Desolation Sound, British Columbia
During the early hours of this morning, the Sea Bird nosed quietly into sheltered waters to the north side of Cortez Island. We had arrived in the Desolation Sound region, mid-way down the eastern flank of Vancouver Island. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and, at this late stage of the season, of great tranquility.
We dropped anchor in Carrington Bay to await dawn, breakfast and a choice of activities ashore for the morning. Under a cloudy but brightening sky, some of us took to kayaks while others opted for guided walks with differing emphases. One group set out for a vigorous uphill hike, another on a more interpretive, yet still aerobic, walk. A third group preferred a kinder, gentler nature ramble along the seashore and wooded meadows looking for birdlife, fall wildflowers and working on our tree identification. Mid-morning, we were able to switch places and sample a different option. During lunch, the Sea Bird made the short transit to Teakerne Arm on nearby Redonda Island.
The sun emerged as we boarded Zodiacs for shoreline birding in this heavily treed fjord. We gained skill in distinguishing glaucous-winged from mew and from the dainty Bonaparte’s gull, and even in sorting out the immature ones. We inspected a log booming ground where rafts of logs are assembled for towing to nearby pulp and saw mills. The birding was good there, and a sizeable colony of Harbor seals appeared to enjoy the convenience of the logs to haul out and bask in the warm, mid-September sunshine.
It proved a delightful way to spend our last afternoon together. We returned to our home afloat for the past week in time to share Captain Martin’s farewell cocktail hour with all the new friends we have made aboard the Sea Bird while exploring the legendary waters of the Pacific Northwest.
