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)

Mill Bay - Beach at the Nature Park

It had been quite some time since I'd consulted Theo Dombrowski's excellent Secret Beaches series. I knew there were beaches south of Duncan that were yet to be explored. So, on this weekend, Hanne, Lilo, and I decided to check out the beach at the Nature Park in Mill Bay. As Dombrowski rightly points out, this is not a "lay down a towel, sun yourself, and go for a swim"-type beach. This beach is all about pebbles, rocks, boulders, and seashells. That shouldn't dissuade anyone from visiting the park; the trail through shady forest is well worth a stroll.

Mill Bay Nature Park (2017-06-11)

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)

Silva Bay - The Southern Tip of Gaviola Island

On this cloudy late August day, after exploring the bay on Vance Island, our kayak journey took us to the southern tip of Gaviola Island (part of the Flat Top Islands group near Silva Bay) . This tiny beach is a nice mix of sandstone shelf and sand/broken shell pockets. Come here by kayak, and you are most likely to be alone. Although, a little further along the beach, there are a number of private homes.

Kayaking off the southern tip if Gaviola Island  2014-08-30

Departure Bay: Details of a Stroll in October

Around mid-October, with a reasonably low tide (after having been turned back by high water in the past, I have learned to check this out), I thought I'd take a stroll along the Departure Bay beach, from the access point near the end of White Eagle Terrace, to the Kin Hut. About midway between these points, the lower tide afforded me a perspective, looking along this spit of beach, of the oceanographic research facility. MORE PICTURES

Looking along this spit of beach, the oceanographic research facility (2012-10-14) 

Nanaimo: Hidden Sea Star at Neck Point Park

We find that Neck Point Park in Nanaimo is a great place to take visitors, to introduce them to the east coast of Vancouver Island. Exploring the "neck" portion of the park with Marco and Angela, we noticed quite a few partially hidden sea stars at a fairly low tide.

Spot the Sea Star...  (2013-08-17)

Quadra Island; Cape Mudge lighthouse

April of 2010 found us taking a break on Quadra Island. Of course, we explored the island all around our hotel at Heriot Bay, but our second day took us to Cape Mudge on the other side of the island. C'mon! When is a lighthouse not an ideal postcard shot? 

Cape Mudge lighthouse

Nanaimo: Entwhistle Road Secret Beach

When an August day brings us clouds, wind, and the threat of rain, then that's a good day to work our way through Theo Dombrowski's "Secret Beaches …"

On this date in 2011 we decided to have a look at the Secret Beach at the foot of Entwhistle Road. What a great decision. The wind that was keeping us from kayaking was now kicking up whitecaps that made for postcard scenes. 

A windy day at Entwhistle Road 
Secret Beach (2011-08-06) 

Parksville: Rathtrevor in January

Late January is not everyone's idea of a good time to go to the beach. However, if the beach in question is Rathtrevor Beach (near Parksville), then any time is a good time. Winter grey with just a touch of reddish orange makes for a postcard scene. 

A blustery January at 
Rathtrevor Beach (2012-01-28) 

Texada Island: Beach by Vananda

While spending a few August days on Texada Island, I took the opportunity to explore the island's beaches. Perhaps the most obvious beach, but overlooked by visitors, is the one just on the edges of Vananda. A beach primarily of gravel and larger rocks, augmented by the quintessential drift logs, this shore looks out over Malaspina Strait, towards Powell River.

Looking out over Malaspina Strait
towards Powell River

Texada Island: Quintessentially Summer at Shelter Point

A child's flip-flop, abandoned on a beach log at Shelter Point Regional Park, says summer about as well as anything. Purely postcard material!

 Summer at Texada Island's 
Shelter Point (2012-08-27)

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)

Sidney Spit: Historical Pilings

For years I've been promising myself s trip for Sidney Island. This past June I finally made it. Clearly, there are postcard shots to be had here. Unfortunately, Barb and I had chosen a rainy day that cut our visit short. Obviously an excuse to return at a later date.

Sidney Spit historical pilings (2013-06-23)

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)