Sunshine Coast - Summer in September

We returned for an encore kayak trip to the Sunshine Coast (British Columbia) for Roger's birthday  mid-September, 2013. We waited for a good forecast and were rewarded with summer weather without the summer crowds. After spending the first night on Thormanby Island, we were faced with a 5 to 6 mile open water crossing to Texada Island. I was a bit nervous the wind would come up and turn an easy paddle into a merciless one. No worries. We could sing "Summertime and the livin' is easy" the whole way across.

Calm water crossing over to Texada Island

We did get some wind on the shorter crossing from Texada to Home Bay on Jedediah Island. (We later learned that winds typically race down the mountains of Vancouver Island toward Jedediah.) There was a small farm on Jedediah before it became a provincial park. We camped at the edge of a meadow behind the old farmhouse and shared the grassy area with the descendants of the island's 4 legged farm inhabitants.

Shaggy Sheep on Jedediah

Home Bay at Jedediah Island

Roger and I hiked the available trails during our stay on Jedediah and then circumnavigated the island in our kayak, especially enjoying scenic Bull Passage. Our campsite for the next night was Anderson Bay on Texada Island. The southeast coastline of Texada was quite jagged and occupied by occasional seals hauled out in miniature coves. Normally we maintain a respectful distance from resting seals but in this case we would round a point and - there was a seal. It was fun to have the up close and personal encounter and I was even more pleased none panicked and scrambled into the water.

Seal resting on Texada Island ledge

We had another great crossing on our return to Thormanby Island.

Epsom Point, Thormanby Island

After landing at Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast,we drove north to Lund and treated ourselves to lunch at the excellent bakery there. Then we kayaked to Copeland Islands Provincial Marine Park and stayed there a couple of nights.

Copeland Island sunset

With the "summer" weather continuing, we did a day trip to some islands west and north of the Copelands. A blow sound in the distance interrupted our leisurely exploring. Trip highlight! Roger got a birthday present of 3 orca whales going by. The biggest had a HUGE dorsal fin. Later a local in Lund told us that they had a resident orca family of 3 with a 50 year old male who sported a 6 foot tall dorsal fin.  

Interesting rock on Townley Island (privately owned)

Platforms for tents where we camped on one of the Copeland Islands

The tide was out our last morning in the Copelands, allowing us to see an abundance of sea life, particularly sea stars. (A sad postscript: Recently we have learned that the sea stars are mysteriously dying in the area. There is some speculation this is happening because of the nuclear accident in Japan.)

Sea Stars in the Copelands

Getting back to civilization, this double breasted ice cream cone with the boy on top greeted us at the ferry landing. A couple with a German Shepard walked by, the dog looked up at it and started barking and would not stop barking! Totally funny.

At the ferry landing