Cowichan Valley - Cherry Point Beach

We hadn't consulted Theo Dombrowski's excellent Secret Beaches series for a few months and I knew that we were "missing" a few beaches south of Crofton. This day (2017-06-04), his advice took us to Cherry Point Beach. I suspect that this awesome sandy beach is anything but secret; at least to the locals. We were surprised by how sandy vast stretches of the beach were. Closer to the little creek that flows out at the one end of Cherry Point Beach, the beach was a bit pebbly.

Sandy stretches at Cherry Point Beach...

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)

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)

Sointula - Log-strewn Bere Point Beach

After logging plenty of steps on Sointula docks in the morning and running into an exceedingly high tide during our attempt to visit Malcolm Island's lighthouse, our afternoon took us to Bere Point. Here the high tide prevented us from getting a good look at much of the beach, but thousands of logs gave Hanne lots of crannies and nooks to poke about in.

Beach at Bere Point 2016-02-09

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

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

Tofino: Cox Bay

It really doesn't matter what time of year you visit Long Beach on Vancouver Island's west coast. Our favourite accommodation in Ucluelet (the Cabins at Terrace Beach) had a "Storm Watching" special on and we took advantage, inviting Barb and Sean to join us.

No matter the season, the beaches here - in this case Cox Bay - are always fun to stroll along. This postcard, taken in early February, features low tide and a rocky outcrop near the northern end of the Cox Bay beach.

Cox Bay beach details at low tide 2014-02-02

Portugal: Sandy Beaches of Almograve

After a few days near the beaches of Nazare, we had travelled inland to Tomar, Portugal. We were duly impressed by the Convent of Christ and the Castelo dos Templários but, after two nights, it was time to head back to the coast. An email from Gail had put us on to Vila Nova de Milfontes, where she and Darryl were staying. We decided to meet them there. Vila Nova de Milfontes did not disappoint. On one of the days of our stay, we did a bit of exploring. At the end of one road, we found the excellent beach of Almograve.

2014-05-14

Portugal; Beach at Nazare

After a few days in Lisbon, we picked up our rental car and headed out of the city. Hanne had picked out a hotel over the internet after I'd mentioned a preference for staying somewhere along the coast. The longer we stayed in Portugal, the more we realised that "by the sea or along the the coast" was an easy target. Much of Portugal is coastal. Thus, for Coast Heads such as we, a perfect place to holiday. Here, in Nazare, in early May, the beaches are as good as deserted.

The beach at Nazare, Portugal 2014-05-08

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)

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) 

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) 

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