Newcastle Island – an iPhone Adventure in BC, Canada

View across Kanaka Bay, Newcastle Island, BC Canada

Kanaka Bay, Newcastle Island
You could be miles away from anyone – except for the giant BC Ferry transporting cars and boats across the horizon.

Getting out and about in the “wilds” of Canada’s Vancouver Island is always such a joy.

Truthfully, we are not really in the wilderness; we’re parked on a dock with two pubs and two restaurants within walking distance. Hardly roughing it! But as our ability to access internet has been patchy at best, I do feel a bit disconnected from the rest of the world.

I also feel as if my cameras are being a bit neglected. We’ve been on and around the water a lot, which is always wonderful, but when it comes to dragging SLR cameras and lenses onto a small dinghy or into a kayak – both at reasonable risk of being swapped by rolling salty Pacific waters – I’m less than keen.

So, I’m giving the iPhone a bit of a workout. I find the restrictions challenging, but, as a friend of mine says: “Love the camera you are with!”

Newcastle Island is a Provincial Marine Park just across the water from Nanaimo, accessible by public ferry or private boat.

Last month, my husband and I rowed our dinghy across Newcastle Channel to walk the network of trails on the island. This month, we kayaked around it, stopping for lunch in a rocky bay.

Join me for an iPhone visit.

Totem Pole against a blue sky, Newcastle Island, BC

“Welcome to Saysutshun – Au’ si:em siyeyu“
Once known as Saysutshun, Newcastle Island was a seasonal fishing site for the Snuneymuxw people of the Coast Salish group. Today, Snuneymuxw First Nation people lead numerous cultural activities in the park.

Looking over the rough bark of an Arbutus tree to Nanaimo boat docks, Newcastle Island, BC

Arbutus Bark
Newcastle Island was named after the famous mining town of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England when coal was discovered here in 1849. Today, the island is covered in trees: arbutus, fir, cedar, maple and oak, among others.

Trail Markers
Walking around the island is a pleasure: the trails are well marked, and mostly soft underfoot from fallen pine and fir needles.

Mark Bay
All types of boats are moored in the protection of Mark Bay.

Old Quarry
From the late 1800s, Newcastle Island was a source of architectural sandstone for large buildings (see: Walks in the Woods), and from the 1920s, pulp stones were quarried for the pulp and paper industry.

Pulp Stones
It took cylindrical cutters about three hours to carve out each pulp stone. A small amount of gunpowder blasted the cut stone loose, and it was lifted out with a derrik.

Pulp Stones
The stones were smoothed with a a lathe; the finished products weighed about 1800 kilos each.

Black Tailed Deer
The island is home to beavers (which we haven’t seen), golden raccoons (which we only see when the cameras are in wet-bags!), and dainty black tailed deer.

“Light Falling on Cedars”

Lilies on the Lake
Mallard Lake in the middle of the island was originally built as a reservoir; today it is a wildlife sanctuary, complete with elusive beavers.

Into the Woods
Pathways of dappled light surrounded by the wonderful smell of cedar and fir are a treat for walkers.

Look Up!

The Forest Floor

Dinghy Below
We tied the dinghy up carefully on the rocky shore when we arrived, before scrambling up the hill to the trails.

Dinghy Stranded
When we returned after walking eight kilometres of trails, the dinghy was high on the rocks and had to be carried back to water.

Aircraft Warning
There’s not a lot of opportunity to take photos when you are watching for incoming sea planes!

Sandy Flats
This beautifully calm bay was named for a Kanaka – a Hawaiian immigrant labourer – who was found guilty of murdering his partner, and who was hung and buried here. They say his ghost still lurks.

Kayaks at Low Tide
We have a knack! We didn’t spend too long over lunch, but the tide had moved out a long way by the time we finished.

Portage
We had to portage over quite an expanse of wet sand before continuing around the island.

Almost Abstract: Seaweed and Ripples in the Sun

Purple Starfish

Great Blue Heron
A great blue heron watched us make our way between Newcastle and Protection Islands before we paddled back into Newcastle Channel and home. Nanaimo sits on the other side of the waterway.

Text: Happy Rambles, Ursula :-)