Our Vargas Island Kayak Trip – Medallion Beach Campsite

image of medallion beach, vargas island, british columbia

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. Read more

Our Vargas Island Kayak Trip, Day 3 – Ahous to Medallion Bay

image of tents and kayaks, ahous bay, vargas island, british columbia

Continuing our kayak trip around Vargas Island, British Columbia, saw us waking up on the beach in Ahous Bay after our second night of camping.  The temperatures were slightly warmer than the night before, but neither stars nor the moon had been visible when I left the warmth of the tent at midnight owing to the call of nature. Read more

Our Vargas Island Kayak Trip, Day 2 – Ahous Bay Campsite

image of people and kayaks, ahous bay, vargas island, british columbia

Bob and I, with Claire and Martin, had no sooner pulled our kayaks on shore to make camp in Ahous Bay, Vargas Island, than we found giant wolf tracks made by a Sea Wolf. Read more

Our Vargas Island Kayak Trip, Day 2 – Rassier Point to Ahous Bay

image of a foggy beach, vargas island, british columbia

After a peaceful night at our first beach camp at Rassier Point on Vargas Island, British Columbia, Canada, we awoke to find every exposed surface soaked with heavy dew. Read more

Our Kayak Trip Around Vargas Island – Day 1 Rassier Point

image of wharfs, tofino, vancouver island, british columbia

After storing all of our gear in the 4 kayaks, Bob, Claire, Martin and I maneuvered around a section of wooden wharf and then set out across Duffin’s Passage, Van Nevel Channel and Father Charles Channel, aiming for a nearby white-sand beach on Rassier Point on the east side of Vargas Island. Read more

Our Kayak Trip Around Vargas Island, British Columbia – The Preparation

image of jean kayaking, vargas island, british columbia

Bob’s and my epic adventure, a first-ever kayak trip, was going to be circumnavigating Vargas Island, British Columbia.  It had been planned months ahead when we announced our plans to visit Bob’s sister on Vancouver Island.  She and her husband, Martin, had kayaked around Vargas Island before and were eager to initiate us to the rigours of ocean kayaking. Read more

Our Message In A Bottle Tossed Back To Sea

jean holds message in a bottle over side of BC ferry

I was filled with anticipation when Bob and I boarded the B.C. ferry returning to Horseshoe Bay from Vancouver Island because it was from the ferry that I planned to cast adrift our Message in a Bottle.  It had been over a year since we found the bottle that contained an inspiring message from its authors. Read more

Black-billed Magpie In Kamloops

black-billed magpie on snow - kamloops - british columbia

black-billed magpie sitting in tree - british columbia 2

After spending a few days on Vancouver Island, Bob and I returned to the mainland for a trip to the interior.  During a brief stay in Kamloops, we were lucky enough to see a number of Black-billed Magpies (Pica hudsonia) congregated outside of our hotel. Read more

A Cooper’s hawk after a wet night in Comox

coopers hawk - comox - bc - 1

On our morning outing to Comox from Bowser, British Columbia, Bob and I stopped at the edge of the Salish Sea.  Nothing much was stirring in the Sound, so we walked into an adjacent brushy area and came upon a very wet Cooper’s Hawk. Read more

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