B.C. - Pender Harbour, Sunshine Coast

 

Glancing out of the window, yesterday evening, I noticed a doe across the street.

She ate some hedge

and some other shrubs, quite an exotic diet. She let me come within about 6ft of her and then meandered on, up the road.

Today we did a load of laundry and then headed out by 9:30 as it was forecast to rain at about 3pm. We planned on hiking at Francis Point Provincial Park. When we got to the trail head the parking lot was empty and Rick read a notice on the website that hiking was not advised until the bear family, that had been sighted, had moved out of the area. So...we got back in the car!

The Pender Harbour area is a convoluted group of inlets and lakes. The roads are narrow, bordered by huge trees and twist and turn around the topography. We stopped at Madiera Park marina

and walked the docks. A local told us that most of the fishing boats had arrived back after their fishing season. They fish for prawns, crab and salmon and later may head north to fish for herring.

There were also sailboats and

other pleasure watercraft. There is a video on line touring the inside of this beautifully maintained craft.

Story

This supply vessel (type iii) was built in 1944 by Vancouver Shipyards Ltd..

 Historical Notes

In 1944-1961 this vessel was employed as an R.C.A.F Supply Vessel at R.C.A.F. Station Holberg B.C.

In 1961 -1991 this vessel was employed as a Torpedo Recovery Vessel at Canadian Forces Experimental Test Range, Nanoose B.C this vessel was replaced by the RCN in 1960 by the Nimpkish II.

Owners & Masters

In 1944-1961 she was owned by the Royal Canadian Air Force.

In 1961 she was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy.

In 1992-2003 she was owned by Hugh G. Jervais, Prince George BC Canada.

In 2003-2026 she was owned by Ron J. Jupp, Langley BC Canada.

In 2026 she was owned by Peter C. Thomas, Lone Butte AB Canada.

From Nauticapedia.ca 

Its a busy harbour in a sheltered inlet with boats coming and going, sea gulls calling and squawking,

 

herons fighting over the best fishing location and

a loon peacefully fishing the open water in the middle. I think this is a Pacific Loon.

 

We went looking for a community of Pender Harbour but realized that it is just all the houses around the inlets and doesn't have a "downtown" of sorts.

 

LOBSTER - had to stop.

All the sauces on offer. Had a conversation with the proprietor who brings the lobster in from Nova Scotia (getting very expensive as most gets sold to Asia, lobster can live here but they don't breed for some reason ) and doesn't stock the local Dungeness Crabs because they are even more expensive that lobster.

 Failed Historical Introductions: Between 1896 and 1966, fisheries authorities attempted at least 11 separate times to introduce roughly 5,000 live American lobsters into B.C. waters. While individual adults could survive, they never established a self-sustaining, reproducing population. from The Canadian Encyclopedia

We both had the Lobster Roll, which included shrimp and fish too. Neither of us really cared for it, too garlicy, too salty. Oh well, had to try it.

 

It was raining off and on so we headed back to Sechelt and stopped in at the botanical gardens.

Not much was in flower but it would be lovely when the Rhododendrons were in bloom.

Stellar's Jay.

Driving up into the neighbourhood where we are staying, a bear crossed the road. I pulled over and was just able to get a photo of his bum, as he went up a driveway.

Then again, his bum, as he explored the garden. I drove further, pulled a U turn and parked at the end of the driveway. Hoping for a chance for better pictures.

Score!

He's a young Cinnamon Phase Black Bear.

B.C. - Sechelt Inlet, Sunshine Coast, Burnett Falls

After yesterday's hike we were taking it easy today so explored the area East of Sechelt. The community sits between the Straight of Georgia and Sechelt Inlet, which connects to the sea via a number of narrows.

Just minutes out of town and we pulled into the parking lot for Burnett Falls.

 

Sunday morning and we thought it would be busy but just one other car. 

Otherworldly,

moss and lichen

and huge ferns, next to the trail and

growing on the trees.

We had the trickle of the creek beside us and could hear the waterfall before we got there.

Photo by Rick, his camera behaved better than mine in the low light.

I deleted many of mine and lightened others on the computer.

It was such a spooky setting that I wanted to play with a lot of shots but most didn't work in the dim forest setting.

We drove all the way to the end of the road (took about 15 minutes) and parked by a beach.

Homes crawled up the steep hills around and it looked like locals left their boats, canoes etc lying there to use when they wanted.

 

A sign warned about toxins in shellfish.

It was so peaceful

and I settled down to paint this view.

The locals also left comfy chairs at the beach which was very convenient. Photo by Rick.

I had my little travel set of paints and brushes, water in my thermos, paper towel to clean off brushes,

the occasional paddle boarder or kayaker to keep things interesting. 

It was a lovely way to spend over an hour.

Rick walked the neighbourhood and then I joined him sitting in the sun.

Photo by Rick.

This little bird was taking a dustbath.

He's and Oregon Junco.

Driving back towards town we stopped in at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park.

The tide was going out and 

we could see people digging at the waters edge.

They said they were digging for Manila Clams. The native clams were currently off limits due to toxins.

The Manila Clam (Tapes philippinarum) has been harvested in British Columbia since the 1970s and has been farmed since 1985. It is known for its firm texture and sweet flavour.

Manila Clams were accidentally introduced to the Pacific Northwest in the 1930s when seed was inadvertently included with Pacific Oyster seed imported from Japan. The first mature specimens were found in Ladysmith in 1936 and, today, the Manila Clam lives along much of British Columbia’s coastline – as far north as Bella Bella. It is not an indigenous species. from BC Shellfish Growers Association website.

We watched a float plane land and just a little later

 

take off again. We have seen one regularly pass over where we are staying and wondered if it was a Sechelt to Nanaimo run.

Coming from the bright beach into a shaded trail I tripped over an exposed root. Scaped my wrist and knee but more importantly, I think I have gravel in the lens cap of my camera!

Grocery store (we are very European, shopping every day) then checked out the downtown waterfront.

Not as quaint as Gibsons but places to fish and walk along the sea front.