Lighthouse RV Park, Fanny Bay Aug 18 - 20 Part 1

 We left Lake Cowichan all fueled up at 10:30 am. It did not take to long to pack up as we did the majority of it before going to Victoria.

Arrived at 12:30 and drove in to our site #23. According to their "site map", there was not supposed to be anyone next to us on our door side, but apparently the owners changed a few of the sites and have not updated their map! Oh well, it's an okay spot and all the neighbours are really friendly. Most of the sites are fairly staggered although I'm sure our neighbour on the driver's side wished we were smaller ... we certainly took away their view substantially. The first part of the RV park has long-term residents, adding to their rentals in the small cottages. A lot of the other campsites are held by the same people year after year for a few weeks here and there and some for the whole summer. By the look of things, it's good I booked back in the beginning of March. This campsite is quite small with only 40 sites, but well-kept.

We did a minimal setup and then headed over the the Fanny Bay Inn for lunch, two minutes up the road.

 We shared 6 fresh oysters and  I ordered their FBI hamburger and Ray he grilled halibut burger. Both were absolutely delicious. A very busy place, but we were lucky arriving after the major lunch rush, so were able to get a table out on their patio. After 20 minutes they were full to the brim again out on the patio. 

Back to the coach

The side view out our door looks towards Denman Island with Hornby Island behind that. The back of the coach overlooks Mud Bay, with one of the oyster farms facilities and their boats are tied up to the little dock in the bay. 

Looking out our door and seeing Denman Island.

Our rear view

This shows our campsite, centre left behind the blue car and white truck. It looks pretty tight but it's not as bad as it looks.

Ray walked about with his camera and took some shots of the campsite.

Freya is happy here. Lots of people stop to talk to her and pet her, including the manager David, who laid on the grass and had a conversation with her about how she cannot chase her stick lol.  Lots of new smells in a short walking distance. Freya does love motorhome life. She is feeling more like herself with the temps being quite a bit cooler and is eating her whole dinner for once. I think she was just too  hot lately, as was I.

Almost a full moon.

Thursday, woke to another gorgeous morning. We puttered around not doing much until noon when we decided to take a short drive to Rosewall Creek Provincial Park. Lots of little trout fry. (Took a guess as to what they are.)

Old E&N Railway Bridge

Old rail line 

Back in the car  to drive the other way to Buckley Bay Ferry Terminal and visit the Fish Store.  Came home with a huge fresh crab and a bag of fresh Salt Spring Island mussels. Decided to cook it all up as a late lunch. Delicious.

After our tummies were full, I took a walk with Freya and noticed that the tide was way in. Apparently at this time of year they are having King Tides. The oyster farm workers have to work around the tides to get their boats and gear out and it definitely helps with high tide to unload their catch right at the processing plant. Here is the low tide this morning.

Can't even get out of the harbour. Definitely called "Mud Bay" for a reason.

Ray's picture of the low tide in Mud Bay the first day and the second picture it went even lower the following day.

You can see a bunch of the oyster leases out in the water.

Later this afternoon/evening look how high it now is.

Took Freya for her before dinner walk and let her have a swim in the clean water which she really liked.

A lovely day.

Friday morning was a little cloudy. The kids were supposed to come today but Amelia had a rough couple of days after having her 6 month vaccinations so they are staying home. 

Yesterday one of the campers next to us gave us some lovely tomatoes she grew and just picked so of course a BLT was in the works this morning for breakfast. She also came by later in the day to bring Freya some liver treats. Freya's new friend. lol

At 10 am we decided to go on a little adventure and check out the Wacky Woods that are only a short ways up the highway from us. The access property has been sold but you can still get on a trail and see most of the displays. It is mostly overgrown and kind of like a scavenger hunt but we enjoyed it.

COMOX VALLEY RECORD

After 40 years of whimsy, the curtain is closing on the Wacky Woods.

The popular forest-based art gallery was located on private property in Fanny Bay. It was created in the 1970s and maintained by artist George Sawchuk, who lived next to the woods with his family.

Sawchuk, who was born in Ontario but lived most of his life in B.C., passed away in 2012 at the age of 85. According to his widow, Pat Helps, dozens of his artworks were displayed in the Wacky Woods, alongside inscriptions.

“He didn’t do it for the public, he did it for himself,” said Helps. “But someone noticed it and told someone else and the next thing you know, bus tours were coming in and everything.”

A trademark of Sawchuk’s was to incorporate the natural environment into his works. One of his practices was to carve nooks in trees, where he would place wooden books filled with quotations.

As the allure of the Wacky Woods spread, the forest gallery became a popular site for visitors and locals alike. Thousands of people from around the world have visited the Fanny Bay site over the last four decades to witness Sawchuk’s unique art.

“It was just different than their own backyard, I guess,” said Helps.

Here is a link to a video showing how it used to look like. lol

https://youtu.be/dKikqBjnonM

"Here's looking at you!"

Back in the car to visit the Royston Seaside Trail and Shipwrecks on our way to Courtenay.

The trail between the bottom of Lince Road and Chinook Road follows the former Comox Logging railway right-of-way (the road right-of-way is called the Breakwater Esplanade). Starting in 1911, steam locomotives hauled logs from logging camps throughout the Comox Valley to the Royston log dump. The logs were sorted into booms and towed to more protected waters on the inside of Goose Spit. From there, the steam tugs towed the log booms to Fraser Mills in New Westminster. Where it approaches Hilton Road, the railway grade was constructed in the intertidal area. From the end of Chinook Road, a mile long wharf extended into the water.  Logs were tipped off the wharf until the early 1950s when the railway stopped running.

Starting in 1937, large sailing ships and tugs were sunk off Hilton Road to protect the exposed log booming grounds. The wharf was taken down and replaced by a breakwater in the 1950s. Logs were stored north of the breakwater until 2005. The rocks that can be seen within the intertidal area during low tides most likely originate from the fill material placed to construct the railway grade.

The railway grade eroded over time. Erosion accelerated in particular after the log storage in front of the breakwater was taken out in 2005. Neighbours to the trail approached the CVRD and the MOTI repeatedly to repair the trail. In 2012, the CVRD received funding from the Province to help fund reconstruction of the trail which was re-constructed in fall and winter 2013/2014.

Prior to Europeans arriving coastal First Nations used the beaches in the Royston area they called Tle-Tla-Tay to dry smoked herring and herring roe. They would hang fish on frames to catch sea breezes and dry the roe on tree boughs.

Old apple tree along the path.

I noticed another area to see on TripAvisor, the Nymph Falls Nature Park. It was fabulous and so unexpected.

Nymph Falls Nature Park protects 61 hectares (151 acres) of second-growth forest located on the north side of the Puntledge River. The river and falls rage over series of exposed bedrock ledges, from fall to spring, to the delight of white water enthusiasts. In summer, the glacial waters run calm, clear and cool, making the park and nearby Barber’s Hole popular spots for a refreshing dip on hot days.

The spectacular Nymph Falls cascade over fish ladders blasted out in 1977 to help spawning salmon swim upstream. Watch fish returning in October and November to leap their way up the falls. A rock outcrop at the shore provides a good location to view the river, the falls and fish ladder, as well as a sunny site to picnic, sunbathe and swim. Steps to the river located just 40m downstream of the falls provide access to the rock outcrops and pools of clear water. The falls are an easy ½ km stroll from the parking lot along a wide and gentle trail. The trail to the falls is wheelchair friendly with designated parking stalls at the trailhead. Anyone using mobility aids can reach the falls and enjoy a one of the most scenic views in the Valley.

Comox Valley residents use hydroelectric power generated by BC Hydro from the river and dam at Comox Lake. A siren indicates the river is about to become faster and higher. When you hear the siren, evacuate the river and riverside area immediately.

It was about a 10 minute walk to the falls on a fabulous trail made flat and wide enough for anyone with mobility issues to be able to use. There are other trails that are not as wide and flat for adventure and more hiking possibilities.

Looking up stream. 

Looking downstream.

Fortunately for Ray he was getting his pictures before a whole load of tourists arrived.

One of the guys from the top of the cliff to the left waited until all the tourists were there with their cameras poised and jumped into the water ... I only caught his feet. lol

People have created a bunch of pools to get wet in downstream.

The path downstream not so flat and easy. lol

The dude showing off again for the tourists. He made a point of being in your pictures.

A wonderful adventure. We will have to come back again as Ray did not bring his filters for his camera to take better water pictures. Definitely a place to see again.

Heading back home westopped for lunch in Royston at the Roy's Towne Pub. What a cute patio they have. Lunch was pretty good, but like elsewhere they are having trouble getting enough staff and the cooks are brand new and not very fast. After a half hour wait, Ray's fish sliders came cold, the waitress took them off our bill. I ordered fish and chips and they were delicious. Huge portions.

Real champagne grapes.

Back home by 3:30 pm to let Freya out. Temps a little cooler today but still lovely. We were so full from lunch, Ray ate my fish and chip leftovers for dinner.

Another great day. Full moon tonight. It sure is quiet here, the sound of crickets only. 

And that is part one of the adventure. :)