Ladysmith - Kayaking, Boom Boats, Log Booms

Yesterday (2017-07-18) was a kayaking day. I launched into Ladysmith harbour and decided to explore in and around the Woods Islands that lie opposite the city. The pictures in this post are a bit of a departure from my usual scenic landscape photos. That's because, beyond scenic seascapes and landscapes, I find it hard to resist boats. Especially working boats. Lucky for me, the harbour was abuzz with boom boat activity. I reckon, on my trip this morning, there were close to twenty such boats working the many booms that seem to encircle Woods Islands.

I've always thought I'd like to operate a boat like this...

Boom boat pushing logs about near Ladysmith sawmill...

Boom boat seemingly rearing up...

Boom boat: different colour; different company...

A tugboat working a log boom along the shore of Woods Islands

Boom boat working the passage between Woods and Vancouver Islands...

Note the preponderance of log booms along my route...

Newcastle Island Raccoons

I'm lucky to live just a few minutes from the Brechin boat ramp. Launching the kayaks from this ramp puts me just minutes from Newcastle Island. On this day (2017-06-28), Sabrina and I paddled along the shore of the island keeping an eye out for the inevitable wildlife that comes to dine on the shellfish the low tide leaves bare. It's an "all you eat buffet for raccoons".

Raccoon stays ahead of the kayak...

Eventually this raccoon got tired of us, and found a tree branch to climb away on...

Oyster Catcher having a low tide meal...

Seagull every bit as greedy as the island raccoons...

The beach was pockmarked where the raccoons had dug for oysters, mussels and clams...

He's giving us a little snarl as the kayaking scraping against a nearby barnacle-encrusted rock disturbs his repast...

Long Beach - Chesterman Beach

Sabrina's recent visit seemed like as good an excuse as any to spend a few days in Pacific Rim National Park. As part of this outing, we spent a few hours wandering about on Chesterman Beach (2017-06-28).

Frank Island off Chesterman Beach. Sometimes black and white photographs also look good, I reckon.

At low tide, Chesterman Beach presents a vast, sandy beach...

Human ingenuity uses available materials (drift logs) to create a useful bench...

The rock-water interface often teems with sea life...

Saltwater pools with sea life - in this case, sea anemone...

Bamfield slideshow

In October of 2014, we spotted an advertisement in the local newspaper for reduced-fare trips to Bamfield (from Port Alberni) on the packet freighter, MV Frances Barkley. At about $35 per person, how could we resist? Quite simply, we couldn't!

So, on the last day of the offer, (2014-10-30), we took the day trip. What started as a slight drizzle earlier in the day, turned itself into a full fledged monsoon by noon as a docked in Bamfield. Suffice to say, I lost a camera to that downpour.

Without my Sony cellphone (advertised as waterproof), there'd be no pictures for this slideshow.

To see the captions, move the mouse over the slideshow.

Long Beach - A trip in February

It's February. Not a good time of year to travel to the west coast of Vancouver Island, you'd think. WRONG! In our mind, ANYTIME is a good time for a visit to Ucluelet, Tofino and Long Beach.

Follow the rest of our trip report on the captions to the pictures...

• 2014-02-01 
48.923, -125.537

Compulsory stop at the water rushing past islands of rocks near Wally Creek.
Parking and access has been made easy.
However, DON'T attempt to walk about the rocks if they're wet!

Once we arrived in Ucluelet, we had enough time for a short walk
along the Wild Pacific Trail to the lighthouse at Amphitrite Point.

A good view of what is known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific"

Amphitrite Lighthouse on the Wild Pacific Trail

November At Whippletree Junction

Today's photos (2013-11-23), are mostly about whimsy. The whimsy that is  Whippletree Junction, just south of Duncan, BC. After a recent trip to Victoria, on our way back home, we turned off the highway for a cup of coffee and another look. There's little doubt; a great place for photos of old, colourful buildings.

Gift shop at Whippletree Junction (2013-11-23)

 The early afternoon November sun was low enough spotlight the brightly coloured buildings that make up Whippletree Junction; great for photos. Of course, as this was November, we didn't expect to see much custom in the various stores. There wasn't. In fact, but for a few people in a couple of the furniture emporiums, the place was deserted.

 Colourful shop exteriors at Whippletree Junction (2013-11-23)

 Wandering about this deserted place, I found myself asking, "Why?" Why does this place even exist? Why are there no customers? It couldn't entirely be the lateness of the season. Just weeks earlier we'd driven by the venerable "Goats on the Roof" set of stores in Coombs and there were plenty of customers. The question: "What does Coombs have that Whippletree doesn't?" It can't just be goats on the roof, can it?

Stop for a coffee at Whippletree Junction (2013-11-23)

 Whippletree Junction looks neglected. It certainly looks like it needs an infusion of cash. And an infusion of ideas. Enthusiasm, perhaps. Clearly, a bunch of quaint old, brightly coloured, faux-whimsical buildings are not enough to draw Coombs-like custom.

Shopping at Whippletree Junction (2013-11-23)

 Luckily, Whippletree Junction is not my problem. It is, on the other hand, a place where my camera can work overtime!

Shopping at Whippletree Junction (2013-11-23)

 Hopefully business will pick up during the pre-Christmas season...

Shopping at Whippletree Junction (2013-11-23)

 Colours galore...

(2013-11-23)

Colourful whimsey at Whippletree Junction (2013-11-23)

French Creek in September

I have a fascination with boats, ships, and all things nautical. French Creek is always an attraction for exactly those reasons. And, if a mid-September day is pleasant, French Creek is all the more worthy of a photo excursion. On this particular day, along with the usual assortment of boats to be encountered, my attention was drawn to miscellaneous "nautical knots and dockside details".

The characteristic red railings of the government dock at French Creek (2009-09-15)

Knotted dockside details (2009-09-15)

The vessel "Patrol No 1" showing her good side (2009-09-15)

Jerry-rigged nautical details (2009-09-15)

Rusty nautical details (2009-09-15)

MV Cape Cockburn of the Canadian Coast Guard (2009-09-15)

Scenes at the Tofino Dock on a Rainy May Day

A rainy day in May at Tofino (2013-05-27)

Enjoy this trip report in pictures!

Wet, rainy dock in Tofino (or any place Wet Coast BC)

Across the water, Opitsaht...
a community of the Tla-o-qui-aht people of the Nuu-chah-nulth nation,
located at the SW end of Meares Island

Does it get any more WEsT Coast than this?

A touch of colour on an otherwise grey day in Tofino

Quintessential West Coast

Mountains, shrouded in mist

Thanks for the visit!

MV Frances Barkley from Alberni to Sechart (2009-07-06)

Today's Vancouver Island post features pictures of a short cruise on the MV Frances Barkley from Port Alberni to Sechart. Enjoy the picture book.

We arrive early (too early, actually) so as not to miss
the sailing of the MV Frances Barkley (2009-07-06)

This odd-looking building is where the
MV Frances Barkley is loaded (2009-07-06)

All aboard! (I know, that's really railroad talk)
the MV Frances Barkley (2009-07-06)

Our trusty ship, the MV Frances Barkley, 
still tied up in Port Alberni (2009-07-06)

MV Frances Barkley bridge (2009-07-06)

MV Frances Barkley
loading gear (2009-07-06)

MV Frances Barkley
galley (2009-07-06)

MV Frances Barkley major
freight on this trip(2009-07-06)

Inside the MV
Frances Barkley (2009-07-06)

This may be Port Alberni, but this is about as "anywhere" West Coast
British Columbia as it gets (2009-07-06)

The MV Frances Barkley heads
down the Alberni Channel (2009-07-06)

On the MV Frances Barkley: Oma enjoying wind, waves, and scenery (2009-07-06)

From the MV Frances Barkley: Sport fishing and kayaking, 

but there's still real work to be done on this coast... (hopefully) (2009-07-06)

From the MV Frances Barkley: just a few of the 

hundreds of sports fisher out on this day (2009-07-06)

From the MV Frances Barkley: on the west shore of Alberni Inlet, 
an RV campsite and marina at China Creek (2009-07-06)

From the MV Frances Barkley: Franklin River sawmill (2009-07-06)

From the MV Frances Barkley: approaching the Mactush campground (2009-07-06)

From the MV Frances Barkley: just when we thought we were in completely 

wild territory, we're surprised to see very civilized housing (2009-07-06)

An overcast day but, if you're a true "Coast Head", 

this is the scenery that's "in your blood" (2009-07-06)

The MV Frances Barkley nudges against the dock at Sechart, where the bulk of 

our fellow passengers will disembark for a few days of kayaking (LUCKY SOULS!!)

The MV Frances Barkley docked at Sechart (2009-07-06)

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