Showing posts with label Gulf Islands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gulf Islands. Show all posts

Monday, August 31, 2020

Thetis Island - Preedy Harbour Beach

Years ago I'd been to Thetis Island with AAS and LS. HSR had never been. On this particularly overcast June day (2017-06-19) we caught the ferry in Chemainus and headed for the island. After a day of exploring the island (and checking out more beaches) we were back at the island ferry terminal in Preedy Harbour. While waiting for the ferry, we explored the beach.

Beach at Preedy Harbour (2017-06-19)

Looking at the Preedy Harbour ferry terminal (2017-06-19)

The beach at Preedy Harbour, seen from the ferry...

One of several summer camps on Thetis Island...


Thursday, September 26, 2013

Sandwell Provincial Park on Gabriola Island

Norbi's fate, had he stayed home, was shopping. And, likely, more shopping! Fortunatlely I came to his rescue.

My alternative to shopping was a day checking out as many beaches - with lunch and beer in between - as possible on Gabriola Island. After stops at Brickyard Beach, Degnen Bay, Drumbeg Park, and the pub at Silva Bay, we made our way to Sandwell Provincial Park. The rains of the previous evening had created a bit of a slick path to the beach (it should be mentioned, that this path is 650 meters long and quite steep) but we were down at sea level in no time at all.


Dombrowski: "...more than a kilometre long... mostly composed of a band of beach logs and fine pebbles leading, at low tide, to a wide stretch of fine, firm sand and tidal pools."(2013-06-01)
Dombrowski: "...more than a kilometre long... mostly composed 
of a band of beach logs and fine pebbles leading, at low tide, 
to a wide stretch of fine, firm sand and tidal pools."(2013-06-01)

The beach, #15 (page 57) in Theo Drombowski's "Secret Beaches of the Salish Sea" is, to quote Dombrowski, "...more than a kilometre long... mostly composed of a band of beach logs and fine pebbles leading, at low tide, to a wide stretch of fine, firm sand and tidal pools."

The south end of Sandwell Beach is rocky (2013-06-01)
 The south end of Sandwell Beach is rocky (2013-06-01)

This beach truly is a gem. But for the rather long and steep path leading to and from it, Sandwell Park beach is close to perfect!

South end of Sandwell Beach (2013-06-01)
South end of Sandwell Beach (2013-06-01)

Amidst the large boulders at the south end of the  beach at Sandwell Park; fine sand (2013-06-01)
Amidst the large boulders at the south end of the 
beach at Sandwell Park; fine sand (2013-06-01)

Looking south along the beach at Sandwell Park (2013-06-01)
Looking south along the beach at Sandwell Park (2013-06-01)




Friday, August 2, 2013

Beach at the end of Valdes Drive on Quadra Island

In his "Secret Beaches of the Salish Sea: the Northern Gulf Islands" Theo Dombrowski identifies the beach at the end of Valdes Drive, on Quadra Island, as Secret Beach #59.  
Looking out over Open Bay (Quadra Island)
Looking out over Open Bay (Quadra Island)
When we stayed at the historic Heriot Bay Inn in April of 2010,  I had initially identified this beach as Open Bay. As per the map below, this beach is part of or slightly north of Open Bay. 

Dombrowski mentions a large cable sign on a tree. This is the very beach we discovered by chance while driving around exploring Quadra Island. 
For serious beachcombing the season is NEVER closed
For serious beachcombing the season is NEVER closed


Most notable for this beach are the considerable number of drift logs.
Drift logs are a huge feature of  the beach at Valdes Drive
Drift logs are a huge feature of
the beach at Valdes Drive
Although this beach is a considerable distance (at least 16 kilometers) from Heriot Bay, it is well worth the drive. 


FROM: http://www.quadraisland.ca/recreation/hiking_trails/