Dungeness Spit

What a treat to drive from Bainbridge Island to the Dungeness Spit along the Juan de Fuca Straight. Just across the water we could see Victoria and Vancouver Island. We were really close to home.

Immediately it reminded me of the Sidney Spit, which is on Sidney Island, one of the Gulf Islands near Sidney BC.

I found this map next day and added it.  You can see the Dungeness Spit... and Victoria, with Sidney just north of it. Salt Spring Island is upper left corner.  Then to the right of Salt Spring is the string of islands, Galiano, Mayne and Saturna.

It is over 5 miles one way to the lighthouse near the end of the spit.

This ariel shot even shows the snow capped Olympic Mountains in the background.  On a clear day we see these mountains from our sun deck on Mayne Island.

Much of the spit is protected as a National Wildlife Refuge... and one side of the spit is set aside for nesting birds.

There is endless driftwood in the center of the spit...

and lots of sea gulls...

With just my iPhone camera I caught several gulls in flight.

As I was shooting my family walking on the beach this gull innocently crashed thru my picture.

Here is our family without the sea gull.

Son  Shelby with Kim posed for me.

The spit is full of water-smoothed rock.  

The driftwood provided interesting background and foreground for several shots. Shirley had our grand daughter pose for her.

I had to get a shot of Maizy too.

Other families were also using the driftwood to stage photo opportunities.

Shirley really enjoyed the afternoon walk on the beach... and stopped so I could capture the moment.

Someone carefully balanced these rocks on the driftwood. Lucy wondered how long it would be there?

Shelby set up the iPhone to capture this great family photo of us all on a huge driftwood log. No easy task to get us all to cooperate!

A perfect place to go for an afternoon walk. It is a place that we want to come back to and walk the entire length of the spit, check out the light house and maybe stay overnight there. There are apparently over 200 different species of birds in this area. What a great spot to spend some time.

"It's inherent in human nature to want to know more than I know right now... to want to know some place that I haven't seen before."
-Buzz Aldrin   (Well spoken by one who went to the moon!)

Hiking Campbell Point Trail, Mayne Island

I invite you to join us in a walk along the beach at Bennett Bay... on Mayne Island.  This is one of our favourite beaches and parks on our island.

From this beach many visitors launch their kayaks... and several locals have canoes and small boats at Bennett Bay. If you rent a kayak this is where it gets delivered.

Lots of families were enjoying the beach today... and there is a part of it with some good sand.

When the tide is out you'll see in several places the lines of the rock layers.

Storms wash up some huge pieces of the driftwood on the beach,

When I saw my friend Roger taking a picture of this large piece...

I too wanted a close up of the interesting grain in this log.  I told Roger it reminded me of his hair.

He smiled and agreed.

The hike to the end of the Campbell Point Trail is pretty easy... and not very long.  You can access it from part ways along the beach... as well as from the parking lot.

But when you stop to take pictures it always takes a little longer.

Bennett Bay and Georgeson Island are also part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve... which was formed in 2003.

Georgeson Island is not very far from the point... and it looks like just a little island.  But it is likely five times longer than it is wide.  What we see from here is like looking at the end of your finger, whereas the island is your finger.

Along the trail are several interesting trees.  This huge burl will likely never make it into a woodworking project.  That is what a park does.  It protects natural beauty.

There are several Garry Oak trees at the end of the trail.  These trees are endangered... and we know from experience that to grow one from a starter is a low percentage game.  Shirley wants to try another time starting one from just an acorn.

Garry Oaks are the only native oak in British Columbia.

The survey marker in a rock at the point.

What a great setting to get a photo of your sweetheart.

In several places along the ocean we see large sandstone rocks with thousands of holes in them.

They make interesting patterns... but is there a name for these rocks?

I Googled it and the best answer is they are vesicular rocks... containing vesicles. Does anyone have first hand information about this?

Roger and Lori sat down in one of the larges vesicles for a little break... another photo op.

This blue heron also provided a photo op... doing a little morning fishing.

Climbing back up the hill from the water level we took the road less travelled... and it was a bit of a challenge.

I hope the people who carved their lovers initials into the bark are still together.

"Love me now... or love me never.
If you love me, love me forever."

"I loved you once, love you still.
I always have, and always will."

It seems like the arbutus trees draw me to take their picture... kind of like they invite some to carve their initials into them.

I don't know how this Garry Oak can grow seemingly out of a rock. Life is a struggle for these trees at best... but this one overlooking Bennett Bay has been shaped by the force of the wind over many years.

It was all I could do to catch this paddle boarder across the bay.  This wharf is not in the park...

But it always draws me to take yet another picture when the tide is out... the grain of the rock is beautiful.  That is Georgeson Island again left centre.

I had not noticed before how the rock in the bank is the same rock as on the beach.  Absolutely beautiful as it sweeps around... carved out over centuries of the washing of the waves.

These Canadian Geese spent more time with their heads under the water... feeding off the bottom of the bay... maybe grazing on eel grass.

Lori is checking out some sea life... thinking about possibilities for dinner?

Even this log provides a home for many sea creatures.

To check out some other related websites: Mayne Island Parks
They have lots of other Mayne Island things to do as well.

For a brochure from Parks Canada on the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
There are over 30 places in this park reserve on several other Gulf Islands. I have a goal to try to see them all... so over time if you stick with me, you will see more blog posts on this theme. We're going to have to get a canoe or a kayak to get to several of the remote islands.

If you have any questions or wish printed information on the Gulf Islands National Parks... or hiking information in the Gulf Islands... here is a link to their contact information. They will send you anything they have.

My wife Shirley Ann also does a great blog with excellent photos and poetry.  click on: and the Living is Easy.

Quote of the Day:

"A Canadian is someone who knows how to make love in a canoe." -attributed to Pierre Berton

Hmmmmm ...not as easy in a kayak.