A North Island Day

Miracle Beach, B.C.

Probably my favourite beach ever. Wide. Safe. The ocean pulls back at low tide to reveal  perfect sand bars, sand dollars, star fish, sea urchins, jelly fish. The water is warm in the pools, cold in the distance.

 "If once you have slept on an island you'll never be quite the same

 You may look as you looked the day before and go by the same old name." (Rachel Field 1894-1942)

Coast Mtns

  They extend from southwestern Yukon thru Alaska  and basically all the way down the coast of British Columbia south to the Fraser River.

                                              Salmon Point, B.C.
 Set on 28 acres of waterfront property overlooking the Strait of Georgia, the shoreline is mainly rocky, almost deserted beaches. In the fall, fishermen can be seen wading.There is a wonderful trail that snakes it's way through old fruit orchards. Also has an RV park with cottages. About 22 km from Campbell River. One of my favourite places.

  “The island is ours. Here, in some way, we are young forever.”            ― E. Lockhart, We Were Liars

 "You'll see blue water and wheeling gulls wherever your feet may go." -Rachel Field

Mt. Washington Range seen from my front window. On the eastern edge of the Vancouver Island Ranges of British Columbia. Up there is the Alpine Resort. It's about 25 km (16 mi) from the Comox Valley.

From Island hwy on way to Courtenay, B.C.

Cruise Ship passing 

In one evening, in Campbell River,there may be up to four  ships toddling through Seymour Narrows and down Discovery Passage. 

 “Poetry isn’t an island, it is the bridge. 
Poetry isn’t a ship, it is the lifeboat. Poetry isn’t swimming. Poetry is water.” 
― Kamand Kojouri

 “The serenity of the lulling ocean is a wondrous thing to behold..more precious than the gems coveted and covered in platinum or gold...”― Oksana Rus

 “The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder.” ― Ralph W. Sockman

                                                          Tide coming in at Miracle Beach, B.C.

                               On the way to Courtenay,B.C.....beneath hazy skies.

“Just take my hand, lead, dance with me...and I will simply follow the blueness of the water, the white waves rolling free...where the earth beneath my feet and stars make my heart whole again...in long and priceless moments of shared solitude...” ― Oksana Rus

 “I have to find a place to hide ,an island in the sea, surrounded by a racing tide,where I can live with me” 
― Laurie Matthew

                      From the Pier in Campbell River, B.C. Sunset in July
Photographs 2017

Scenes from the Beach...

 These are some of my favourite scenes from the surrounding beaches.  First off, the cruise ships go toodling by the Pier, all summer long. This one came by during sunset and an eagle swooped nearby.It was a hot July night, and everyone on the Pier deck stopped what they were doing to watch.

                          Salmon Point Beach. Rocky. Not a tourist mecca.  A little on the wild side.

                                 And here's that same eagle. Closer to shore. Who says birds don't just soar around just for fun....

                               Coast Mountains from Salmon Point.

                                         Eagle at Tyee Spit. Intent on something.
                                                 Maybe the fat pigeons in the nearby field.
                                          Or maybe just contemplating the world.

                                             At Miracle Beach, from the end of the forest trail.

                                             Heron walking in the sand bars at Miracle Beach.

                                             Salmon Point Beach.

                                                   Campbell River Boat launch. Eagles and more eagles.

                                              Lone bench at Tyee Spit, in the mist, on a cool July day.

                                      Same day at Tyee Spit. Long and low grasses near the shore.

                                            Perching at the boat ramp. Fishing.

                                                  Also  near the boat ramp. More fishing.

                                                   Miracle Beach low tide one cloudy July day.

                                             Walking through forest at miracle beach trails.

                                              To finally come out at the end of the trail to low tide,
                                                       sand bars and coast mountains.
                                My all time favourite. Just goes on and on and on.

                                               Trail from Miracle Beach head into the forest.

                                               Taking a stance.

                                               The largest trail down into Miracle Beach.

                                           To see the sun glinting in reflecting on the sand.
                                                    To see the sunset sky. Larger than life.
                                                                      From the beach.

Salmon Point

 Salmon Point beach. Accessible by walking the trail by the RV resort and coming out to the rather hidden lookout point. Absolutly pristine beach. We love it here. About a 25 minute drive , depending on traffic, south of Flannel City ( which most of you know, by now, is Campbell River, B.C.) I sound like  a tourist infomercial........

 Being accosted at the start of the trail into the sanctuary.

 Love the field and pastures ....used to be an old farm/orchard.

 Finding the trail down onto the rocky Beach.  Usually there is no one there. Today there was just us there............

 All's quiet...looking North towards Quadra Island......Flannel City ( excuse me, Campbell River is in the distance)

 Sailing, only a few sailboats out on a perfect day. Not too hot, not too cold................kind of windy.

 A painted ship on a painted sea.................

 Gettin blown about .......important to not topple over into the sea.........

 At the uprooted tree,which seems to have gone and turned itself around this year.....

 All of us....Dale, Morgan,Emma, Susan, Liz and yours truly, trying to beat the self timer.......

 Made it to the top of the uprooted tree....................

 Dale struggling to open the bottle of water at the restaurant...........At Salmon Point you can sit under the pavilion to eat and watch the ocean.Just make sure you make reservations and ask for the patio. Best view.

 Water on a long day.................

 And for added entertainment you can watch the clouds in the sunset............

Huge.....................................This is the end of your infomercial. .........