Island in the Sky

On our last boat trip on the Georgia Strait, we stopped by Mitlenatch Island. In the language of the Kwakiutl First Nation people on Vancouver Island, it's name means "it looks close, but seems to move away as you approach it."

As we were approaching from the north it not only looked like it was moving away, it looked like it was rising into the sky.

In the Coast Salish language the name means "calm waters all around." And the north bay did give us a calm anchorage so we could explore on shore. -- Margy

Fishing at the Head

Wayne and I are amazed at the quantity and size of trout in Powell Lake this year. We've been fishing here ever since we arrived in 2001, but this year tops everything. We think it must be a multi-year cycle. That makes sense since trout take about five years to fully mature.

Recently, Wayne and I took our Campion on a day boating trip to the head of Powell Lake. We fished the mouths of the many snow-melt streams cascading into the lake. Trout love hanging out in the fast water where nutrients are stirred up. We were rewarded with many strikes and landed seven nice-sized rainbow trout between us. We usually catch and release, but this time kept two of our fish for a picnic lunch at the Head.

Even though it was a nice day, the lake was very quiet. We only passed two other boats on our 35 kilometre (22 mile) trip and never had to share a fishing hole. At the Head, we stopped at the logging dock and built a small fire to cook our fish. This used to be a busy logging spot. Today it is empty, a sign of the slow timber industry.

Fishing season on Powell Lake, BC, runs from April 1 to October 31. You will need a freshwater fishing license if you are 16 years of age or older. Annual, one-day, and eight-day licences come in resident and non-resident formats. For BC residents, the annual license for $36 is the best bet, but if you are a visitor, the one day for $20 or the eight-day for $50 might work better. Licenses are easy to obtain at most sporting goods stores or online. We like to get ours at Marine Traders near the Powell River Wharf.

Are you looking for a summer vacation idea? Make Powell River and Powell Lake your fishing and recreation destination. Want to learn more about the lake? Wayne's books Up the Lake and Farther Up the Lake tell the story of our Coastal BC home. For more information about print, Kindle and ebook versions visit www. PowellRiverBooks.com. -- Margy

Sunset Over Quadra Island

Last week we spent the night on our boat in Drew Harbour on the east side of Quadra Island in Coastal BC. Our anchorage gave us a perfect view of the sky. The first shot is looking east over the Rebecca Spit Marine Park.

A few minutes later looking west, we watched the sun go down.

And a few minutes after that the sky took on a coppery glow.

If you aren't cruising the Strait of Georgia in a boat of your own, you can still visit Drew Harbour and Rebecca Spit. Quadra Island is accessed by car via BC Ferries from Campbell River on Vancouver Island. The Heriot Bay Inn has rooms as well as RV/tent spots. Rebecca Spit Marine Park doesn't have camping, but you can stay at the nearby We Wai Kai Campsite. -- Margy

Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park

We had a wonderful overnight cruise in the Bayliner. We left Powell River in the afternoon and arrived at Heriot Bay on Quadra Island in time for an early dinner at the Inn. With Halcyon Days' tanks and our tummies full, we motored over the adjacent Drew Harbour to spend the night at anchor.

Today we stopped at Mitlenatch Island. The whole island is a Nature Provincial Park. The environment is very different from neighbouring islands. Because it is in a rain shadow, you will find the rocky cliffs covered with low growing bushes and few trees.

In winter, you will find California sea lions basking on the shores and feeding in the rich waters. In spring you will find wildflowers and nesting sea gulls. Today, most of the wildflowers were gone, but the gulls were roosting in every nook and cranny on the exposed cliffs.

If you follow the path from the north anchorage, you will come to a bird blind. From here you can view the gulls on the cliffs below without disturbing them. A handy guide above viewing window give you tips on behaviour and species identification.


We hiked back down the trail to our waiting Halycon Days. It was such a nice day that we decided to slowly troll on the way back to see if we could catch a salmon. Wayne did hook a nice ling cod, but we let him go. We are the catch and release kind of fisherpersons.

What a wonderful place to live. So many options: boat, quad, hike, kayak and live up the lake. Powell River has something for everyone to enjoy. -- Margy

Welcome Aboard

Last night we took the Bayliner out for her first cruise of the season to our favourite anchorage in Theodosia Inlet. This year we got a short-term slip in the North Harbour. That's going to be much easier for us since it's within eyeshot of our condo. I thought you might like to take a tour of boat. Her name is Halycon Days which means happy, joyous, peaceful.

Halcyon Days packs a lot into her 23.5 feet. Up front is a bed big enough for Wayne's long legs. Shelves and plastic bins hold our clothes and personal items. Under the bed is our fresh water tank and bins for stuff you don't need very often. There's a hatch for fresh air and with mosquito netting. You'd be surprised how many mosquitoes there are in anchorages. Tucked under the bed is the outboard motor for our dinghy and a BBQ. Just aft of the bed is a storage area and the captain's chair.

Further aft is a small galley (cupboards, sink, ice box and alcohol stove). Wayne and I don't cook much when we go boating. A box of Chubby Chicken from A&W makes a good first meal and there are lots of places to stop along the way for provisions. Our boating excursions follow the KISS principle as much as possible.

Behind the galley is a head. Don't leave home without one. A holding tank makes it good for the environment as well. Opposite from the galley is a table with two bench seats. It can be converted into a small bed, but we use it mostly for holding "stuff" that we use more often.

The space we use most often is our aft deck. There's enough room for two chairs and a little table. We cook here on our BBQ or a small butane burner (easier than inside). We eat, read, fish and just relax here. If it gets hot, we pop up our umbrellas. It may look silly, but it's perfect for a summer day. Our dinghy (Mr. Bathtub) rests here on the swim grid when not in use.

Up top is the command bridge. This is where we prefer to drive the boat. It gives you a commanding view for both cruising and docking. Plus, it's the perfect spot for a sun bath in private anchorages.

So, welcome aboard. Come cruise with us in Up the Strait and we will take you through the Strait of Georgia and Desolation Sound to islands, bays and inlets where the mountains drop into the sea, and the people have a different sense of purpose. -- Margy

Available Online - Up the Strait

A Great Book
for the Boating Enthusiast

Up the Strait

Coastal BC Stories

It's cruising time again. Jump in the boat and head up the Strait of Georgia with us to magnificent anchorages and exciting adventures. Drop your hook in world famous Desolation Sound, discover hidden coves and meet some of the locals. Read Up the Strait by Wayne Lutz and then join us for the cruise of a lifetime. You may never want to leave.

Go to www.PowellRiverBooks.com for ordering information.

Print for $19.95 at Amazon.com
Kindle for $5.99 at Amazon.com
Ebook for $3.99 at Smashwords
(prices may vary in Canada)

Sailing into the Sunset

The city of Powell River BC looks across the waters of the Strait of Georgia towards Vancouver Island. That makes for some really spectacular sunsets.

Not long ago I looked out my front room window and saw this lovely sailing ship passing by.

We are in the middle of some of the best cruising territory in the world. To the south of us are great little coves like Pender Harbour and Princess Louisa Inlet. To the north of us is world famous Desolation Sound and the many glacial carved inlets and islands along the BC coast. They would all be wonderful to explore in a magnificent ship like this. Can't you just imagine yourself on board? -- Margy

Now Available for Kindle - Coastal BC Stories

Have a Kindle?
Like the outdoors and adventure?
Coastal BC Stories are for YOU

Coastal BC Stories

by Wayne J. Lutz

Head up Powell Lake to experience life in an off the grid float cabin, take a boat to world famous Desolation Sound, ride a quad into the back country and fly overhead for a unique view of this incredible place. Read Up the Lake and discover how exciting life can be on the Sunshine Coast. Special sale price at Amazon.com for only $.99*

Jump in the boat and head up the Strait of Georgia to magnificent anchorages and exciting adventures. Drop your hook in world famous Desolation Sound, discover hidden coves and meet some of the locals. Read Up the Strait and then join us for the cruise of a lifetime. You may never want to leave. On sale at Amazon.com for $5.99

For the pilot and adventurer at heart. Fly high over beautiful Canadian lakes, forests and inlets. Land at remote strips and camp under starry skies. In addition to BC, travel to the Arctic Ocean, Hudson Bay, Canadian prairies and Pacific Northwest for a unique travel experience. Read Up the Airway and see how much fun flying can be. On sale at Amazon.com for $5.99

(*prices may vary in Canada)

For print versions, you can go to www.PowellRiverBooks.com for ordering information.

Tweeking the Transom

When you live on a lake, you like to have your boats and engines be reliable ones. A little over a year ago, our good friend John located a used 14' tin boat with a 15 hp motor for us. Both have served us well, but the engine has progressively gotten worse. Every few months something went wrong. John is a master mechanic and always got it back in working order, but it wasn't reliable.

On several occasions, we barely got it re-started to get home. One notable incident involved a plastic part flying out at Wayne when he pulled the starter cord. After that, we asked John to help us find a new motor for our trusty little tin boat. We ended up purchasing a new Honda 15 hp 4-stroke outboard to replace the old, tired Evinrude. But don't be too sad. I'm sure the Evinrude will find a new use either in John's or our endeavors.

The new Honda is quiet and smooth, but also heavier. After John helped us get it installed, he and Wayne took it for a test drive. It was immediately evident that the transom would need beefing up to handle the heavier, more powerful Honda. John gave the dimensions to a local fabricator for an aluminum plate. Placed over the back of the transom, it stopped the wood from flexing when power was applied.

Once it was glued and riveted in place, we were ready to go fishing. But another down side of our new motor is it's increased power at idle. To slow down to trolling speed we have to use the "two bucket" method. But the up side is we have a reliable boat for pleasure and emergencies at the cabin. -- Margy

Summer Cruise to the Head

Each year we take our 24' Bayliner out of the chuck (ocean) and bring her up the lake for a winter in fresh water. There are several advantages in doing this. The fresh water is good for the hull and every other exposed and internal part, the growth of algae and sea critters is brought to a screeching halt, and we have a bigger boat for lake cruises and for an added measure of safety during rough winter water.

This weekend we took the Bayliner for a summer cruise to the head of Powell Lake. Powell Lake is a glacial carved fjord that is 51 kilometres (32 miles) long with 480 kilometres (300 miles) of shoreline. From our cabin at Hole in the Wall it about 36 kilometres (22 miles) to the head. Our first stop was the logging dock. We hiked through the log sort and found it full of fresh cut trees ready to be dumped into the lake for transport. We were surprised to see so much action because of the summer and economic slowdown.

Next we passed through the camp built by Plutonic Power to support the construction of hydro lines from their run-of-river project in the Toba Valley. We continued up the logging road to the bridge that spans the Daniels River. During dry summer months, this is the main source of water for the lake. As you can see from the exposed stumps, the input isn't keeping up with evaporation and the outflow at the dam.

We then took the Bayliner to the east side of the large bay and anchored where we would catch the last rays of the setting sun. There aren't many places on this steep sided lake where you can anchor, but we found one near Jim Brown Creek. We lowered Mr. Bathtub (our dinghy) and paddled to shore for a hike up another logging road. On the way we found tracks from elk reintroduced here last year. It's good to see they are flourishing in the lush environment.

After a refreshing swim, we headed back for a shipboard BBQ of chicken and sausages. And boy was I hungry. The weather was warm and calm all night. Just a gentle rock and lapping sound on the hull. On our way back home in the morning, we saw lots of people enjoying the lake. Some were at their cabins, others camping along the shore. There's still a bit of summer left, so why don't you join Wayne and I up the lake. -- Margy

Blue Skies and White Feathers

When we were at the Discovery Harbour Marina in Campbell River BC this week, the resident seagulls loved to perch on a nearby piling.

Even though the sky was blue out over Discovery Passage, there were a few clouds inland over Vancouver Island.

That was OK. It gave us a colourful sunset at the end of a nice day on the salt chuck (ocean). -- Margy

Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park

After leaving our friends in Campbell River, we decided to stay out one more night in Halcyon Days. This time we wanted a place to anchor. We left Campbell River and cruised around the bottom of Quadra Island to the Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park. Along the way we did a bit of trolling for salmon, but from the looks of the boats out on the reef, we were in the wrong place.

Rebecca Spit is a very popular park with boaters and non-boaters alike. You can drive into the park for picnics and hiking along the beach. You can kayak across the protected bay (check with the Taku Resort for rentals) or take a dinghy ashore. No matter how you get there, it's a beautiful, restful spot.

The long spit divides protected Drew Harbour from the outer waters of the strait. It provide a protected anchorage with good holding in most weather. Driftwood piles up on the sloping beach and is often relaunched at high-high tides. One night I remember waking to something bumping along the side of the boat. When I went out I saw a parade of driftwood passing by.

Nearby Heriot Bay Inn and Marina offers fuel and moorage. It is also a good place to go for breakfast, lunch or dinner if you don't want to cook aboard. If you need provisions for your cruise, the Island Market is within walking distance from the marina dock. Short term parking is available if needed for meals or shopping. Moorage is also available at the Taku Resort.

Wayne and I spent the day just enjoying the sunshine and reading. Just what the "doctor" ordered. -- drmargy

Cruisin' to Campbell River

Our good friends Ken and Sam have been out on the water for three weeks now. We got in Halcyon Days at the Lund Public Dock and headed over to Campbell River to meet them as they are making their way south to Gibsons. Wayne and I have been to Campbell River before, but only to get fuel and shop at the nearby Real Canadian Superstore (Walmart on steroids).

The cruise across the Strait of Georgia was smooth and the sun was shining. You can't ask for more than that. Along the way we saw lots of boats out fishing for salmon. Campbell River is we got a slip at the Discovery Harbour Marina to visit with them and take in a bit of the town.

For the boater and non-boater alike, the Discovery Harbour Marina has lots to offer. For boaters, it is a full service marina offering moorage for 300 boats from 16 to 150 feet at daily, monthly, 6-months and annual rates. There's electricity (metered), water, washrooms with showers, laundry and trash disposal included. The adjacent Discovery Harbour Centre with lots of stores for provisioning and restaurants is a huge plus. There's even a funky restaurant, Patti Finn's, right on the dock. Other services at the marina include lots of boat adventure and fishing tour operators. After all, Campbell River is the "salmon fishing capitol of the world."

Eagle Eye Adventures
Hurricane Jack Adventures
Mid Island Cruiser Boat Rentals
Way West Coastal Adventures
Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventures
Coastal Island Fishing Adventures

Cruise on over to Campbell River on Vancouver Island in Coastal BC in your boat, car or by airline. Then "discover" a marina with a little something for everyone. -- Margy

Three's a Crew

Summer is reading time. I take my books out on the deck and read while soaking up some of the warm summer rays. My new Utopia floating lounge is also a great reading location.

I like to read books about our local area and destinations I'd like to explore. Scrounging through one of my favourite used book stores, I found Three's a Crew by Kathrene Pinkerton (Horsdal & Schubart, 1991). You can get it online through Amazon.com or Amazon.ca if you don't see it in your used book store.

In Three's a Crew, Kathrene Pinkerton recounts the many annual cruises she took with her husband and daughter up the Strait of Georgia, through the Inside Passage and all the way to Alaska. It sounded like it could have been set in present day, but the family's voyages took place from 1924 to 1931. In some cases, places along the BC coast were more populated then than they are today. As fishing and logging have declined, so have many of the remote camps, homesteads and outposts. Yet, some of the more resilient and resourceful have persisted.

Several weeks ago, Wayne and I cruised in our Bayliner to one of Kathrene's favourite destinations, the Yacultas Rapids (spelled Yucluetaws in her book). We didn't find Henry's Tiny Cove, but we did spend the night in Big Bay just past the rapids. At mid-tide, the rapids roar. But at high and low tide, the water goes slack so that even the most simple boats can navigate them safely. And sport fishing is still an important pastime in these salmon rich waters. As we sat at the dock, I thought about Kathrene's adventurous spirit all those many years ago. Now it's our turn to follow in wake.

What are you reading this summer? Have any good recommendations for me? -- Margy