| Quadra Island September 2005 |
Quadra Island is an island just a couple miles east of Vancouver Island, about 1/3 of the way up Vancouver Island. We
went to this island with the Port Ludlow paddle group--approximately 16 paddlers. The picture above includes all (but
me) who participated in the first of four day paddles out of Quadra Island. It was taken at Hariot Bay which is on the east
side of Quadra. The mountains in the very background are the mainland of British Columbia. This is a spectacular area
as human habitation is very sparce east and north of Quadra and one can paddle many places where human
structures are few and far between.
went to this island with the Port Ludlow paddle group--approximately 16 paddlers. The picture above includes all (but
me) who participated in the first of four day paddles out of Quadra Island. It was taken at Hariot Bay which is on the east
side of Quadra. The mountains in the very background are the mainland of British Columbia. This is a spectacular area
as human habitation is very sparce east and north of Quadra and one can paddle many places where human
structures are few and far between.
From the moment we left Hariot Bay, we were surrounded by sea lions and we found many of them on the rocks that we
paddled around outside the bay.
paddled around outside the bay.
An important lesson in paddling is to
watch where you step when you get
out of your kayak (below). The
bottom is not always flat!
watch where you step when you get
out of your kayak (below). The
bottom is not always flat!
We stayed at the Heriot Bay Inn for $49 Canadian a night (the off season rate). This historic hotel has been newly
reburbished and was quite nice. Call them at 1-888-605-4545 or go to www.hariotbayinn.com.
reburbished and was quite nice. Call them at 1-888-605-4545 or go to www.hariotbayinn.com.
Much of the time we paddled along the shore (above) and were treated to many beautiful creatures such as thousands
of jelly fish and sea stars that were two feet across (below right).
of jelly fish and sea stars that were two feet across (below right).
Sometimes there was a mixture of sand dollars and
oysters (right). Live sand dollars are black. But the most
amazing creatures we saw were Sunflower Stars
(below). They literally glowed so well that my camera
captured the glow!
oysters (right). Live sand dollars are black. But the most
amazing creatures we saw were Sunflower Stars
(below). They literally glowed so well that my camera
captured the glow!
On our second day, we went to the Octopus Islands. These
are a group of islands that form a marine sanctuary off the
north eastern side of Quadra Island. To get their, we split
into two groups. Each group was ferried separately to the
Octopus Islands by a boat we chartered at Hariot Bay Inn.
Because of the very narrow passages in this area, many of
these passagees are very dangerous. Currents sometimes
reach 16 knots and at one place the strong currents create
a standing wave nine feet high! Huge whirlpools are
common. The day we went, the tides were not great so the
currents were moderate. But look at the picture at the left
taken from the charter boat. The water level here drops
several feet and the waves are formed by the tide currents.
are a group of islands that form a marine sanctuary off the
north eastern side of Quadra Island. To get their, we split
into two groups. Each group was ferried separately to the
Octopus Islands by a boat we chartered at Hariot Bay Inn.
Because of the very narrow passages in this area, many of
these passagees are very dangerous. Currents sometimes
reach 16 knots and at one place the strong currents create
a standing wave nine feet high! Huge whirlpools are
common. The day we went, the tides were not great so the
currents were moderate. But look at the picture at the left
taken from the charter boat. The water level here drops
several feet and the waves are formed by the tide currents.
