Sechelt BC ~ Sunshine Coast Travel

Leaving Saltery Bay ~ Ferry to Earl's Cove B.C.

The 50-minute, 84 km (52 miles) crossing from the upper coast (Powell River) to the lower coast (Earl's Cove) takes you through some wonderfully scenic bays and mountain views.

It's well worth the fare; I'd be willing to pay more if the skies were sunny, as they were this day. This is the view leaving Saltery Bay.

Tourist 'Channeling' for Orcas - None Came

Further out in the bay, from the upper deck railing, watching new peaks come into view as old ones passed out of sight, a fellow passenger said she was hoping to see orcas in this area.

When I told her that so far, whale sightings eluded me, she offered to 'channel' them. Facing the sea and holding her arms wide, she launched into a free form dance while calling out to them. Nobody batted an eye. No orcas appeared that day, but this 'channeler' from Los Angeles gave me a taste of the 'free spirits' we would encounter in Robert's Creek.

Arriving in Earl's Cove  View From the Ferry

As the ferry was pulling into Earl's Cove, I was so happy to finally arrive albeit four hours later than planned (my fault, not B.C.Ferries -- see Powell River page), I snapped a picture of the dock. The air along this coast smells incredibly fresh, scented with a bit of pine and cedar. (About the photo - It's hard to keep the horizon level when the boat is rocking.)

Robert's Creek B.C. Views of Passing Cruise Ships

We drove south from Earl's Cove to Sechelt, where we booked a hotel for the night, then headed south to Robert's Creek around 6 o'clock. Vancouver Coast and Mountains brochure says Robert's Creek is the "most unconventional community along the Sunshine Coast, full of offbeat 'hippy' [sic] types, rambling gardens and talented artisans."

Local Restaurant the Gumboot Cafe in Robert's Creek B.C.

We stayed for dinner in Robert's Creek, sharing the large dining room with a hiking group of ten or so women, all of us tucking into generous plates full of veggies and natural, good-for-you fare, typical not only of the Sunshine Coast, but the entire area, including Vancouver.

If chefs can add seeds, nuts or sprouts to a recipe, you can be sure they will, often all three at a time!  Maybe its something in the air, but generally there are more fitness-sports-health types here per capita than elsewhere in Canada.

Also more dog owners, too. Maybe it's the clement weather that brings them out, or the abundance of walking trails. Outside on the patio, post-prandial 'grass' smoke filled the air.

Two Door Cottage / Tudor Cottage Robert's Creek

So proclaimed the sign outside what we 'heard' to be the 'Tudor Cottage'. I took this photo the next day as we were heading further south to Gibsons and the ferry to Vancouver.

Back at the Gumboot, they were serving frothy cappuccinos on the sunny patio. There are a number of galleries, and really cute little shops selling jewellery, kids' clothing, hiking gear and pottery. Reflecting the laid-back lifestyle, the shops were variously signed 'Closed Tuesday', or Wednesday or Thursday (or all three days) and opened only from noon-4 p.m.

Gibsons Landing B.C. Canada 'Celebrity' Town

Molly's Reach is familiar to those who followed the CBC televison series The Beachcombers. Of course, we had to stop here for a late breakfast! (very good, by the way)

See more about The Beachcombers here.

Gibsons Landing B.C. Houseboats Year Round Homes

s we were but a short drive to the ferry terminal, we had time to look around the marina and boardwalks. In mid-June, the flower baskets were in full bloom, brightening the pier and the resident houseboats.

From the upper level of the marina, there are fine views south to Bowen Island, another favoured residential area, that's accessed by a 20 minute ferry ride from Horsehoe Bay.

Gibsons Landing shops

In Gibsons, we walked round the town shops, stopping into art galleries and the Sunshine Coast Maritime Museum. Along Molly's Lane, we browsed these shops selling jewellery, Tshirts, used books and assorted souvenirs.

The streetscape beyond this lane was exceptionally fine, with masses of blooming flowers and random gnomes surrounding the cottage style homes.

Leaving Gibsons B.C. Ferry Views of Mt Garibaldi

The Langdale ferry heads south to make the 40-minute crossing to Horseshoe Bay.

After a time, Mount Garibaldi (2678 metres or 8,787 feet), the centerpiece of Garibaldi Provincial Park, comes into view.

Mount Garibaldi is located near Squamish, roughly halfway between Vancouver and Whistler, which are host sites for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

When driving the Sea-to-Coast highway that joins the two, it can be difficult to get good views of the mountain; even from this ferry, intervening peaks obstructed the view.

Wyecliffe Park West Vancouver

I had recalled visiting this fine, somewhat secluded park near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal some years before, and wanted to see it again.

We stopped for lunch at the village area to the west of the ferry line up (look for the sign to turn right as you leave the ferry and drive up the hill).

I didn't recall the name of the park at the time, but the staff at the cafe knew it from my description, and gave us directions. From the top of a steep hill through a residential area, we located the sign for the park, and headed down (south) to the bay.

Wyecliffe Park Trail Views Of Vancouver B.C.

A system of trails leads through Wyecliff Park from the gravelly beach upwards along smooth rocks to various forest trails and lookouts with benches.

Parts of the trailo are fairly steep, but the views are worth it!

Along the way, we stopped to watch sea lions sunning themselves on rocky outcrops, and scuba divers air bubbles breaking the waters of the little coves below.

For more Travel Pictures of B.C. Canada, see the menu.

More B.C. pictures and information here:

• Canada Main Page

• Port Hardy B.C.

• Telegraph Cove B.C.

• B.C. Upper Sunshine Coast