It was bittersweet waking up on Medallion Beach on Vargas Island on this, the last day of our epic kayaking adventure with Claire and Martin. The excursion showed us a whole different side of British Columbia, in Canada, and we were loving it!
Every horizontal surface was heavily laden with dew as Bob and I crawled from our sacks this morning.
No other campers were stirring yet, and the sky looked threatening. A dense bank of offshore clouds seemed to be racing towards some invisible point in the southeast.
Within a half hour or so, the sun chased away the heavy grey clouds and everything was sun-kissed. Before Claire and Martin stirred in their tent, Bob and I packed up our gear and were ready for the last leg of the trip around the point into Father Charles Channel and back to Tofino. All things pointed to a good final run.
The rising sun encouraged us to patrol the beach for possible treasures, but we were in for a few surprises.
First off, Sea Wolf tracks were everywhere.
A Wolf had approached the water and headed towards the rocky outcrop at the far end of the beach. We wondered if the other campers were aware of the nighttime visitors.
Following the tracks led us to a tidal pool overflowing with sea life.
Various coloured Starfish clung to the sides of the rocks, and endless numbers of Sea Anemones were withdrawn into themselves as they awaited the return of the tide.
Bob and I decided to take a quick look at one Starfish that was within reach.
Starfish can only survive for a few minutes out of water, so we made a quick study of this individual. It was interesting to see the reaction of its tube feet when I touched them.
Bob and I were still seeing no sign of Claire and Martin, so we continued to wander the length of the beach in search of more discoveries.
That is when we were shocked to find a second set of tracks, those of a Cougar! The feline had obviously traced the perimeter of the tidal pool in search of Crabs or fish to eat.
Proceeding cautiously in case the cat still lingered nearby, Bob and I followed its tracks only to find that they petered out.
It was exciting scanning the expanse of sand for animal scat.
Even more thrilling was finding more Wolf tracks and tracing the animal’s movements.
We chatted with the campers at the other end of the beach and learned that a fellow member of their group had fallen asleep beside a log on the beach. Telltale signs of the Wolf’s activity showed that it had circled the man’s prone body numerous times.
It was clear from the path laid out by the Wolf that it had not only checked out their campsite but had also made a beeline for our end of the beach.
It turned out that the huge paw prints led right up to where our own tent had stood.
The Wolf had circled our tent, deposited scat very nearby and left the beach by way of the forest. In hindsight, we realized that explained the dishevelled beach towel at the entrance to our tent. It had been smoothed out to act as a doormat before we retired the night before.
Sea Wolves are a subspecies of Gray Wolves that are endemic to the coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest. They are strong swimmers and that has led to their semi-aquatic lifestyle. They inhabit several islands in the Salish Sea, and their diet consists mainly of marine-based creatures. Photo credit: Mathieu S. Addison
Our fellow campers got an early start to their journey. They hauled their canoes back to the edge of the ocean and launched them promptly.
Bob and I were still doing our detective work and discovered more intriguing trails in the fine white sand. They betrayed the passage of Hermit Crabs.
Hermit Crabs are prolific along the sandy shorelines of this area. Martin had found one in a tidal pool when we camped at Ahous Bay.
Upon closer inspection, we determined that this trail was left by a large Hermit Crab. Hermit Crabs tend to hide during the hottest part of the day which might explain its movements during the previous evening or night.
As Bob and I moseyed around the shoreline, we collected a variety of seashells and sand dollars.
I wondered if that is how Medallion Beach got its name, because of the number of sand dollars that wash up on its shore.
After our ritual breakfast of oatmeal and blueberries, and as soon as the kayaks were loaded, we launched our vessels into the surf. An easy paddle around the peninsula brought us into one of the two possible approaches to the harbour at Tofino. We lazily dipped our paddles, enjoying the push of the waves and the incoming tide that helped propel us towards our destination. On that warm sunny morning, we spotted several Seals and even the fins of some Porpoises.
After a very early start to the day, trawlers were now returning towards the wharves, and it was obvious that they had been successful by the list of their hulls. A seaplane, one of many, landed into the wind and passed within a stone’s throw of our kayaks so we were glad that we maintained a close proximity to one another.
Rounding the last point, the high-pitched screech of yet another Bald Eagle pulled our eyes to the top of a very tall tree. Already perched within its branches was the Eagle’s mate. They chattered noisily between one another and appeared to be minding their nest of fledglings.
Once at the dock in Tofino, it didn’t take long to unload the kayaks and pack the trailer, after which we gladly changed into fresh clothing. After a quick lunch, Martin gave us a brief tour of this bustling mecca for tourists. The kayak trip had been one of the most exciting and memorable vacation adventures that Bob and I had ever been on!
Frame to Frame – Bob and Jean