Fisherman’s Wharf was a very interesting marina in Campbell River. Half of it was mostly pleasure boats and, separated by a pier, the other half was mostly working fishing boats. We were on the fishing boat side and had the opportunity to interact with some very colorful folk. They love to tell stories, one or two of which may have actually been true. They were all entertaining, though.
Since the tidal current is so strong at Campbell River, we waited to leave until the tide turned and we had the current going with us. This meant we didn’t leave the marina until almost noon, then got into Comox after 4 PM. We didn’t really end up getting much help from the current. Along the east side of Vancouver Island, the flood tide comes in from both the north and the south then meets a few miles south of Campbell River. So, the ebb tide north of this point flows north and the ebb tide south of this point flows south. In that middle area, the currents are all mixed up, making for a lumpy, choppy sea.
Other than the sea state, it was a very nice day, the warmest day we have seen up here all summer. By the time we got tied up to the dock, it was over 80 degrees! Luckily, there was a pub right next to the marina (funny how they seem to know that boaters gravitate toward pubs). We sat outside, under the umbrellas, but this time protected from sun, not rain.
Comox is a nice little community with a very nice, inexpensive municipal marina. The community seems to be very water-oriented with the nice weather drawing out the small sailboats, paddleboards, kayaks, fishermen and pleasure boaters into the harbor. There are a couple of other small communities nearby which we did not have time to visit, but the whole area seems quite pleasant.
Again, timing the tides, we left Comox before 7 AM so we could catch the ebb heading south. The first few hours were very smooth and it warmed up nicely with the sun shining. Later, especially when we got out of the lee of a couple of islands, the water started developing some swells, which eventually turned into waves, even though the wind was light. The waves were from the west, and we were heading southeast, so it wasn’t too bad - a lot of movement, but tolerable. While making lunch, I did have to quickly grab the mustard jar as it slid across the countertop, but disaster averted.
Once we ducked into Nanaimo Harbor, however, it was a totally different environment. People were swimming, playing in and on the smooth water - I even saw an outrigger canoe club out paddling. We anchored in a crowded anchorage (it is the “high” season around here for boating), got out the “lounge chairs,” and had some refreshment on the bridge deck in the hot, hot sun. We couldn’t stay up there long before we had to retreat to the shady cabin down below.
Elaine wanted to go to the nearby island to check out the sandstone quarry (where the stones for the San Francisco Mint came from) and the albino raccoons they have there. We tried to find a place to land the dinghy, but couldn't - ending up at a place inaccessible to the quarry. However, what do you know, there was a floating pub with a dinghy dock...
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