Sunshine Coast Day 4 – our best insider tips for Halfmoon Bay

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Coracle Cove

Smuggler Cove is our destination this morning – a half-hour drive up the highway, just past Halfmoon Bay. This morning’s walk should take no more than an hour and will give you a great introduction to the pristine beauty of the Sunshine Coast.

Bring your binoculars, as the first half of this well maintained trail system is joined together with a series of boardwalks traversing over and around small marshy lakes, and offering good birding opportunities. Later the trail opens to  sweeping views of Welcome Passage and Thormanby Islands, and at this time of the year, you’re also likely to see several sailboats moored within the protected confines of the cove itself. Follow this link for more information and pictures.

For lunch, drive back toward Sechelt, but turn right at Redrooffs Road, and then follow the signs  to the Halfmoon Bay General Store. Next door you’ll find the Upper Crust Bakery with a good selection of Paninis and baked sweets. Between the two stores you can put together a pretty good picnic lunch. Then carry on down to the end of this little one-lane road to the Government Wharf for the best “restaurant” view you can imagine.

After your leisurely lunch, it’s time to hit the road again, but we’re not going too far.  Continue driving along Redrooffs Road for about ten minutes and you’ll find another Sunshine Coast Secret.

Sargeant’s Bay has been a favourite of mine for a long time – a perfect horseshoe-shaped cove with piles of driftwood stacked haphazardly along a pebble beach – and most likely you’ll have the whole area completely to yourself. If you’re interested in birding, this is a rich habitat with over 150 species. Spend as much time as you like here – there are  benches and lots of logs on the beach, so pull up a seat, relax and soak in this pristine setting.

Our dinner recommendation for tonight is Sushi Bar 5517 in Sechelt at that address on Wharf Street. If you are a sushi afficionado you will not be disappointed. The menu offers a very broad and creative selection of sushi – one of my favourites is the Alaska roll with salmon, crab and avocado. Be sure to order the Gomaae, a wilted spinache salad with sesame-peanut dressing.

If you’re not into sushi, there are two other restaurants nearby – The Old Boot and Daphne’s. After dinner, it’s time to head back to your favourite waterside deck to watch the stars come out. Keep an eye out for those of the shooting variety.

 

Follow this link to see more of our suggested itineraries or click here to return to our website.

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Sunshine Coast Day 5 – our best insider tips for Pender Harbour & Skookumchuk Rapids

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Coracle Cove

This blog continues my series of daily itineraries, in which I unlock the secrets of the Sunshine Coast and share a few of my best insider tips for favourite activities and restaurant recommendations.  Today we are exploring the north end of the Lower Sunshine Coast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Skookumchuk Rapids could easily be considered the Eighth Wonder of the World.  Twice a day, over 200 billion gallons of water flow through the narrow and constricted opening of the  Skookumchuk Narrows, creating one of the world’s fastest tidal currents.

On a Flood Tide, the water flows in at a far greater rate than the narrow opening can handle, creating a standing wave between the outside and inside waters. Kayakers gather here to surf the wave in their small white-water kayaks. (check out this YouTube video) The best viewing site for this is at Roland Point.

When the tide is flowing out of Sechelt Inlet  (Ebb Tide) large whirlpools are created, strong enough to suck down a large log and send it popping into the air as it frees itself from the swirling vortex. The best viewing site of the Ebb tide whirlpools is at North Point.

You want to time your hike so you arrive when the tidal surge is at its strongest. The hike in takes about 40-50 minutes from the  parking lot (there’s a great little bakery at the trail head) Arrive a little early, take a seat and then watch the Skookum Lady strut her stuff.  Use this tide table link to organize the best viewing time and then it’s a simple matter of working out the rest of the day’s schedule.

Fortunately the Pender Harbour area has lots of interesting diversions to keep us entertained  while waiting for the best tides. Also known as Venice of the North, the area was first settled as a fishing community and water continues to link its small communities. The Slow Cat, provides three daily scheduled tours around the harbour area and Captain Paul will regale you with stories from the past.

There are also over  a dozen galleries and studios in the Pender Harbour area, representing a wide variety of styles and disciplines. Some of my favourites are:

  • Copper Sky Gallery – located in Madeira Park
  • FiberWorks Studio – located along the highway just after Madeira Park
  • Flying Anvil  Studio – at the Garden Bay turn-off
  • Motoko  Gallery – in Garden Bay

Depending on your schedule, you’ll want to stop for either lunch or dinner. The Painted Boat in Madeira Park is a casually elegant restaurant with a distinctly coastal feel and the menu is focused on the freshest of ingredients. Ask to be seated on the deck – the restaurant literally hangs over the water and the view is an extra bonus.

For something a little more casual you can’t beat the Garden Bay Pub with its large waterside deck where you can watch all manner of boats coming and going. Home of two summer music festivals, they also feature live music every Sunday.

So with a little planning and fitting the pieces into a manageable schedule you’ll be able to create a fabulous day – an incredible outdoor experience; interesting galleries to explore; and a great restaurant experience with a view. Your summer getaway just keeps getting better.

Follow this link to see more of our best insider tips or click here to return to our website.

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Sunshine Coast Sandcastle Competition

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Coracle Cove

photo courtesy of Coast Reporter Newspaper

Perfect weather conditions brought out a large crowd of curious spectators and over twenty teams of creative sand architects in this year’s Sunshine Coast Sandcastle Competition. The annual competition is held each year at Davis Bay Beach, where the broad and expansive sandbar at low tide provides a perfect canvas for this community event.

 

a castle fit for a king

While the event draws eager participants of all ages, this is a very serious competition. Local and imported teams, armed with buckets, misters and complex plans vie to see who will win the coveted bragging rights for the next year.

This one was my favourite – a complex , multi-tiered undertaking, with its moat linking to the incoming tide and filling, just as the judges arrived. Ahh… the advantage of a little local knowledge always helps.

www.coraclecove.com

 

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Summer Days on the Sunshine Coast – your first day

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Coracle Cove

The Sunshine Coast is an easy and affordable option for anyone needing a few days away from the daily grind. Imagine taking a stunning ferry ride to another world where the pace is slow, the scenery is breathtaking and the people are friendly.  The  Sunshine Coast is on Vancouver’s doorstep, and it’s only a scenic 40 minutes away, waiting to welcome you to BC’s best kept secret. In this series of seven blogs we’ll unlock the secrets and share some of our best insider tips to help you get the most out of your precious time away.

BC Ferries - Mini Cruise

Our first piece of advice is to get an early start to the day. There’s less traffic on the early morning ferries and you’ve just gained some extra hours for your getaway. Once you’ve boarded the ferry, grab your camera and head up to the outside deck. You’ll get some great pictures as the ferry winds its way through several small islands.

Lower Gibsons is our first destination, so break away from that pack of cars, turn left at the traffic light and follow this quiet country road. Lower  Gibsons was originally a fishing settlement and still holds some of that maritime charm.  There’s a good variety of galleries, coffee shops and some great gelato. Mike’s Gelato was recently named by Vancouver blogger 604 Pulse, as one of the Ten Best Places to get Gelato in the Lower Mainland.

Smitty's Oyster House

Hungry for lunch? Head down the stairs beside Molly’s Reach where you’ll find Smitty’s Oysterhouse.  They offer the freshest of seafood and you’ll be seated at a communal table just a few feet from the salty brine. After lunch, walk along the boardwalk or head out onto the wharf to look at all the boats. There’s even a floating garden.

Sechelt is only a 25 minute drive from Gibsons so you’ve still got lots of time before your 3:00 check-in. You might even want to pick up a few supplies before-hand so that you can fully relax on our waterside deck after you’ve checked-in. There’s an IGA store along the highway, and a good wine selection at the Lighthouse Wine & Cold Beer store, just as you come into Sechelt.

dinner at the Lighthouse

Keeping with the relaxation theme, our dinner recommendation for tonight is casual and there’s no need to get dressed up. The Lighthouse serves good pub-style food and has a large variety of seating areas, including two large waterside decks offering great views of the busy little harbour and Sechelt Inlet beyond.

After dinner head back home and return to your favourite seat on your other waterside deck. As the evening sets in you’ll be treated to an amazing display of stars set against the dark, dark country skies. Are you starting to feel relaxed…. wait till you see what we’ve planned for tomorrow.

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August Heats Up on the Sunshine Coast with lots of activities

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Coracle Cove

Summer has finally arrived on the Sunshine Coast and just in time to usher in a full slate of summer activities. We’ll highlight a few of our favourites in this blog.

BC Day - August 1st

The BC Day long weekend is first up on the calendar, and we’ll raise up our BC flag to mark the occasion. The annual sandcastle competition takes place this weekend on the beautiful sandy beach at Davis Bay. This is a very popular community event in an outstanding location and I’m always amazed at the incredible creativity on display. It’ll be a busy day for us, as that evening we’ll celebrate with neighbours at our annual Lower Sandy Hook pig-roast.

August 4th - 7th

The  Festival of the Written Arts  is the following August 5th weekend.  This is their 29th anniversary, so, what are the highlights? This year’s Giller prize winner, Johanna Skibsrud will talk about her first novel The Sentimentalists. John Vaillant, author of  The Golden Spruce, returns to the Festival with a new book The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival,  Margaret Trudeau, wife of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau makes her first appearance at the Festival with her third book Changing My Mind, and will be interviewed by award-winning journalist Vicki Gabereau. All together, there will be 21 authors speaking over this wonderful 4-day weekend event.  Tickets are still available for most events and our Beach House is also available. Team up with another couple and come and enjoy one of Canada’s best literary events.

 Our annual Summer Craft Fair also takes place on the same weekend. This is one of BC’s largest gathering of juried artisans and the quality is extremely high -  it’s always a great opportunity to get in some early Christmas shopping.

Sleepy Hollow Show & Shine

The August 12th weekend is lots of fun, with the annual Sleepy Hollow Rod Run. The weekend kicks off with a classic car parade – over 450 vintage cars travelling  along a 30km parade route. We’ll be set up, as usual, in Halfmoon Bay together with friends and family, tables laden with snacks and beverages, and enjoying watching these beautifully restored classic cars. The next day all of the cars are lined up along both sides of the main street with the owners on hand to talk about their restoration projects. On Sunday many of these cars will be involved in drag racing up at the airport.

So now that summer has graced us with her long-awaited appearance, we’re all set for a busy few weeks of fun and festivals.

www.coraclecove.com

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An unexpected visitor

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Coracle Cove

We had an unexpected visitor at Coracle Cove last week. The sun made a brief appearance and I forced myself to sit down on an outside deck for a few minutes, if only to soak up some of the vitamin D that has been missing in my diet for the past few weeks. It was then that I noticed the visitor, standing quietly on the rocky shoreline below.

Great Blue Heron are actually regular visitors to Coracle Cove, but they don’t often stay put for as long as this one did.  But then, this beautiful blue feathered bird was quite focussed on catching its next meal and didn’t seem to mind the close attention that I was paying to it at all.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Heron are carnivores and their long legs, neck and pointed bill are particularly well suited for foraging in the water. A further modification in their vertebra lets them draw their neck back into an S-shape. Standing completely motionless, they patiently wait for small fish to move into striking range, and then shoot their head and bill forward with lightning speed to spear their unwary prey.

Unfortunately, these heron are themselves, caught in the middle of the food chain. They must be ever vigilant and on the lookout for the sharp-eyed and swift-flighted eagle. As our eagle population has increased, the ungainly flight pattern of the heron is seriously outmatched, and our heron population is now noticeably declining.  Can anything be done, or have we already interferred too much with Mother Nature?

www.coraclecove.com

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Four Ways to Paddle the waters of Sechelt Inlet

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Coracle Cove

The early morning is one of my most favourite times of the day. Whenever I can, I’ll head down to our waterside deck with a cup of coffee and yesterday’s newspaper to sit and enjoy the peaceful morning water. More often than not I’ll be entertained with a parade of all sorts of interesting boats. Here’s a few recent pictures.

watching the boats going by at Coracle Cove

The inside waters of Sechelt Inlet have been discovered by a wide range of paddling enthusiasts, gliding over the water in boats of all different sizes.

First Nations - Pulling Together

The Dolphin Spirit is a First Nations war canoe, and she’s been a regular visitor during the past few months. Her crew was training for Pulling Together, held this year along the open waters of the west coast of Vancouver Island. Pulling Together was the brainchild of Ed Hill, a local retired RCMP Staff Sargeant. The annual journeys bring together crews of law enforcement officers and aboriginal youth and elders, who paddle or pull together, down or along the traditional waterways of the province, visiting many of the First Nation communities along the way. Ed Hill knew the benefit of police officers working with the First Nation community and this was the start of an annual tradition that’s still going strong.

Dragonboating in Sechelt Inlet

We also have a very active dragonboating club on the Inlet, who freqently bring their large boats out our way. The Sunshine Dragon Boat Club, formed in 2004, has a membership of approximately 125 members, and includes a large contingent of breast cancer surviving paddlers. They offer several programs and practice times weekly and keep their two international standard dragon boats very busy. This weekend they held their annual MacKenzie Cup Regatta.

outriggers practice in front of Coracle Cove

In addition to the dragonboats, we also see several of the smaller outriggers practicing their paddling and technical manouevres. Coracle Cove is located at Four Mile Point on Sechelt Inlet, and makes for a good paddling workout for these 4 and 6 person crews. Each year the Howe Sound Outrigger Race attracts a large contingent of local and international entrants.

Paddlers Challenge - checking in at Coracle Cove

And finally, we enjoy seeing the colourful kayakers, sometimes just a lone boat glidiing over the calm early morning waters and occasionally a flotilla, heading up the inlet to one of the many mairine parks. Sechelt Inlet is a narrow stretch of protected water and is ideal for both novice and seasoned kayakers.

This picture was taken last year during the Paddlers’ Challenge Series, a summer event, organized by Halfmoon Sea Kayaks. Each week they organize a kayaking challenge on a different part of the Sunshine Coast. This particular event dubbed, the “poker paddle” was lots of fun, as the paddlers completed a circle route around Sechelt Inlet, stopping in at various check points to collect playing cards to see who could make up the best hand. In this picture they were checking in at the Coracle Cove dock where our guests were handing out the cards.

Now, I think you have to agree, there aren’t too many places where you can see all of this activity, up close, as these pictures will attest… and that’s why we love living on Sechlet Inlet.

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Canada Day Activities on the Sunshine Coast

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Coracle Cove

Nothing says Canada Day like Mounties in red serge marching down the main street in a parade, and Sechelt is the place to be this Friday. The  Canada Day parade starts at 11am followed by plenty of festivities at Hackett Park.  But the fun begins even before that with a pancake breakfast at Gilligans, followed by a bike decorating contest at the Trail Bay Mall. 

The day’s festivities will continue on throughout the day at Hackett Park with local entertainment, a food fair, pony rides, clowns, a bouncy castle, face painting and more! And then for the big kids, there will be a beer garden at the Hackett Park tennis courts, from 5pm until 10pm. For full details check out this website http://www.secheltdowntown.com/

Happy 144th Birthday Canada!!      www.coraclecove.com

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Our South West Road Trip – Goblin Valley

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Coracle Cove

Goblin Valley was another great find on our recent south-western road trip, continuing our streak of one perfect day after another. “Find,” however, would prove to be the operative word.

We left Bryce Canyon in the morning and headed north-east for about an hour until we reached the Ranger Station just outside of Escalante. Armed with maps and advice we continued on until we turned down a well maintained, but unmarked gravel road, hoping it was the right one. Undaunted, we continued on for almost 20 miles, until we reached our unmistakable destination.

Goblin Valley is aptly named for its many goblin-like hoodoos that are unique and lots of fun to photograph. In addition there are several graceful and smooth, rusty red sandstone  arches, carved out through eons of erosion by water and wind. We were lucky, as we had the place pretty well to ourselves and spent several hours wandering about and taking pictures. Our luck would continue when we went searching for a place to stay that night.

The Lodge at Red River Ranch, located near Hanksville, features a three-story great room with rugged, open-beam construction, a massive Anasazi stone fireplace, and a great collection of authentic Navajo rugs and wild west memorabilia.  Each of the 15 guestrooms is individually decorated and appointed with more antique furnishings and artifacts.  Breakfast the next morning certainly met our own professional standards and, what’s more, our host provided some excellent advice for the next leg of our south west journey… but that’s a topic for an upcoming blog.

www.coraclecove.com

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Eagle Population Doubles at Coracle Cove

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Coracle Cove

Between the Vancouver Canucks and this week’s Jazz Festival it’s sometimes easy to miss what’s happening in your own backyard… or in this case the big old fir tree right outside our kitchen window.

I had just finished serving breakfast to our B&B guests, a young couple who had brought their parents from Australia to see the other “Sunshine Coast.” This fellow was sitting no more than thirty feet away and was very cooperative, allowing everyone a good close look and providing a very magical memory for the visiting father who was here celebrating his 80th birthday.

Our eagle population has at least doubled since my last post, Eagles Return to Coracle Cove,  with nine or ten eagles sighted on two recent evenings. This young five year-old, whom I’ve nicknamed Bandit for the mask over his eyes, is just getting his adult white head plumage. We often think of eagles as being at the top of the food chain, but only about one in ten survive past age three.

We’re very lucky as Bandit has several brothers and sisters who put on a great show at the end of each day, practicing their flight manoeuvres, chasing each other in the sky, and calling out with their distinctive high-pitched whistling.

While all this is going on, the parents are never too far away, and should be very proud of their efforts in raising such a large family and beating the odds that Nature so often extracts.

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