Page M20 May 16, 1990" This Week ~

TOP STORY

ISLANDS
IN THE SUN

Continued from Page 3
Gently rolling grassland lies
above the beach, with open
campsites between big trees.
Wash from ferries running
through Satellite Channel, on
the island’s north side, make
this area an unsafe anchorage
for large boats.

A three-mile circumnaviga-
tion of Portland Island passes
beaches, sandstone shores,
small islands and islets, reefs
for bottomfishing, and good
campsites. Princess Bay, on
the southeast side, is “down-
town” Portland Island. It’s a
large, well-sheltered anchor-
age.

There may be eagles nest-
ing on Hood Island, just out-
- side Princess Bay. A lovely
sand and gravel beach curves
along the head of the bay.
Open fields above the beach
provide the main campsite on
the island, with outhouses
and directional signs for
island explorers.

Pellow Islets, on the east
side of Portland, are good cod-
fishing grounds and seals
haul out on reefs here at low
tide. There are lots of kelp
beds, rocks and reefs which
make these waters treacher-
ous for cruisers and sailboats,
intriguing for paddlers and
divers. Beaches on this end of
the island are small but sec-

luded: some have reasonably
private campsites above
them.

Royal Cove, behind Chads
Island, is another anchorage

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4

but there are no beaches or
campsites. Cod jigging off
Chads Island, however, can be
productive.

Directional signs show a
network of trails totalling
about seven kilometres. One
path leads to a hand pump for
water, one cuts across the
interior of the island between
the two main anchorages, and
another runs around the en-
tire perimeter of the island.
Apples can be picked in au-
tumn from an old orchard
above Princess Cove. A trail
behind the orchard leads to
some enormous ant hills.

Portland Island, because of
its easy accessibility from
Saanich Peninsula, is widely
used by canoe and kayak
clubs, youth and school
groups. Once a farm to raise.
race horses, a few remnants of
earlier days remain, but most
of the island has
gone wild. It’s a
great weekend des-
tination.

Not as well
known as Sidney or
Portland islands is
Rum Island, site of
Isle-de-Lis Provin-
cial Marine Park.
It’s actually an
isthmus on the east
end of Gooch
Island. Located 4.6
nautical miles due
east of Sidney, all of
this five-hectare
island is parkland.

It belongs to the people of
B.C. through the generosity of
Mrs. Renee Maccaud Nelson
of White Rock, who be-
queathed it to the province
when she died in 1978. She
loved wildflowers and asked
that the park be named Isle-
de-Lis.

Rum Island lies only three-
quarters of a mile from the
Canada-U.S. border and was
used during the days of pro-
hibition as a stash for rum
runners.

The island is a gem, used
little by overnighting yachts-
men because of poor anchor-
age. A tiny, two-sided beach

joins the island to Gooch
Island, but most of the shore-
line is rocky, with deep and
numerous pockets cut into the
shores. It’s really a day-
tripper’s island. There are
some rough camping spots but
no fresh water.

Among the profusions of
wildflowers which adorn the
hillsides are Easter lilies and
bright yellow stonecrop. The
island is a wonderful place to
while away a summer after-
noon and the journey to it, if
youre cautious, is fascinating.

With strong tides, winds
and boat traffic, this trip is
safest with a group if you're
travelling in small boats, par-
ticularly canoes or kayaks. To
minimize wide crossings, and
take in as much scenery as
possible, there’s a six-mile
course from Sidney, hopping
island-to-island.

Travel north to Roberts
Point, then northeast past
LittleShell and Ker Islands to
Dock Island. Paddle across
the channel between Dock
and the northwest end of For-
rest Island, watching for
strong tides and large boats.

The northeastern side of
Forrest Island is the most
scenic, so paddle along this
side to the southern end of the
island, then cross over to
Domville Island. Run through
the channel between Domville
and Rubly Islands, then head
east to Gooch Island.

North Cod and South Cod
Reefs, off the southwest side
of Gooch Island, are well

WHILE DISCOVERING THE DELIGHTS of area waters, boaters should be sure to investigate the joys of Discovery Island Marine &
Park. As shown in this photograph, kayakers often enjoy resting on the island’s beach — while they relax tired muscles, they. |
soak up some rays and discuss the day’s kayaking adventures.

known by scuba divers and, as
the names imply, are good cod
fishing spots. Cooper Reef,
north of Rum Island, and a
reef with a marker off the east
end of Rum, are also good cod
fishing rocks.

Slightly more than five nau-
tical miles south of Rum —

Island, D’Arcy Island is an
84-hectare provincial marine —

park at the north end of Haro
Strait. Though it’s a pretty —
place, this park doesn’t get
much use: anchorage for
yachts is poor and the most
direct route for paddlers and

iy

1s
{

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small boats is a three-mile .
crossing from Island View ®

Beach in the open waters of
Haro Strait.

D’Arcy Island nonetheless
has its attractions. There are
a few gravel beaches, dense
woods, and some small grassy
areas for camping. Wildflow-

ers bloom here dur-

summer, and from
the south end of the
island there are
good views down
Haro Strait to Gor-
don Head, Ten Mile
Point, and Cha-
tham and Disco-
very Islands.

The concrete boat
tramp at Island
View Beach isn’t
usable at low tides
and is difficult to
use in southeast
winds. The safest route for

ing spring and@

people in small boats®

to D’Arcy from Island View
Beach is not the shortest
route. The three-mile direct
crossing is fine on calm days,
but if it appears the wind
could come up, there’s a five-
mile course where shelter is
more accessible.

Travel north from Island
View then east across Cordo-
va Channel to the south end
of James Island. Follow. the
south shore of James Island
then cross Sidney Channel to
Sidney Island. From Sidney
Island’s south end cross
Hughes Passage to the north

Continued

on Page 2