The Unlikely ADVENTURER

THE FIRST INSTALMENT IN A FOUR-PART SERIES

by Wendy Maurer

2021 - A YEAR FOR ADVENTURE! THAT IS MY INTENTION.

EVERY YEAR I start with a theme for the upcoming year. I never know exactly what that will look like. Last year was designated my year for skills development. I imagined that would mean an increase in my glass bead making skills and it started that way. I was fortunate in February to take courses in California from an admired German bead maker, Bea Stoertz. Then COVID hit and my desire to work at the torch went up in flames. Instead, my energy went into gardening. My skills certainly improved and I added straw bale gardening to my food production. I also took on some home improvement projects where I let go of my need for detailed advance planning and learned to ask contractors for suggestions as we went along – with great results.

Now we come to 2021 and my big question is: what do I want from the coming year? I have had a very quiet year at home, enjoyed it, yet I am getting restless. At 69, diabetic and afraid of getting COVID, I haven’t been past my garden except to buy groceries. Fortunately, we have a fabulous view of the ocean, so my home world is actually quite large visually. Yet, my body tells me it’s time to move, time to get out and do something. Find new trails to walk, ride my e-bike somewhere that I am inspired to explore, maybe hunt for fossils, kayak, tube down a river, go ziplining again. It’s been ten years! So what if I am afraid of heights? Maybe I could go caving at Horne Lake, or heaven forbid maybe even snowshoeing (it’s getting up and down the mountain that is my biggest challenge). I don’t expect COVID-19 vaccines will eliminate the risk anytime soon, so that means day trips within reach of Oceanside or where we can camp nearby on Vancouver Island. I’m too nervous to do outdoor things on my own so my husband has to want to come along too.

I had been wondering what to focus on for 2021 when during a conversation with a friend, the idea of Vancouver Island adventure took root. About a decade ago, I was an Unlikely Adventurer in the Alberni Valley and although it was sometimes a challenge to embrace all the opportunities for adventure there, I did it. I had fun, I discovered a lot about myself, and my husband of over 40 years totally shocked me with his joy and abandon while ziplining. It won’t be a hardship to focus our adventures on Vancouver Island this year. We have glorious spaces here and even though I was born on the Island, there is always something new to discover.

I have been invited to share my year of being an Unlikely Adventurer (again) with you and I hope it amuses you, maybe inspires you to get outdoors and enjoy our island.

One thing for sure that gets me out of my glass studio every February and March is rainbow season. You might know it as herring season, but it is so much more. I love this time of year. I find it exciting. I call it rainbow season because the weather is so rapidly variable and I see rainbows almost every day. I track the migration of waterfowl and on any given day, I can watch a handful of birds build to a raft of 10,000 or more. I track the herring fishery and await the spectacle of turquoise coloured waters to appear, the thumps of herring skiffs in action and the abundance of birds, sealions, seals, and rainbows.

Everyday scenes during rainbow season. Keep your eyes open for visiting wildlife including flocks of birds in a frenzy.

Every year I start by getting my gear in order. I dig out the binoculars, find the case for my spotting scope so I can bring it to the beach, make sure I have gloves, a warm hat, rain gear, bird book, and tripod in the trunk. Then it’s time to clean my camera lens, charge the spare camera batteries (since they drain quickly in the cold), ensure there are cleaning cloths and brushes in my camera bag, and set up a new folder on my computer for this year’s rainbow season photos.

After a winter snug and cozy in my home, it isn’t easy to venture outside into the cold and wet. I forget how interesting the small things are – at the beach, along trails and even in my backyard. Once I bundle up though, I stay warm and dry and feel energized and happy to be out. The thrill of the hunt is aided by observation of weather, migrating water birds and sea life, not to mention DFO fishery notices, and the app, Marine Traffic. I’m ready to get outdoors on very short notice – when the sun does pop out, I don’t want to miss the rainbows!

IT PAYS TO BE PREPARED. GET READY TO TAKE IN ALL THE ACTION WITH THE MARINE TRAFFIC APP, WARM WINTER GEAR AND THE BEST VIEWING AND PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT YOU CAN AFFORD!

I use Marine Traffic all year. It shows which ocean-going vessels are carrying position locating devices. Ferries, yachts, cruise ships, freighters, and fish boats can all be tracked. Marine Traffic allows you to see the vessel type, name, speed, and direction of travel. Just make sure that if you are tracking a vessel, you refresh the screen occasionally so the location is accurate. Yes, I did once drive an hour and a half to watch the fleet in action only to find it had moved. Lesson learned.

Tracking rainbows is a great way to discover public beach access points throughout Oceanside. And it helps during herring season to know where beach access points are in order to follow the action: concentrated bird activity, seals, sea lions, spawn. Fishermen, photographers, and other outdoor enthusiasts are also great resources for tips on beaches, trails, and viewing locations. Some key observation points include: the stairs and seating area at the end of Dohle Rd. in Parksville, the French Creek breakwater area, Columbia Beach Park, Qualicum Beach waterfront, the QB Faye Smith Pavilion/Brant viewing area (watch for oystercatchers), Surfside Drive (check out the bird sanctuary viewing there), and Nile Creek beach access. You can park and stay in your vehicle or stroll down the beach. Just be sure not to walk through the herring eggs – the smell isn’t shoe friendly and the eggs can be on the beach for weeks.

I love this time of year. I find it exciting. I call it rainbow season because the weather is so rapidly variable and I see rainbows almost every day.

When cabin fever hits mid winter, sometimes I go on a road trip just to get out. This is a great time to check out public access beach areas. Winter storms bring interesting bits to our beaches. OK, yes, maybe I stop and buy snacks too. Rainbow season is exciting for me as well because there have been generations of commercial fishermen in our family. My Great Uncle Abel fished herring with a home base of Russell Island, just off Salt Spring Island. Now, my brother lets me know when fishery openings are called and where. Even with this inside knowledge, however, it is never known exactly where the spawn will be, how large an area it will cover, and how long it will last, so checking out the area in person is a must for me. Small airplanes, often spotter planes, flying along the coastline in the morning are a hint that the spawn might be close. I love to watch the spectacle, even when it continues into the night. Sometimes the regional spawn will last for a week, sometimes for a day.

When we moved here 21 years ago, I dreamed of seeing a spawn right in front of our house. After seven years it happened. Unfortunately, it turns out I was in Vancouver that day! Luckily, it has happened several times since. I don’t wait for it though. I actively follow the clues and have a lot of fun enjoying the journey – I hope you do too this year! Maybe I’ll see you – I’ll be the short older lady, wearing glasses, loaded down with gear I can’t bear to be without because I don’t want to miss a thing!