The Adventure Continues.....B.C. Gulf Islands

Newcastle Island is  a Provincial Park across from Nanaimo, B.C.  We enjoyed an easy hike around the island.

Ed tried to enjoy a game of checkers.

The old growth was amazing, we were very happy to see that the forest wasn't striped bare.

An original sandstone column sits at the waters edge, on Newcastle Island. It was in high demand in the 1800's in North America, for its strength and water resistance.

After a wonderful day exploring, Ed and I enjoyed dinner and a cold one on the only floating Bar in Canada.

Yes , the Dinghy Dock Pub. 

At low tide.....I believe the star fish won the battle with the crab and clam.

We anchored at Silva Bay, the southern east side of Gabriola Island.  We waited for the weather to calm down before we made the trek across the Georgia Straight to Vancouver.  Remember, we are still novice sailors...it was sacary.

This is a view from shore of Silva Bay Marina.

Sea Otters enjoy eating their catch on the swim platforms of visiting boats.

A sailboat gleams in the sunlight.

Smugglers Cove Marine Provincial Park is approximately 35 km north of Gibsons, the south side of Sechelt Peninsula. This anchorage was beautiful and picturesque.  The entrance was narrow; we got through at slack low tide. It does have a history; the Chinese were trying to immigrate to the US.  This was a holding station for the Chinese before entering the US.

Yes/No....Ed doesn't obey signs.

Anchoring at Smugglers Cove was a challenge for Ed and myself, as it was our first time stern anchoring.

We took the dinghy around the cove. 

This is a view of our boat from the dinghy.

We hiked around the cove.  What a view from the cliff.