More activities on Haida Gwaii

The next day we head to Skidegate to view the Haida Heritage Museum. 

First we stop for coffee at Jags.  Great scones and coffee.

Balance Rock is something that was left just like this from the age of the glaciers.  Lots of legends about this rock.

One of many poles and each tell a story. Very interesting talk by a museum employee 

Kayaking at Queen Charlotte.  Great weather provided calm seas!

The next day we get picked up for our zodiac trip to Louise Island.


Our trusty Zodiac to take us to Louise Island at the north end of Gwaii Haanas

All geared up for wet weather

The company is Moresby Explorers

We arrive at Louise Island where there are the remnants of a once active Haida village.

A picture of what the village looked like

The base where a large home was situated

These are poles that once stood straight but now are precariously close to falling down.  Many are already on the ground.

So used to people this fawn just stood there and allowed me to take his picture.



The day before we went home we drove to Masset for our Deep Sea Fishing experience.

Our little fish boat.

Within an hour we had caught our quota of halibut...our guide was amazing!  We also saw a pod of Orca whales frolicking in the distance.

And then we tried our hand at trolling for salmon.  We caught a coho and a chinook before we called it a day.  Some good eating ahead.

A lovely sunset on our last night.  This was out front of our lodge.

Haida Gwaii

Heading off to Haida Gwaii for a week. Up early at 4 am to get to the airport by 6:30 for our flight to Sandspit at 8:30.  At 7:30 they announce the flight is delayed 5 hours. Mechanical problems. They are limited to the plane that can make the flight as the runway is short. Water on either end.   So we wait. I’d rather have spent a couple more hours in bed but it’s out of our hands.

 

The plane is small

The view is gorgeous along the way.  Weather is great!

We’ve arrived in Sandspit.  Let the adventure begin! 

The next day we take the 20 minute ferry over to Graham Island and drive up to Tlell and hike the 10 km. trail to the Pesuta shipwreck.  This is the area of Naikoon Park.

Half the trail is through the old growth forest and half is along the Tlell River to the beach.

The beach is huge.  The air so fresh.  There are very few people here.

The next day Behn from Gwaii Land Tours picks us up and we spend the day touring Graham Island.  We drive up to Port Clements which is a lovely town and then on to Massett.  On the way we explore the Golden Spruce which is a legend about a tree that has now been cut down.  

Have to read the book!

Fantastic old growth.  The trees are huge.

Dripping with moss the forest has a special feel.

The Over Naikoon Bakery.  Delicious cinnamon buns.

Cathryn, Leanne, Russell and me.

Nee Kun Rose Spit is a 17 km. beach that you can drive out on.

You can drive on this beach....it's huge and there are pieces of shipwreck scattered along the beach.

On a clear day you can see Alaska from here.  Today there is a mist so that you can't see land from here.

Wonderful pole at the picnic area by Taaw Tow Hill where we enjoyed a lovely salmon barbeque prepared by Behn.

Just before lunch we hike up Taaw Tow Hill.  It's all on protective walkway but is quite a climb up. 

The views are amazing from the top.

Tow Hill

Tow Hill is on the left.

We relax after lunch before heading back to Sandspit.

 

Off to Nanaimo!

Went for the weekend to visit Bev in Nanaimo. Weather was great and Bev had some great ideas of what to do.

Pulling out of the ferry terminal at Tswassen.

A beautiful pub outside of Cedar.

Now we head back to Nanaimo to spend the night.

We walk along the ocean to the little shuttle ferry that takes us to Newcastle Island or Saysutshun as it’s called by First Nations.  What a great place.  You can camp, bike and kayak here.

As you can see Nanaimo just across the water.

What a great day.  We walked around the island and it took us 3 hours.  We rewarded ourselves with ice cream!

And back to family. Jamie’s was away for 2 weeks in Ireland and I so enjoyed seeing his little face!

And the other two (Landon and Harper) were up in Kelowna enjoying the water (with dad, Paul)