Island HOPPING
Editor in Chief Jeff Moag MANAGING Editor Dave Shively SENIOR Editor Joe Carberry creative Director Robert Zaleski art director Parker Meek PHOTO EDITOR Aaron Schmidt
Words by Dave Shively Photos by Aaron Schmidt
While the rest of central Vancouver Island heads to the steep slopes and mossdraped pines of nearby Mount Washington to take advantage of the fresh 24 centimeters of snow, we paddle east, passing the volcanic headland bluffs topped by gnarled, wind-swept oaks, heading into the exposed Strait of Georgia.
ONLINE EDITOR Charli Kerns studio photographer JP Van Swae
Canadians? Oh yah, sure, for the most part, they’re quite friendly and courteous.
This glowing late-winter day is nothing like the days prior, crossing the clear alpine waters of Comox Lake, and then sneaking in a few ski runs at Mt. Washington. Or the next day, for that matter, finding heavy surf on the island’s distant west side south of Tofino.
Their sea lions? Not so much. We find out the hard way on Hornby Island. Passing the volcanic headland bluffs topped by gnarled, wind-swept oaks, we paddle into the exposed Strait of Georgia. Catching a few wind-waves, we slide to the leeward side of the nearby Flora Islet right into a hidden rookery. The hundreds of synchronized bark-shrieks drown conversation and idle thoughts. We yell out plans to paddle by the lions’ sun-drenched roost. They take to the water, blocking our path back, the alphas popping up close enough to smell their fishy breath. Just another day in Vancouver Island. Actually, this glowing late-winter day is nothing like the day prior, when a snowstorm swept the island and we took to the steep slopes and moss-draped pines of nearby Mount Washington, or the next day, finding heavy surf on the island’s distant west side south of Tofino. We’ve certainly found the perfect launching pad in the central Comox Valley. As the locals say, there’s plenty to paddle here, but you’re an hour or two “from out-of-this-world good” sea paddling of every kind. And it was just a short drive to a short ferry, then island hopping on another even smaller ferry to our current outlying Hornby surrounds. The clear waters of the laid-back island, preserved almost entirely by provincial parks and known for its music festivals and local wineries, offers the fitting finale to our test of boats built for a casual tour (see p. 92 of C&K June 2013). — DS
We’ve certainly found the perfect launching pad in the central Comox Valley. As the locals say, there’s plenty to paddle here, but you’re an hour or two “from out-of-this-world good” sea paddling of every kind.
it was just a short drive to a short ferry, then island hopping on another even smaller ferry to our current outlying Hornby surrounds. The clear waters of the laid-back island, preserved almost entirely by provincial parks and known for its music festivals and local wineries, make me start thinking multi-day with the plentiful camping and inter-island route options.
Catching a few wind-waves, we slide to the leeward side of the nearby Flora Islet right into a hidden sea lion rookery.
The hundreds of synchronized bark-shrieks drown conversation and idle thoughts.
We yell out plans to paddle by the lions’ sun-drenched roost. They take to the water, blocking our path back, the alphas popping up close enough to smell their fishy breath. Just another day on Vancouver Island.