Travels with haRVy

Long ago a magazine article sparked my curiosity about the “Sunshine Coast” which lies north of Vancouver. So, rather than heading into the city and southward to Washington State, we got on a BC Ferry at Horseshoe Bay for a scenic 40-minute ride to Gibsons.

The harbor at Gibson’s Landing is just a few minutes drive from the ferry dock. No idea why this crappy little floating dock had such a fancy locked dock.

A few houseboats and lots of yachts fill the harbor.

Our lunch spot on Frenchman’s Cove.

A foggy hike around Smuggler Cove.

Hmmmm?

A second ferry ride from Earl’s Cove to Saltery Bay.

The shore near our campsite at Saltery Bay Campground, where we were the only campers.

We watched a pair of whales (probably humpbacks) spout around for an hour or so as the sun went down.

Beautiful bike ride around Inland Lake.

Lunch at The Boardwalk Restaurant in Lund.

Lund is at the northernmost point of Highway 101 that runs all the way south to Los Angeles.

Incredible free campsite on bluffs over the ocean at Dinner Rock Recreation Site.

We sat and gazed at the sea for three hours soaking up the warm sunshine.

Really?

I don’t see any palms.

Egmont Harbor where we camped at the Bathgate Motel & Campground.

Egmont Post Office shack.

About an hour’s hike from Egmont is Skookumchuck Rapids where tides force large amounts of seawater through the narrows—200 billion gallons of water on a 9.8 ft tide. The difference in water levels on either side of the rapids can exceed 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height. Current speeds can exceed 16 knots. We were extremely fortunate to be there during a mid-day XL tide to witness this phenomena.

Experienced whitewater kayakers, like this lady, take on the class III rapids in specialized shortie sport kayaks, balancing on endless wave faces, often flipping and rolling to admiring gasps from onlookers.

The scene.

Surfers take their turns as well. It was amazing to watch because the surfers stayed in the same place as the wave moved beneath them, the opposite of what occurs in ocean waves.

Videos coming soon… stay tuned.

Rafts full of tourists watched from a safe distance.

This guy was having fun too! I could almost see a smile on this sea lion’s face.

This beauty caught my eye near shore.

Campsite views on Hotel Lake.

This motel and campground was actually closed for the season, but we saw the owner and asked if we could stay. He obliged for a reasonable fee and we enjoyed it all to ourselves.

Garden Bay.

Whiskey Slough.

Sargeant Bay boats. All with affixed notices to remove them from the beach.

Tonight we are staying with Boondockers Welcome hosts Rainer and Takara in Richmond, BC, just south of Vancouver (thank you!). Plan to head back over the border into the US tomorrow. That may be just in time too as I just read that there is a hurricane set to hit the shores of British Columbia and Alaska tomorrow night!