John Harvey Photo

Mid Coast of British Columbia on the Curve of Time





I booked another trip with Jan and the Curve of Time, this time a two week trip from the top of Vancouver Island to Bella Coola on the BC central coast.  (My previous trips on the Curve of Time were Kayaking trips in the Gulf Islands.)  In two weeks we kayaked, whalewatched, hiked and enjoyed many adventures!

You can browse this trip in one of two ways - either click on the map for the segment of the trip, or scroll down and click on the day.

Map of Mid Coast of British Columbia


Codville Lagoon to Jenny Inlet via Ocean Falls Shearwater to Codville Lagoon Jenny Inlet to Cascade Inlet Cascade Inlet to Eucott Hot Springs Cascade Inlet to Eucott Hot Springs Cultus Sound to Bella Bella and Shearwater Cultus Sound to Bella Bella and Shearwater Spider Anchorage to Cultus Sound Spider Anchorage to Cultus Sound Namu to Spider Anchorage Namu to Spider Anchorage Nigei Island to Namu Nigei Island to Namu Hanson Island to Nigeil Island Port McNiell to Hanson Island via Alert Bay Port McNiell to Hanson Island via Alert Bay Shearwater to Codville Lagoon

Giant Halibut Totem

Port McNiell to Hanson Island via Alert Bay

Our first day on the boat, we traveled south of Port McNiell to Alert Bay.  Alert Bay is a small town on Cormorant Island and is serviced by BC Ferries.  Alert bay is home of has the amazing U'mista Cultural Centre and the Nimpkish Burial Grounds.
Male Orca Blowing

Hanson Island to Nigei Island

Our first whales!  Today was a long ride and we saw cruise ships, eagles and other wildlife.  We anchored close to Hope island to try and find Sea Otters but had to settle for a great kayak.
Old Hotel in Namu

Nigei Island to Namu

Namu is an amazing look at BC's own past.  Namu used to be a fishing port and cannery but less than 10 years ago it was closed but not torn down.  Today 6 people are perminant residents and many people a year visit for fishing.
Group of Seven

Namu to Spider Island

This place is right out of a group of seven painting.  The rock is granite and shaped in many interesting ways.
Thin Water in Stopper Group

Spider Anchorage to Cultus Sound

In the morning I took a scenic paddle in the rain with Mike around Spitfire Island.  At noon we moved the boat up to Cultus sound and went for a short hike on a beautiful sand beach.
Eagle Drying Wings

Cultus Sound to Shearwater via Bella Bella

Half way into the trip, we dropped off Ruth and our American friends.  Bella Bella has a resident population of Bald Eagles occupying the high points in the town.
Beach at Sagar Lake

Bella Bella to Codville Lagoon

Codville Lagoon is a provincial marine park on King Island and a pretty good place to call home for exploring the islands.  We went on a rugged walk up to Sagar lake and enjoyed fresh prawns!
Humpback Whale Blow

Codville Lagoon to Nootsum River Day Trip

Humpback whales!  We took a day trip down to the Nootsum River for a paddle in the river and spend some time fishing.
Ocean Falls From Boat

Codville Lagoon to Jenny Inlet via Ocean Falls

Today we started to head inland.  We stopped at Ocean falls - once a town of three thousand, the permanent population now is close to a dozen.  The massive damn in the back used to power the city, power the pulp mill and power the wood mill.  Today it powers the remaining population and Shearwater using just 1/3rd of 1/4 of the capacity.  We ended the day in Jenny Inlet - a calm inlet that was logged in 1992.
Alex MacKenzie From Canada by Land 22d July 1793

Jenny Inlet to Cascade Inlet

Drive up to Dean Channel, turn left and you come to the Alexander MacKenzie Monument - the furthest west Alexander got on his cross Canada trip.  From there we took a left and drove up Cascade inlet and into the most beautiful geography of the trip.
Group in Eucott Hot Spring

Cascade Inlet to Eucott Bay (Eucott Hot Springs)

Cascade Inlet was so amazing, what could we do to top it?  Eucott hot spring was once developed (the remnants of the pier are still visible) but today it's close to natural (the pool is still made with concrete).  I had a soak I won't soon forget.
Little Brown Jobby (Fox Sparrow)

Eucott Bay to Bella Coola

This little brown jobby is one of the most tame wild animals I have ever met and we were very glad to have him on board.


Alex MacKenzie From Canada by Land 22d July 1793
Location: Go To...
Tags: monument, rock, sign
Beach at Sagar Lake
Tags: beach
Little Brown Jobby (Fox Sparrow)
Species: Passerella iliaca (Fox Sparrow)
Tags: bird, shallow depth of field
Old Hotel in Namu
Tags: boardwalk
Male Orca Blowing
Species: Orcinus orca (killer whale, orca)
Tags: BC fauna, marine mammal, spout, whale
Giant Halibut Totem
Tags: art, native art, totem pole
Group in Eucott Hot Spring
Location: Go To...
Tags: hot spring
Group of Seven
Tags: coast, kayaking
Humpback Whale Blow
Species: Megaptera novaeangliae (Humpback Whale)
Tags: spout, whale
Eagle Drying Wings
Species: Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle)
Tags: bird
Thin Water in Stopper Group
Tags: beach, kayaking
Ocean Falls From Boat
Tags: coast, Dam, small town
From: John Harvey Photo > Mid Coast of BC on the Curve of Time
From: John Harvey Photo > John's Overnight Page > Mid Coast of BC on the Curve of Time

I'm so glad I found your site. I don't know when we will be able to cruise this far north but the photos are great and it makes me want to go even more!
Ava
Friday, August 3rd, 2012 at 09:19:03

Leave a Comment

Some HTML allowed: <b>, <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>, but most isn't.  Text length is limited.  comments from first time authors will be reviewed before being posted. comments with swearing or painfully poor spelling will probably be rejected.


Last Modified Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 at 00:28:17 Edit
Copyright and Contact Information.