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

Florencia Bay: First Post

Florencia Bay

Florencia Bay (Long Beach) - 13-07-12

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