Sailing Adventures of s/v Talos IV: Bunsby Islands

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Bunsby Islands

We are now in the Bunsby Islands, a Provincial Marine Park. It's an amazing cluster of islands just off shore from Vancouver Island. Our run over here from Columbia Cove took us through a minefield of islets, rocks and underwater reefs. We had yet another sighting of Humpback Whales cruising by on their way north.

Yesterday, we took the hike from Columbia Cove across the Jackobson Peninsula through an old growth forest to the beach on the far side. Along the way we munched on huckleberries hanging from the branches and ready for our enjoyment. The beach was incredible, warm and a totally unexpected delight. It was at least a mile long with soft white sand. The shore above the beach was riddled with driftwood and flotsam washed up from the many storms that must battered the shoreline during the winter months. We kept our eye out for Japanese tsunami debris, but saw nothing but fishing floats, presumably from local fishing boats, plastic bottles and the like. We were the only ones there, making it feel very remote and isolated. Later in the day, we took the kayaks out for a jaunt around the cove. The water is fairly clear with visibility down a good 10-15 feet. We saw what was left of a coast guard cutter that had gone aground several years ago. It was amazing how the sea had literally bent and crumpled the all metal vessel into nothing but a pile of twisted metal and shards.

Once reaching the Bunsby Islands earlier today and getting the anchor set, we took the dinghy out for a bit of exploration around the islands. Among other sights, we saw numerous sea otters. Apparently they are one of the few success stories of a re-population of a nearly extinct species along the west coast of Vancouver Island. Their numbers are now in the 2,700 range along this coastline. Once back on Talos IV, we spent the late afternoon watching the local bald eagles hunt for fish in the cove. Janet cooked up a crab fettuccini dinner with some fresh crab that the crew from s/v Ocean Psalm gave us as we were departing Columbia Cove. It was a delicious way to wrap up another great day.

Tomorrow, we plan to head out to Kyuquot Sound, about 10 miles further south. We will likely hang there for a couple of days and check out a couple of different anchorages.