Thanks everyone for giving the posts a read and leaving a kind comment, much appreciated. It is definitely a pretty corner of the world.
The Wife and I visited the Sunshine Coast a few times back in the 90's. The first time we were on a planned trip to Vancouver Island in July and it was dumping rain which was getting old. We were perusing our BC guidebook and read about the Sunshine Coast across the Strait. We could see across and the sun was shining. We caught the ferry near Campbell River. Halfway across in route to Powell River, the sun came out. We spent the rest our trip over there in the sun and enjoyed it so much, we came back a few more times.
Once with a kayak.
On one trip we found a primitive public campground on a bluff between Lund & Powell River that had a few sites, picnic tables and an outhouse. Spent a relaxing afternoon sitting on camp chairs on the bluff about 50 feet above the beach, reading, sipping beer and looking out across the strait to Vancouver Island watching the sailboats and yachts cruise by. Occasionally, I'd pull up my binoculars to check a boat out or look at a bird flying by. At one point, I caught a glint of light from a small object which appeared to be moving slowly. Periodically I'd check the movement and it appeared to be heading strait toward the campground. Eventually, I could see that it was someone in an open canoe. After quite some time he got close enough than I could see he had an innertube for flotation and a mountain bike strapped over the gunnels. Eventually, he made it to shore and proceeded to beach it below me and carry the mountain bike up the bluff. He then went back down to get the canoe, hauled it up the bluff and stashed it in the trees. I spoke with him briefly and he hand paddle across from Vancouver Island. He then got on the bike and road away. While I don't know where he departed from, the distance between Powell River and the Comax Ferry Terminal is 17 nautical miles. I've done a fair bit of canoeing, but one couldn't pay me to paddle an open canoe across that strait. Granted, he picked a stunningly calm & beautiful day for his journey. However, I'd never take the chance that it would remain calm across that great a distance. That area is beautiful and well worth a visit.
TGK, your description of the campground you watched the incoming canoe from sounded pretty much like the setting at Dinner Rock. We also saw a canoe come in one night and an inflatable kayak the other. It was calm and the water was clear and it made me wish I had my IK along as well. I would never, however, paddle the stretch between Vancouver Island and the mainland. That is quite a stretch of water!
Great trip.
BC is such a incredible place.
We have been visiting BC ,Vancouver to be exact since
1979. Bummer about the firewood.
We never carry any but do know that you can't take any into Canada either.
I am surprised you didn't get caught in a "Catch 22" with the wood.
Nice of Canada to let you return it.
Customs can be a pain some times.
If they have loads of time and are lonely they seem to ask a lot of questions.
Great photos. The shrimp were I think about $35 a pound you must have had a little over a 1/2 pound.
Looked yummy.
Don't let the officials keep you from traveling.
Frank
It was ironic that we actually carried much more firewood on the way in to Canada no questions asked, than the last two sticks we had going out. I expected to hand it over in either direction and I understand the reason why, but the tougher pill to swallow was that they wouldn't actually seize it from us, they just wouldn't let us come in at all. So my takeaway was to get my hands on one of the 'certified heat treated' bundles, save the label and bring along some shrink wrap to bundle up my wood so it could cross the border without the hassle. Kidding. Sort of.
Oh and thanks Frank for the conversion. We had our minds set on them so we didn't bother with the conversion (double conversion actually - you have to convert the weight and the current currency exchange!) It was weird that I'd see things side by side in the meat compartment and on one product they'd be charging per pound and the one right next to it would be per kilogram. Didn't quite get that one.
Edited by Occidental, 13 June 2019 - 12:30 AM.
