Qualicum Beach - miscellaneous beaches to the south...

Some time this June I was perusing Google Maps. I noticed numerous roads that came to an end at the Salish Sea Shore. The following days (2020-06-12) I decided to explore these roads.

Salish Sea Beach near Seacrest Place near Qualicum Beach (2020-06-12)

Ladysmith - Elliot Beach

We don't visit Elliot Beach very often. When we do, I always wonder, why not. It's not too far from home, so perhaps it's because the turnoff from the highway is not one our usual routes. Anyway, we ought to come more often and, more to the point, we ought to launch our kayaks here.

Elliot Beach (2017-06-13)

Tofino - At Incinerator Rock

After eight years, Sabrina was back for a visit. Since Hanne and I hadn't been back to Pacific Rim National Park in over a year, this visit seemed like a good time to reacquaint ourselves with the Long Beach area. Our last stop in the area, before heading home, was the beach at Incinerator Rock. Here we reminisced about Marco's "brief" swim in the Pacific.

Incinerator Rock (2017-06-28)

Nanaimo - Beach at Piper's Lagoon Park

Sabrina was visiting, and we were blessed with gorgeous weather. To be honest, weather typical of a July on the east coast of Vancouver Island. As we were intent on showing off our local region, we visited a number of beaches. The beach at Piper's Lagoon Park was one.

I often say that this may be the most underappreciated beach in Nanaimo, because there's almost always plenty of room. Closer to the large parking lot, the beach is composed of small, rounded pebbles. Approaching the point further away from the lot, visitors can put the beach blanket down on pleasant sand.

Beach at Piper's Lagoon (2009-07-24)

Ucluelet - Wickaninnish Beach

It must be said, tourist businesses in the Tofino-Ucluelet-Long Beach area work hard to attract visitors when the weather is inclement. Their "Storm Watching" campaign seems very successful and, indeed, storm watching is fun and the accommodation inexpensive. Take note, however, packing weather-,  specifically rain-resistant gear is highly recommended. Having warned the reader of possible wet and windy days in the winter, this postcard finds us at Wickaninnish Beach in brilliant sunshine! Nary a drop of rain and only the slightest of breezes.

• Location: 49.016, -125.674 
• Date: 2015-02-17

Ucluelet - Wickaninnish Beach

Tofino - Incinerator Beach (Long Beach)

When is a good time to visit the Tofino-Ucluelet/Long Beach area? As far as we're concerned, ANYTIME! This postcard was taken on one of our "storm watching" visits. Specifically, Valentine's Day.

The thing about visits to Long Beach is, you can't let the weather deter you. Prepare for all sorts of weather, especially rain, and you'll be fine.

Incinerator Beach (Long Beach), south of Tofino 2014-1-02-14

Gabriola Island: Sandstone at Drumbeg Park

Norbi and I headed out in early June to visit some beaches on Gabriola Island, have a beer at Silva Bay, and generally just tour about the island. The day started off looking cloudy and threatening to rain. Thankfully, in the end, the sun graced us with her presence. Around noonish, just before we'd promised ourselves lunch at the pub in Silva Bay, we explored the sandstone shelves that make up the bulk of the beach at Drumbeg Provincial Park. In Theo Dombrowski's excellent book, "Secret Beaches of the Salish Sea: The Northern Gulf Islands", this is Secret Beach number 19 (page 67).

 Sandstone at Drumbeg Park on
Gabriola Island (2013-06-01)

Ostfriesland: Strandkorb in April

In April of 2012 we were just a few days into our Europe vacation. We had crossed the Dutch-German border yesterday and now we found ourselves on the North Sea shore in Ostfriesland. From the look of the colourful Strandkorbe, of summer postcard fame, this beach at Nessmersiel was "closed for business".

April Strandkorb in 
Ostfriesland (2012-04-13) 

Nanaimo: Mom and Toddler on a Secret Beach

A mom and her toddler define summer at one of Nanaimo's Secret Beaches (Blueback Road).

Secret Beach at 
Blueback Road (2012-08-14)

Nanaimo: Beach Estates Park to Departure Bay

There are at least two ways to visit Departure Bay beach. The most obvious is by car via Departure Bay Road. Less obvious and less known is via a short - 20 minutes - hike through Beach Estates Park. This path opens out to the beach at what was, historically, a coal loading wharf. The finger of rocks, visible at low tide, is just a little of what remains as evidence of these times. 

Beach Estates Park to 
Departure Bay (2013-03-25)

Tofino: Incinerator Beach

One of the best ways to see Incinerator Beach (the northern section of Long Beach, near Tofino) is by climbing up the hill located near the parking lot. In the distance, in the water, Lovekin Rock. 

Incinerator Beach (2013-07-12)