout of the course. When we played the course on June 10 it was nice and green as you can see in the photos.
Keith chipping on hole 6- thank goodness I cleared the water on my second shot
In addition to a small clubhouse with an
outdoor patio , there is a driving range, a putting green and a sand trap practice
area where I need to spend more time. The driving range is another bargain
since a bucket of balls is just $3.75 ! The manager Jesse Polito told us that the busiest times are usually between 9 am and 2 pm and they have a special deal for groups of 4. One of the group will get a free round! Also if you buy a bucket of balls between May 18 to May 25 you a second bucket free. Remember this for next year. Jesse also told us they prepare much of the food on site and have beer for $4.00 on tap. It is hard to say no to all those deals. Mulligans
is located right outside of Courtenay and it took us about 90 minutes to play 9
holes. For more information see: http://mulligansgolfcourse.com/or phone 250-338-2440. This course is ideal
for families or friends wanting to meet for a couple of hours of enjoyable
golf. See you on the course.
Heather putting on hole 8- the greens were in great shape
Cheakamus Lake is a scenic lake that is accessed by a fairly flat trail so is accessible by a wide variety of people. On our recent hike there we saw families with young children all the way to seniors enjoying this hike. Cheakamus Lake is on the doorstep of Whistler so it can be crowded -- in fact many times of the year you need a pass to park at the trailhead so check the BC parks website for details. The parking passes are free but book up quickly. The trailhead is roughly 7 km up a gravel road and when we did the hike on June 6 with our daughter Kristie and her partner Eric the road had been freshly graded. Evidently when Kristie and Eric have done the hike other times the road has been rougher with potholes but you don't need a 4 wheel drive to get there.
The first 4 km wind through tall trees which made our hike cool and you get glimpses of Cheakamus Creek in the valley below. The trail then extends another 4 km along the northern lake shore and fortunately much of this part of the trail is shaded as well. There are several campsites along the lake and these can be reserved through BC Parks. The trail is easy to follow with only a few rocky and rooty sections and we saw several trail runners and mountain bikers making good time on the trail. There were also some muddy sections but they will likely dry out through the summer. It is best to wear sturdy footwear although we saw people hiking in sandals . Cheakamus Lake itself is very scenic with a variety of snow capped mountains ringing the far end of the lake. We had our lunch at the first camping area (there are washrooms) before doing the 4 km hike along the lake shore to Singing Creek where the trail ends. Use an app like AllTrails or Trailforks for specific driving directions to the trailhead. This hike is well worth the effort and gets a 4.7 out of 5 on AllTrails . Say no more.
Keith , Heather, Kristie and Eric at the trail end
Campbell River is fortunate to have a varied collection of scenic islands in its vicinity as well as a rich marine ecosystem with many types of whales, seals, sea lions and various sea birds. In the past we have taken whale watching tours in this area but on June 1 we opted for a different experience and joined the Campbell River Museum for a tour of some of Desolation Sound with a stop at historic Refuge Cove on
West Redonda Island. This tour is a partnership with the museum and Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventure Tours (CRWW) which is an award winning boat tour company based in Campbell River
(https://campbellriverwhalewatching.com/). The Campbell River Museum runs several tours through the summer with a historic interpretation with CRWW and you can check out their web site for details for other trips into various parts of the Discovery Islands (https://crmuseum.ca/)These trips book up quickly so check out their offerings and plan ahead so you don't miss out.
Boarding the Tenacious III
We had nice sunny weather for our 4 hour afternoon trip but we also had strong outflow NW winds which were forecast to gust to 25 knots . Our Captain told us that anyone sitting in the upper deck might get wet especially for the first part of the trip. Fortunately there was room for everyone in the enclosed cabin of the Tenacious III .That is where our museum guide Sandra Mulligan provided much of the
information about what we were seeing from a historical perspective. Most of the 20 passengers were from the local area including Nanoose Bay, Royston, Comox and Courtenay but we did have one person from Texas who was here to escape the heat of the southern US. Sandra gave us reading lists about the areas we would visit as well as a map which she kept updating while the afternoon unfolded.
Our Museum Host - Sandra - provided lots of information about the history of this area
After leaving Campbell River our tour passed by the southern end of Quadra Island and Sandra pointed out Cape Mudge and told us to be sure to visit the First Nations Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre there. Our first stop was at Twin Islands which is just off of Cortes Island and we
got a chance to see a historic house/lodge with a fascinating history .
According to Sandra it was initially built by Americans Dick and Ethel
Andrews in 1936. Apparently they had made lots of money in Japan but
could see hostilities on the horizon so wanted an out of the way place
with arable land, fishing, fresh water and a good moorage. Twin Islands is certainly out of the way since it is an island with no
road access!! Sandra thought at one time it was the most expensive house
in all of BC!! The lodge has since changed hands a couple of
times and the current owner is Mark Torrance who is an entrepreneur from Seattle.
Visiting historic Refuge Cove-was a real highlight Our next stop was Refuge Cove on West Redonda Island which has been a
focal point in this area since 1890 when a store was first opened. We
were especially keen to see Refuge Cove since we had visited here in the
late 1970's when friends from Vancouver moved to help run the historic
store. At that time Bonnie and Colin Robertson had just given birth to
Lucy and we visited them for several days in the
spring of 1979. And who should we meet in the store on this trip but
Lucy who now runs the store since her parents have retired! Refuge Cove
is a hidden gem and the only way to get here is by boat.
Heather and Lucy at the store in Refuge Cove
After an enjoyable reunion with Lucy and a story from Sandra about a
long time Refuge Cove resident with a cougar in his house we then headed
across Desolation Sound to Portage Cove and then to Galley Bay. Both
have a long history of settlement and at one time held a much larger
population than they do now. But with the boom and bust of logging and
fishing along this coast the area now mainly is used by summer
cottagers. Desolation Sound got its name from Capt George Vancouver in
1792 since he thought it looked "gloomy and forlorn" but now it is a
very popular destination for boaters in the summer. Sandra told us
about the parties people used to hold in the houses in Galley Bay that
would attract people from Cortes Island and Refuge Cove. "They would row
over, have a grand party and then row back the next day. A distance of
10-15 km one way!" But now it was time to head back to Campbell River so
we backtracked leaving behind scenic Desolation Sound with its snow
capped mountains . We reflected on the varied human history that has
lived along these rocky islands and wooded hillsides that are mostly
only accessible by boat. A big thanks to Sandra and the crew for giving
us a glimpse of the fascinating history found along these shores.
Although we had travelled over 100 km on our trip we realized we had
just scratched the surface of seeing the many islands and waterways that
are found in the Discovery
Islands. We can't wait to check out another Campbell River Museum Boat Tour next year. Here is a short video of our trip. Check it out
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