Our Vargas Island Kayak Trip – Medallion Beach Campsite
Having paddled in our kayaks from Ahous Bay to Medallion Bay over the course of the morning, the sight of Medallion Beach, on Vargas Island in British Columbia, Canada, was welcome. The distance covered was only about 10 kilometres this fine day.
This southwest side of Vargas Island requires more paddling and navigating skills, so Claire and Martin wisely had us circumventing Vargas Island in a counterclockwise direction. This allowed us a couple of days to practice our kayaking before exposing us to more challenging sea conditions.
What an exquisite beach this was for our last night of camping! Medallion Beach is an idyllic stretch of white sand set in a crescent-shaped bay.
Standing guard offshore was one of the La Croix Group islands, a jagged outcropping of volcanic rock.
When looking towards the horizon, I was able to fool myself into thinking we were back on Hawaii or on some Caribbean island.
The sun was hot, the breeze chill, and the long beach stretching before us glistened in the bright sunlight.
Stowing and unpacking our kayaks had become more of a routine by this point in the trip. There was an order to it so that everything would fit. Wet sacks were indispensable, and it helped that we already owned camping gear to contribute to the supplies.
As always, there was proof of multiple storms that had preceded us, sweeping through the area and depositing piles of bleached logs and weathered driftwood all over the sand. A blazing bonfire was going be no problem this night!
Bob and Claire both braved the chilly Pacific waters for a swim, while I lingered beachside comfortably propped against a log and bathed in warm sunshine. I relished the solitude and wildness of the location while documenting our adventures. Martin, at the same time, caught a wink.
As industrious as ever, Bob scavenged for suitable pieces of wood and rope with which to erect a serviceable windbreak. Under its protection from the constant chilly wind, we savoured reading our books, while soaking up the warmth of the sun and enjoying some much earned downtime.
After 2 ½ days of wet and sandy feet, I knew sheer bliss when, later, I donned my socks and hiking boots. The four of us set off in different directions and strolled along the tide line in search of sand dollars and shells.
At the opposite end of the beach, 7 men landed in war canoes and proceeded to make camp. Further along, we met 3 people who had been brought ashore by a water taxi. Sadly, their inattention resulted in one of their bags rolling into the water.
After the brief reprieve from constant companionship, Bob and I headed back to camp to assist Claire with dinner preparations. Martin was kept busy securing his tent after a strong gust of wind toppled it over.
Bob created a romantic little dining nook, complete with a table fashioned from an oyster trap. A dishtowel served as a tablecloth, therm-a-rest chairs eased our derrières, and Martin uncorked a fine bottle of wine.
As dusk approached, the setting sun threw into silhouette the uneven crest of rocky reefs and some of the trees that populate the edge of Vargas Island.
Our chosen campsite was still sun-drenched despite being high above the tide line next to the edge of the forest.
After dinner, it was time to double-check the kayaks and make sure all was secure.
I couldn’t resist basking in the late-day sunshine before the evening chill set in.
Martin returned to the campsite with a new friend, a Common Gartersnake. That was a bit of a surprise!
A roaring bonfire warmed us on that rather chilly evening, made so by the ever-present wind sweeping across the southwest corner of the island. The sun had finally sank below the treetops, and we were ready to hit the hay. Despite predictions of high winds that night, after tying up the kayaks, we fell asleep promptly to the sound of the pounding waves.
Frame To Frame – Bob and Jean