Weekend Warriors July 23-24

Off we went to support Loggers Day in Sandspit ... bit of drizzle but onto the early ferry we piled.
Once in Sandspit with perfect timing, the drizzle stopped and the Parade readied itself.




We signed up for the 5+K walk which was to be around the Spit [a great hike] but the organizers wisely decided to alter the route to run down towards the harbour [as the wind was too strong on the Spit]

After the walk, where we won prizes, for our age categories and gender, we suspect. It was a fine time as so many people thanked us for coming over.

After the walk we moved on to the Loggers Sport activities and watched some chocker setting, nail hammering, axe throwing, and more ... then to the food booths ... a hit was the homemade ice cream.



Now comes the Warrior bit ... instead of camping overnight we all came home and arranged to meet at the 10 ferry for an adventure in search of a new trail and an old whale.

The "new" trail was built 13 or so years ago for horse expeditions? ... we google-earthed it ... we found the 3 Rocks and off we went ................. wonderful trail worthy of a royal procession.

It intersected exactly where we wanted to be at the entrance to the Secret Cove trail [we had left one car at each trail end, the second car was at the 3 Rocks, along the Sheldons Bay road].

We headed down to Secret Cove beach then picked up the trail around the headland ... and eventually down to the boulder beach and along to the "whale beach".

Our bone enthusiast was in 8th heaven ... while she sniffed out the bones, the shell people wandered along looking for what they might fine new [having been there 2 weeks before]. After a bit to eat ... it was decided to try to hike out with some bones ... we had un-sanded a great specimen and detached a bit from the orange decaying chunk.


Then loaded off we went for the walk home, had not gone long when an "ooohhhhh" was heard when one of the group went down with badly sprained ankle. We choose great people to hike with; a prepared professional who had tape and knew what to do, and a injuree who was strong, stubborn and single-minded [getting back].

All worked well and we arrived back at Secret Cove, very close to on schedule for a cookie and water rest stop ... then the easier trail to the car, back for the other car and finally food break at the Sandspit Inn .... with our shell goodies, whale bones, a quite a memorable story, a very swollen ankle and all exclaiming over what a great trip and that we're coming back again.

The ankle is improving daily.

Tlell ... Art in the Park July 17, 2011

Off again around 8:30 heading north to connect with the Park in the Park Plein Aire event celebrating 100 years of Canadian Parks.


Some hikers and some artists met at the Tlell Bridge Parking lot where we were welcomed by Judy and Penny. Our first highlight was getting to visit at Penny's Studio ... thanks so much!


Next we headed down Andrews Place where we were directed to a new trail down to the beach [sort of Tow Hill road for walkers] ... there we visited with the various artists "doing their work".


Some wandered down down to the mouth through the dunes; others went off to the Tlell cemetery and still others hid a geocache in honour of Canadian Parks 100 Birthday! [www.geocaching.com ... will soon have this new one posted]

When reassembled one car headed to the auction ... where unexpectedly the car was filled with great deals.

A low key day, out in nature, surrounded by art, visiting with fine people; one terrific day!

2 Mini Outings July 15-16

Low tides again so off we went in search of the "Dungeonesque critters" ... armed only with fingers, 2 buckets and one net. The weather was mild overcast; the seas were calm; the tides were low .... all was perfect, we hoped.








Yes we were successful both on land and in the sea ... dinner was delicious.

The other low tide life was interesting.















Skidegate Days 2011
A Marathon, actually a mini marathon with breakfast at the end was just what we wanted to tackle. So the car pool times were co-ordinated and off we went ... unfortunately we were talking so much that we zoomed passed one of our pick-ups but we soon realized our error and returned -filled the car and still made it on time.
Had a great walk down and back and a tasty breakfast plus a t-shirt, so it was a great beginning to Skidegate Day days.




Thanks to the organizers, marathon crew [loved your shirts] cooks and all the helpers.
















Tomorrow, July 17th is the Art in the Park at Tlell Bridge 9:30 - a walk into the park ...

Sheldons Bay to Secret Cove, July 10, 2011

What a weekend ... birthday bash at Copper Bay thanks to Delores ... was great fun, with great food and new and old friends together.
Some of the hikers stayed at Copper Bay for the night; some stayed at Grey Bay ... and to our delight 5 more met us at the turn-off at the stated time 11:30



Because we were unsure of the trail start we decided to start at the Sheldons Bay side so we left 2 cars at Secret Cove and 2 more at Sheldons and off we went heading southward ...


[Next time suggest walking from south to north ... not as tired for the most difficult part]
Only 2 of us had hiked this before, in the opposite direction 10 years ago; so it was an adventure for all. The beaches were quite varied, small cobble, medium cobble and gigantic boulders! Sometimes we headed into the forest to miss some particularly rocky points ... walked awhile on a wonderful grassy roadway ... sometimes were in the forest's open edge, once on a seagrass meadow but ... mostly on the beach. Many of us picking up moonshells and other fanscinations.











With 9 hikers were we spread out by about half an hour ... which meant when the front group found a trail, the back half didn't necessarily know where the entrance was.
Which was not really a problem until the last and most difficult entry into the forest into Secret Cove ... a last group took 2 routes as some had found some pick ribbons while the other route was a daunting over and around the seaside of the rock bluff. All in about 4 hours in length.

Quite a hike - all feel quite accomplished and probably tired and certainly glad they walked off those birthday celebrations. We'll be back!



A couple of lessons learned ... everyone needs to have their own small pack with their own water and snacks .... because when separated from your partner, which happens, you are without! - not good. Walky-talkys would have been helpful as is flagging tape!

Hiking for the Elusive Crab July 4, 2011

Let's go crabbing without a boat .... Why not ...we checked the tides, low was 10:30 so plans were made to leave at 9:30 as we were heading out the Inlet.

George had scouted the day before ... so we were hopeful but the weather had changed ... high winds forecast. First spot ... too hard to see into the water, waves craching in; second spot ... same thing and a couple of other folks ... the third spot... looked different as the tide seemed much further in and it was a bit of a hike over the rocks and through the rock pools. Decided to try it anyway ... we knew we wouldn't be skunked as we had already found some edible seaweeds and some starfish for the garden [a bean experiment] plus it was so nice to be out there, no rain but lots of wind. Even found a pretty bat star for the Visitor Center Aquarium!



Just getting ready to abandon the crab search when a call went up ... and there were a couple of large male Dungeness crabs and as an extra bonus we found 2 very large Red Rock crabs, they while smaller than the normal catch were very fiesty. Had to carry one by hand to the bucket!


Full of fresh air, we headed home dreaming up new recipes our bucket full enough.


Because it is a long walk back up the beach we stopped at the dock to get some salt water ... it was a very low tide!




On the menu tonight crab and sea asparagus ... we're getting as close as we can to the land/sea.









Next hike is planned for Secret Cove-Sheldons Bay let us know if you want to go, probably Sunday.

Canada Day, 2011

We repeated much of last year's Canada Day adventure when we headed up the backroads to help Port Clements celebrate ... instead of pancake breakfast [last year] we left around 11:00 ish and headed to the Yakoun Lake Trail ...

It was a heavy mist, not quite rain ... and while we didn't see any bears there were lots of twin fawn sets all with spots ... which makes that noisy, bumpy road worth it.


First stop was Yakoun Lake ... the road into the trail is really bumpy and aldery!
Too damp for lunch on the beach so we continued on ...


One car carried on into Port and the other stopped to walk into the Golden Spruce ... while the Yakoun trail was very wet and Spruce trail was very dry ... we met others on both trails ... a young family, workers and a young couple.


In Port Clements our plan was to be there for the Battle of the Bands but we ended up enjoying the Mud Bog event! Battle of the Bands unfortuneately had poor weather set in ... cold wind and some drizzzle so one car lasted for Honey Brown and the other bailed before them [headed to the Crow's Nest] ... we all ended up at St. Mary's Spring at the same time!














It was a fun day, many unexpected experiences ... old friends, and new ones ... we even took our 79 year old on roads she had never been on before let alone walking into Yakoun Lake ... that was special!


A very tall English daisy all by itself on the Golden Spruce trail!