Sundog Reflections

We've been having on and off clouds and showers this week. That makes for some really spectacular sunsets here in Powell River, BC. Last Monday I looked across the Strait of Georgia to see this unusual sundog.

It was getting dark, so it was hard to capture the actual colours with my little camera. Sometimes the best shots are just pictures in your mind, don't you agree? -- Margy

There's nothing like that new ferry smell!

Wayne and I travel frequently between our home in Powell River, BC, and my mother's place in Bellingham, Washington. When we are alone, we usually travel by Pacific Coastal Airlines and the Quick Shuttle bus. But when Mom comes for a visit, we drive and take the ferries.

Today's trip included a ride on the new ferry for the Earls Cove to Saltery Bay route. Not only is it a new ferry for the route, it was a brand new ferry. The Island Sky is a 102-metre intermediate-class ferry that was built at the Vancouver and Victoria Shipyards. She holds 600 passengers and 125 vehicles.

The Island Sky began service on February 19, 2009, but today was our first chance to take a ride. And oh, there's nothing like that new ferry smell. There's a large and well appointed elevator if needed, and wide stairwells to get from the car deck to the passenger lounge. Or head on up to the sundeck for some fresh air, magnificent views and photographic opportunities.

The ship has a Coastal Express with a small gift shop and snack bar. Seating includes one section of tables and chairs, and the rest of the passenger area has comfortable chairs, all with great ocean and mountain views.

Bertha (Mom's big Buick) enjoyed her ride on the car deck. There are two lanes tall enough for semi-trucks and double-decker lanes for extra cars on each side. One thing I don't like about the new design is the open bow and stern. During stormy weather it won't be very pleasant. But on a warm, sunny, spring day like today, it's fine. I invite you to come ride our new ferry and visit my home town, Powell River, BC. -- Margy

Top 10 Reasons to Visit Powell River this Spring

Today is the first day of Spring and I'm headed for my favourite place on earth, Powell River, BC. Spring break is coming and people are heading for vacation spots. Here are 10 reasons you should make Powell River your spring travel destination.

10. An exciting ferry ride to get here. BC Ferries serves Powell River. You can easily turn your visit to Powell River into a Circle Route vacation. Check out the CirclePac and Experience Card for extra savings. On the Vancouver to Powell River route you will travel through majestic fjords and pass towering snow-capped peaks. It's an E-ticket ride for sure.

9. Friendly people. One of the first things we noticed about Powell River was that everyone was friendly and welcoming. Stop at the Tourism Powell River Visitor Centre in the Crossroads Village Shopping Centre next to Quality Foods on Mondays through Fridays 9:00-5:00. Pick up a free Powell River Living magazine or Powell River PEAK to see what's happening around town.

8. Great places to stay. In the middle of town is the Town Centre Hotel, check into the Harbour Guesthouse hostel, lounge on the beach at the Oceanside Resort and Cabins, or immerse yourself in history at the Townsite's Old Courthouse Inn. There's a place for everyone. We have a special place in our hearts for the Willingdon Beach Campsite. That's where we stayed when we first discovered Powell River.

7. Tasty restaurants. From everyday to fancy, we have it all. The Vancouver Island University and Brooks Culinary Arts Program restaurant is open for lunch. Start the day with coffee and a cinnamon bun at Rocky Mountain Pizza, get a fantastic omelet at Starvin' Marvins, or grab lunch in the mall at Moose n' Eddies. Don't leave town without a brew and steak at the Shinglemill Pub on Powell Lake. Sit and watch boats coming and going from logging sites and float cabins up the lake.

6. Quaint shops on Marine Avenue. Marine Avenue in the Westview section of Powell River is a mix of new and historic buildings. You'll find business as usual (banks, lawyers, hairdressers, restaurants) and specialty shops. Get a tattoo at Ink Fected, a souvenir at the Paperworks Gallery or a book to read at the Hidden Treasures Bookstore. In August, the whole street closes for the annual Blackberry Festival.

5. The Mill and Historic Townsite. Powell River was founded as a mill town for the Powell River Paper Company. The paper mill is now owned by Catalyst, but Powell River is no longer a company town. Homes are now privately owned and the Townsite was designated a National Historic District by Parks and Monuments Canada in 1995. Discover Powell River's history at the Museum.

4. The Open-Air Market. Powell River's farmers market is open April to September. Watch Around Town in the PEAK for opening and special event dates. Come for fresh produce, flowers, home baking, hand crafts and local entertainers on the Open Mic Stage on Saturdays 10:30-12:30 and Sundays 12:30-2:30.

3. Lots of outdoor activities. Whether you favourite activity is boating, hiking, ATVing, winter sports, kayaking or just relaxing, Powell River has it all. We are famous for our scuba diving, Sunshine Coast Trail, Powell River Canoe Route and rock climbing. Forest campgrounds and easy access to the back country make it paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.

2. Fabulous sunsets. Powell River is located on the mainland of Coastal BC. The town is built on along the waterfront with sweeping views of the Strait of Georgia and Vancouver Island. The Seawalk Viewpoint is a great place to take in the view, or add some fantastic food and see it from the Savoury Bight restaurant at the Beach Gardens Resort.

1. Heading up the lake. Powell Lake is a land-locked glacial carved fresh water fjord. I love living in a float cabin up the lake in Hole in the Wall. You can rent a float cabin or houseboat to experience life on the lake for yourself. You can also read about off the grid living on Powell Lake in Up the Lake and Farther Up the Lake by Wayne J. Lutz at www.PowellRiverBooks.com.

Need more reasons to come? Visit Tourism Powell River. I'll see you here! -- Margy

December Snow Storms

If you read my post yesterday, you know that we had good traveling weather to drive back to our home to Powell River, BC. However, not long after we arrived the snow started to fall.


When we got up this morning, the ground, trees and roofs were very white. It snowed about 5 cm (2 in) overnight and it's still snowing big wet flakes. We decided to walk to our favourite breakfast spot, Starvin Marvin's. A hot cup of coffee was just the ticket to warm our fingers and noses.

On the way back home, we stopped by the marina to see the boats in their very white overcoats. Here in Coastal BC we don't get much snow, so it's fun. On the other hand, I'm not sure my car will make it up the hill to the shopping centre for some needed groceries.

I guess it's a good thing we don't live in Edmonton. Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy are we when everything gets very white! -- Margy

That's My World: BC Ferries to Powell River, BC

Our trip to Powell River today was by car and the BC Ferries system. Powell River retains much of its remote charm because it takes two ferry rides to get there.

We take The Guide (Guide-Meridian) north from I-5 in Bellingham and enter Canada at the Aldergrove Border Crossing. Continuing north on 264th Street (Highway 13) to Canada Highway 1, we bypass downtown Vancouver, and follow the signs to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal.


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Horseshoe Bay in north of Vancouver at the entrance to Howe Sound. On this ferry you can see the lofty peaks of the Coast Mountain Range that will be the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

After landing at the Langdale Ferry Terminal near Gibsons, BC, we take Highway 101 north along the Sunshine Coast. This is a beautiful drive through lush forests with glimpses of the Strait of Georgia along the way. The 84 km (52 mi) drive takes about an hour and a half. The two lane road is good but has lots of winding curves as you near the Earl's Cover Ferry Terminal.

The second ferry takes us around Nelson Island to the Saltery Bay Ferry Terminal. As the name implies, there used to be a fish salting plant here in the early Twentieth Century. A short 34 km (22 mi) drive brings us home to Powell River, BC.

I invite you to come see my home town, Powell River, the Pearl of the Sunshine Coast. Here are some sites for additional information.

Discover Powell River
City of Powell River
Powell River PEAK Newspaper
Powell River Books
Powell River Living Magazine

If you want to see more exciting places from around the world, go to the "That's My World" website. -- Margy

Day is Done

When we are in Powell River, we love to be at our cabin, but sometimes we have to go to town to get some business done. Coming home to a view like this does have its compensations.


The sun is pretty far south this time of year, but it makes a warm glow as it dips behind Vancouver Island to the west. This is one reason they call this the Sunshine Coast. Think of us next time you are planning a trip. The scenery is beautiful, the people welcoming and the possibilities for fun endless. You can obtain more travel information at www.DiscoverPowellRiver.com or check out www.PowellRiverBooks.com. -- Margy

Upcoast Boating Adventures

Powell River, British Columbia, is a small coastal community on the Strait of Georgia.

Each summer our region is the destination for many boaters who are seeking upcoast adventures. They come from Seattle, throughout the Puget Sound, Vancouver and Victoria. Those of us who are locals also seek the pleasures of beautiful scenery and safe anchorages. Here are some of my favourite upcoast destinations.

Take several days to circumnavigate Quadra Island. You'll get a taste of tides and currents. In fact, make sure you go through Seymour Narrows at slack tide. Even the cruise ships traveling the inside passage don't mess with it.

For a piece of history, head on over to Refuge Cove. It has been a thriving outpost since the early logging, homesteading and fishing days.

Cortes Island has both marinas and anchorages to choose from. When we are looking for some dockside fun we head on over to Gorge Harbour.

I've saved my favourite for last. Theodosia Inlet is undiscovered by the summer crowds.

There is a protected spot at the entrance from which you can see beautiful vistas and watch loggers in action. You can read more about our upcoast boating adventures in Up the Strait available at www.PowellRiverBooks.com -- Margy

That's My World: Getting to Powell River, BC

Our last trip to Powell River was an example how easy it is to get here. We left our condo in Bellingham, WA, using the Quick Shuttle bus that connects Seattle and Vancouver airports. It has several stops, one of which is Bellingham Airport.

The bus uses the Pacific Highway Crossing in Blaine. You get off at a special building and take your bags inside to clear Canadian immigration and customs. A passport is not yet required for land travel for US and Canadian citizens in either direction, but you will need a government issued picture ID and proof of citizenship. Rules may change, so check before you go with the Canadian Border Service Agency and US Customs and Border Protection.

The amount of time necessary depends on the number of passengers and buses in line. Plan on at least 30 minutes. By the way, the Quick Shuttle has free WiFi so you can surf the web the whole trip (or work if you must). The cost is very reasonable, about $52.50 one way from airport to airport, or $25.65 from Bellingham to YVR. They will also stop at the train station, downtown Vancouver and most major hotels. Along the way you will see forests, farmlands, small towns, glimpses of the ocean, and finally the big city.

Whether you arrive at Vancouver Airport by bus or plane, Pacific Coastal Airlines has a free shuttle every half hour outside the lower level to take you to the South Terminal. Pacific Coastal has connections to many Vancouver Island and BC destinations. From Vancouver, it is only a 25 minute flight to Powell River.

If you are lucky, you just might get a ride on the Shorts 360. It's a unique plane that looks like a flying boxcar to me. The one-way cost is about $176.40. The Quik Pass includes discount fares for frequent fliers.

Transportation is easy in Powell River. Your Pacific Coastal flight crew can call ahead for a Powell River Taxi to be waiting to whisk you away to your first adventure. If you are on the ground, you can call them at (604) 483-3666. You might be lucky enough to get one of our good friend John's brothers, Rick or Rob. They both have new Prius cars to be environmentally friendly and economical.

If you want a car, Budget car rental is in the terminal. There is also a stop for the Powell River Regional Transit District bus outside. This bus can take you all around town or, with a connection, to the community of Lund at the end (or beginning depending on your point of view) of Highway 101.

No matter how you get here, Powell River is the place to visit and live. Join us here someday soon. If you want to see more exciting places from around the world, go to the "That's My World" website. -- Margy

That's My World: The Hulks

Powell River in Coastal BC started as a company town for the Powell River Company. Brooks, Scanlon & Obrien joined forces to form the Powell River Company, western Canada's first pulp and paper mill.

Powell River was selected for the location because of the close proximity of huge timber resources and a rushing river to be harnessed for power. The mill was started in 1908 and the first roll of paper was produced in 1912.

The Hulks have been a common sight in Powell River since they were installed to form a protective floating breakwater for the mill's log pond in the late 1940's. They are all concrete ships originally built as transports for supplies in World Wars I and II. All ten are the last remaining representatives of their class of ships. The Peralta, holds the honor as THE last concrete ship remaining from World War I.

In 2002 the mill, then owned by Pacifica Papers, eliminated it's pulping operations, but decided to keep the Hulks. They were reconfigured to make the pond smaller for barges of wood chips waiting for their turn in the mill.

The waters off the Powell River coast are deep. It would be expensive, if not impossible, to build a traditional breakwater around the area. The concrete ships sit low in the water, thus providing protection from heavy wave action, even during storms. Huge concrete anchors and massive chains hold the ships in place. Occasionally, however, they must be reset due to the corrosive action of rust and the power of the sea.

Here are some resources to find more history about the hulks:

The Powell River Museum
The Hulks: The Breakwater Ships of Powell River by John A Campbell
Shotcrete Repair of WWII Concrete Hulks
Pulp, Paper and People by Karen Southern and Peggy Bird
Powell River's First 50 Years by the Powell River News
TheSunshineCoast.com

And finally, a shot of the guardian of the pond and its historic Hulks.

I invite you to put Powell River on your list of places to visit. If you are planning a trip to the 2010 Winter Olympics, we are only two ferry rides away. If you want to see more exciting places from around the world, go to the "That's My World" website. -- Margy

That's My World: Introducing Powell River, BC

This is my first "That's My World" post so I would like to introduce where my husband Wayne and I live, Powell River, British Columbia, Canada.

Where is that, you ask? Just go up the coast about 145 kilometers (90 miles) from Vancouver to the "Sunshine Coast" and you'll discover the city of Powell River. Part of the charm (and sometimes frustration) is that it takes two ferry rides to get there. While technically Powell River is not on an island, it feels like island living because of the ferries.

Powell River is a small town, with about 13,000 people living within the city boundaries and a total of 22,000 if you count the surrounding region. The people are welcoming, friendly and helpful. Even if you are a new arrival, it feels like coming home.

The Powell River and nearby Powell Lake were named in honour of Israel Wood Powell, the superintendent of Indian Affairs for BC in the 1880s. The town of Powell River was started in 1910 as a papermill company town. Originally the mill was built and owned by the Powell River Company. It has gone through many hands and is now owned by Catalyst Paper. Once the largest paper mill in the world, it has downsized considerably in recent years.

Powell River is no longer a company town. Homes are now privately owned and the Historic Townsite was designated a National Historic District by Parks and Monuments Canada in 1995. The Townsite is now one of four distinct communities (Cranberry, Westview, Townsite and Wildwood) that unified into the Corporation and District of Powell River in 1955. In 2005, the municipality became the City of Powell River.

Wayne and I have fallen in love with the people and places in and around Powell River. Want to know more? Check the menu of topics in the side bar. Also, come back each week to discover a little bit more about Powell River.


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If you want to see more exciting places from around the world, go to the "That's My World" website. -- Margy