Spectacular scenery and wildlife on Quadra Island

July 22, 2013

Spectacular scenery and wildlife on Quadra Island

Leaving Tofino, we head back to the east coast of Vancouver Island, and our next stop Quadra Island. Quadra Island is part of a group of Islands called the Discovery Islans. They form a sort of bottleneck on the east coast of Vancouver Island, with a smaller channel between Campbell River and Quadra Island that all of the main ship traffic, including the Alaska Cruise / inland passage traffic passes through.

As our B and B owner puts in her brochure, Quadra Island is only a ten minute ferry ride from Campbell River, but a world away. 2500 folks call Quadra Island home, and a beautiful home it is. This is where Colin and I learned sea kayaking, and where we took the ferry to Cortes Island and the starting point for our 5 day sea kayaking adventure into Desolation Sound about 9 or 10 years ago.

We stay 4 nights at Harbor House, which has gorgeous views across Drew Harbor, Rebecca Spit and the mainland BC coastal range. Our first two nights are in the sunrise suite, which shares this beautiful view. We eat breakfast every morning on the deck again taking in the view, and soak in the hot tub in the evening, and yes that's right take in the beautiful view. You get the picture- fantastic.

Susan, the proprietor, is a wonderful host, and " leaves us in charge" every night when she leaves to spend the night at her partners home. We feel like we own the place ( oh, don't we wish!).

We do it all here, one day of hiking, one day of biking, and one day of kayaking. The first day we hike to the top of the north and south peaks of Chinese mountain for panoramic views, and a great lunch spot, followed by a hike to the surge narrows at the north end of the island where the tidal flow hits 12 knots at the peak flow.

Second day we ride 22 miles round rip to Cape Mudge, at the southern end of the island, where we picnic, and check out the beautiful First Nation log lodge.

Third day we rent a double kayak for 3.5 hours and kayak out to the Breton Islands, where eagles and numerous seals pose for us. Then I switch to a single and go out for another 3.5 hours, while Donna finds her friends home site (Roseanne is one if her exercise class friends, who is Canadian and whose husband is building their retirement home on Quadra Island).

Our B and B location is so wonderful again, that we do picnic dinners on the deck 3 of our 4 nights.
We reluctantly leave Quadra Island after three glorious days, and four nights here.