One of our favorite things to do is find a lake and go for a swim and a wash. We often pick anchorage based on their proximity to potential lakes! Our first lake was to a lake at the end of a Grace Harbour. Turned out to be more of a swamp, which didn’t stop Kolby from swimming (but the water snakes almost did).

Bog Lake at the end of Grace Harbour

He almost refused to swim, due to snakes

Watch out for the snakes (Kolby HATES snakes)

I like the waterfall better…

Waterfalls draining into Grace Harbour

The next lake was more of a freshwater lagoon at the end of Pendrel Sound  Kolby, never one to pass up an opportunity to swim, jumped in.

Fresh water lagoon up Pendrell Sound

Kolby goes for a swim

My favorite swimming lake is Cassell Lake, at the end of Teakerne Arm –it’s so warm! We forgot the camera this year, so a photo from 2 years ago will have to suffice! We all had a good wash, even Kyber!

Cassell Lake, 2010

We also hiked to Eagle Lake on Stuart Island, but it was too cold to swim, even for the fish man.

Eagle Lake on a cloudy, chilly day

At the end of Thurston Bay on Sonora Island, we attempted to follow a river to a lake that was on the map, but it was a no go. Instead we raced crab apples down the creek.

Creek which leads to a lake in Thurston Bay

Bushwhacking up river at Thurston Bay

Another great lake is Newton Lake, at the end of Wyatt Cove in the Octopus Islands on Quadra Island. Although the water is a bit chilly, it is crystal clear and fresh. We got there around 4pm and had the lake to ourselves. Kyber got another rinse down, which he was not too pleased about.

Clear waters of Newton Lake, Quadra Island

A reluctant Kyber gets a wash in Newton Lake

Sadly that was the end of the lakes.  I can never get too many lakes.

Watched sunsets

Watching the sunset, Neville Islet

Rebecca Spit sunset

Went swimming in the ocean

Halyards make great rope swing! Welsh Cove

Leaping into the warm waters at Welsh Cove

Went scuba diving

Scuba Steve; at anchorage in Helmkeln Island

Found evidence of past history

Old cabin in Thurston Bay, Quadra Island

Old logging donkey, by Grace Harbour

Shell Midden in Octopus Marine Park

Tried sailing wing on wing

Wing on Wing sail down Hoskyn Channel

Relaxed in the sun

Cuddles on the bow

Search for interesting things on the beach

Kyber 'helps' finding sticks at Rebecca Spit

Seal bones

Beachcombing on Sandy Island

Played games

Nautical Trivia Racing Game - FUN!!

Well we would be VERY HUNGRY is we actually had to live off the land… Kolby said we would probably be eating a lot more oysters. I said I would probably try to cook seaweed – he made quite the face. Here are some of the things we were successful with:

Oysters from the fresh water lagoon up Pendrell Sound.

Ground is covered in oysters, ready for the picking

Huckleberries from just about everywhere, but the best haul was at Eagle Lake off Big Bay, Stuart Island.

Juicy huckleberries

Wild peas, from Moh Creek, up Bute Islet which turned into a delicious Prawn and Wild Pea pasta salad.

Fresh peas from Moh Creek

Lovely Prawn and Pea salad

Sea asparagus, wild mint and wild parsley from Thurston Bay, which turned into Sea Asparagus and Mushrooms and Nugget Potatoes with Wild Parsley. The wild mint I used in a mint and cucumber infusion. Sadly the pears and apples weren’t ripe yet.

Sea Asparagus is very salty -still can't find a good way to cook it!

Mint infusion

Prawns, from most anchorages, but the best haul was 18 from Nodales Channel, off a fish farm by Sonora Island.

Prawns on the bow at anchor in Octopus Islands

Crabs, which we only caught off the mud flat of Sandy Island, by Comox.

Our first crab haul

Crabs and prawns for supper

We did catch a cat in the crab trap, but we decided she could go free.

Caught a Tezi