Beach at Mill Bay Nature Park

As far as beaches go, this one is pretty small. A look through Theo Dombrowski's excellent Secret Beaches series took us to Mill Bay Nature Park (2017-06-11). Let's begin by saying, the park is well worth a stroll; especially cool and pleasant in the shade of the dense forest. Now, as far as beaches are concerned, this is not one for the kids or those who like to laze about on towels taking in the sun. If, however, the kids like turning over rocks, discovering tiny crabs or other squiggly maritime creatures, then this beach is ideal. Let's sum up this beach with "rocks"; with clams, oysters, and all sorts of shore birds.

A low tide at the beach at Mill Bay Nature Park...

One way to sum up this beach at Mill Bay is: ROCKS...

The beach is rich in shellfish...

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)

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)

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)

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)

Departure Bay Details: a Stroll in October

Around mid-October, with a reasonably low tide (after having been turned back by high water in the past, I have learned to check this out), I thought I'd take a stroll along the Departure Bay beach, from the access point near the end of White Eagle Terrace, to the Kin Hut. The foliage showed off bright autumn colours. What struck me on this walk, was the amount of stuff, rusty and otherwise, I encountered. What follows are some impressions. Enjoy!

Autumn colours liven up a rocky Departure Bay beach (2012-10-14) 

Oh Canada! Maple leaf on a rocky beach (2012-10-14) 

Might this have been part of a float in earlier days? (2012-10-14) 

Rusty remnants of another era (2012-10-14) 

Autumn foliage covers the beach around the high water mark (2012-10-14) 

Rusty stuff; a reminder of bygone eras (2012-10-14) 

Too many colours to resist taking a picture (2012-10-14) 

In the distance, the Nanaimo oceanographic research facility (2012-10-14)

More rusty stuff. Mining? Logging? Marine? Who knows? (2012-10-14) 

Little Bay at East End of Jesse Island

When taking visitors on a kayaking tour of Departure Bay, in Nanaimo, I like to circumnavigate Jesse Island.

Salish Sea and BC Coastal Montains:
seen from Jesse Island beach

There are a couple of small, but nice, beaches on Jesse Island. Unfortunately, they're not always accessible. And when I say, "not accessible", I don't mean because a boat of some sort would be required to get to them. No, in the case of Jesse Island, the problem is a loud, vicious looking dog. Jesse Island is a private island, and the owners are entitled to "guard" it any way they see fit. Unless.... Unless, as per my reading of provincial documents (I'm no lawyer):

Aquatic lands are the foreshore and beds of streams, rivers, lakes and coastal waters, such as Georgia Strait, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and inlets. In British Columbia, the Crown retains ownership of lands below the natural boundary, except in very rare instances. 

BC Ferry passing the navigation light on Jesse Island

So, as I'm no lawyer, I read this to mean that the beach below the "natural boundary" (the high water mark?) is Crown Land. I further read this to mean that I can land my kayak there and enjoy the beach to it's fullest.

Enjoying the beach at east end of Jesse Island

So.... So, I wish the owners of the island would get their dog under control. I believe all kayakers, and the poor residents of the opposite shore, would agree with me. The dog is loud and annoying!

Photos taken: 2011-07-04

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)

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

Most notable for this beach are the considerable number of drift logs.

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/

Beach at Blueback Road (Nanaimo)

Theo Dombrowski uses the title "Secret Beaches" for his collection of books about beaches on Vancouver Island and on the Gulf Islands in the Salish Sea.

Skim-boarding on the beach at the foot of Blueback Road

The beach at the foot of Blueback Road in Nanaimo ought not to be a secret; it is, after all, at the northern end of a fairly large city on Vancouver Island. Nonetheless, ask most residents of Nanaimo if they're aware of the beach at Blueback Road and you're likely to get puzzled looks. Fitness buffs may have been there for the "Stairmaster" workout they get from the approximately 300 steps down to the beach. Having watched them, I actually think the thrill they get is from the 300 steps UP. And then down again. And then again. And again. Who needs a gym membership? In summer, at low tide, it's clear that skim-boarding kids know about this well-kept secret.

Summer on the beach at the foot of Blueback Road

For the average Nanaimo resident, however, it is an unknown. And that's too bad, because, sandy beaches are a rarity around Nanaimo and the beach at Blueback Road is an awesome sandy beach! With one caveat; at low tide.

Photos taken: 2012-08-14

Looking out over the Winchelsea Islands
 from the beach at the foot of Blueback Road