Category: gibsons landing

Stand Up Paddleboarding

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The long sunny days of summer have truly arrived and I can think of no better way to celebrate than my first paddle of the season. I love paddleboarding! Today my hiking buddy and I spent the afternoon getting our workout in Gibsons Harbour. We couldn’t have asked for a better day…temps in the low 20’s (70’s F), sunshine and a light breeze on the ocean. Not a bad backdrop for a workout, is it?

Gibsons Harbour from Winegarden Park

Gibsons Harbour from Winegarden Park

The only downside about paddling is that it is hard to take pictures to help convey the experience. I’m not nearly confident enough to take my non-waterproof camera out for a paddle. Here is a shot from last summer to help you get the idea.

SUP on the Pacific Ocean

SUP on the Pacific Ocean

I take every opportunity to get out on the water. This prairie kid truly appreciates the magic of the ocean. I think what I love most is getting a different perspective on things. You see the landscape around you in a certain way every day…you think you know what your community looks like. Then you get out on the water and get the chance to look back at the landscape in the opposite direction. It is interesting how some things look very different when you can take a 180.

I love the freedom of paddling. Don’t get me wrong…it’s a workout. Core body strength is important in keeping your balance, and your upper body conditioning is way more fun than lifting weights.  But the freedom of being under your own power while gliding through the water…that is something special.  You’re weightless…yet expending energy.  You might work up a sweat…but all you have to do is jump in and cool off.

I am very happy to have SUP’s available for rent now right here in Gibsons Landing. I’ve been out many times in Davis Bay and on Sechelt Inlet, but now I can go 5 minutes from my front door. The new owners of Sunshine Kayaking have added paddleboards to their fleet of kayak rentals. They have also added sailboat tours….can’t wait to try a sunset trip! Mark your calendars…next full moon paddle is July 22.

Polar Bear Swim – January 1, 2013

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Happy New Year!  I’ve come to enjoy a New Year’s tradition…sleeping in (one of my favourite pastimes) and making our way to a Polar Bear Swim.  I haven’t felt the need to actually be the person in the water, but I love to cheer on the brave souls who start the year with a splash.   This year, we cheered on the polar bears at Armour’s Beach in Gibsons.

It was a beautiful crisp, clear morning and temperatures just above freezing.  Plenty of sunshine and a fresh dusting of snow on the mountains…just low enough to touch the highest point on Bowen Island.  A large group that included all ages plunged into the water.  I love to watch the kids…they are very excited about the prospect of swimming.  Then there is this point once they are in the water when they realize, “Hey, this is really cold!”

After the plunge of excitement we took a nice stroll along the beach in Gibsons Landing.  It’s a good start to the year when you can take a refreshing walk along the ocean.  Thank you to those who organize the Polar Bear Swim…a festive and energetic way to start the year.

Canada Day – July 1, 2012

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Happy Canada Day!  This afternoon turned out to be a wonderful sunny Canada Day.  We enjoyed taking some time off to enjoy the day with our friends and neighbours in Gibsons Landing.  One of the special activities was the Gibsons Paddling Club giving trial paddle experiences to anyone who wanted to give it a try.  Two outrigger boats spent most of the afternoon taking adults and children alike for a short trip around Gibsons Harbour.

Gibsons Paddling Club – Gibsons Landing

The main attraction was live music in the amphitheater in Winegarden Park.  The Song Butchers…complete with white butcher coats…were the headline act and did a great job with 2 hours of Canadian music covers.  Live music, farmers market, family & friends, Rotary hot dogs and the Mayor and Council serving up birthday cake…small town fun to celebrate the nation’s birthday.

Winegarden Park
BC Ferries at your door

Soames Hill – February 4, 2012

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It is days like these when I realize that I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Mountains, ocean, rainforest, clean freshwater streams, and fresh air all around….on BC’s Sunshine Coast. I woke up to streaming sunshine and decided that today was an exploring day.
I chose one of my favourite hikes: Soames Hill. I can see the summit of Soames from my kitchen window and love to head up on days to truly enjoy the view. For a change, I chose to challenge myself and head in from Soames Road on Marine Drive. What this means is starting at sea level (or close to it) and heading up for the full 250 meter climb.

Of course this means stopping to catch your breath every once in a while. So I stopped to take a shot of this new bridge, courtesy of SCRD Parks staff. Thank You for the improved safety railings! The smell of freshly cut cedar just adds to the trip.

The lower part of Soames Hill is a winding network of moderate trails through beautiful 2nd growth forest. Many Douglas Firs take 2-3 people to reach around the circumference of a tree.

The top of Soames Hill is what sets it apart from other hiking trails. The views are simply amazing. Today was something special. Like I mentioned, there was full sunshine at my house today. This is not the case for anyone living directly on the Georgia Strait.
Look at the white strip in the middle of the photo. This is a massive cloud bank hovering over the Georgia Strait. You can just see the mountain tops of Vancouver Island sticking up in the background. Gibsons Landing is in the front of the shot.
It was a bizarre seen to sit and watch from above. The photo doesn’t do it justice. Picture a river of lava…bubbling, flowing to the sea. Turn it white, and this is what the fog made me think of seeing it from above. It was a big soft blanket…yet moving in the wind and churning. Big cotton balls of clouds with an uneven surface like a snowbank. I could hear a foghorn in the distance, probably the Nanaimo ferry or another ship hidden in the fog.
I felt blessed to take in this natural wonder and to enjoy a day of sunshine at this end of the Sunshine Coast.

New Year’s Day – Jan 1, 2012

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Happy New Year 2012! It is a beautiful day to start the year. After a delicious breakfast of blueberry crepes, we headed down for the annual Gibsons Polar Boar Swim.

Fresh snow on the North Shore Mountains makes for a great view. As you can see from the waves, it was quite windy on Howe Sound today. It really wasn’t that cold, but the wind made it feel cold.
Unfortunately the Polar Boars conflicted with high tide, so there wasn’t room along the beach for everyone to line up at the same time.

Instead it was a quick dart down the old stairs and into the water. A few brave souls were out today…but not near as many as last year when the weather was just gorgeous.
I love this New Year’s tradition. Start the year off with a BLAST. Take up the challenge. I love to cheer on those who put themselves out there.
Maybe one day I’ll do it too. But for now, I’ll raise a glass and salute those who put it all out there, including one very brave little girl who received the most cheers for her efforts.

Here’s to a great 2012!

Hopkins Landing – December 20, 2011

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So what do you do for fun the week of Christmas? Go to the beach, of course! I couldn’t resist today when the sun made a grand appearance. I postponed the baking and the paperwork and headed outside.





The closest beach to Arcturus Retreat is Hopkins Landing. I love this trip as a quick 1 hour workout. It is a lovely walk, and the scenery is amazing. There is even a bench on which to rest for a mid-trek break. Check out the snow-capped Mount Elphinstone which received another 5″ yesterday. Even the seagulls were basking in the sun.

Looking forward to many more sunny winter days on the beach.

Music in the Landing – June 26, 2011

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How does a month go by so fast? I download a bunch of pictures today…that I meant to write about when I took them… Oh well, I am writing now and that is what counts.

Today was a treat of Gibsons in the summer: Music in the Landing. Today was the first performance of the year. Free concerts in the park in Gibsons Landing on weekends all summer long.

First up were the Knotty Dotters. These ladies are a 7 piece marimba bank playing music inspired by Zimbabwe. Always lively, they just make you smile and want to dance.

I have tried to attach a video that I shot during the performance. There may not be sound, but you can still see the energy that these fabulous ladies play with. One of these days, I’ll upgrade my old camera and then maybe I’ll have full video capabilities.


Music in the Landing takes place Friday evenings in the Gazebo down by the government dock. Saturday during the day there is music near the Visitor Information Centre and/or in the space by Sweetwater Bistro. Saturday evening are full concerts in Winegarden Park…perfect for friends & families to bring the chairs/blankets and enjoy. Sunday afternoon concerts are part of the Gibsons Landing Sunday Market.

Don’t miss! Great concerts all summer long…all local performers.

Soames Hill

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Spring has truly arrived…just in time for Victoria Day weekend. Three weeks since my last real hike and I can feel it…mentally and physically. Why do I let time slip by without getting outside? I couldn’t pass up the sunny and warm afternoon, so I headed for one of my favourite spots: Soames Hill.

A big THANK YOU to the SCRD parks staff for the installation of the new trail signs. Made of wood, they look completely natural along the trail and are a great resource for hikers. There is no getting lost in this park.

Since today was a bright sunny day, I headed directly for the green trail…the 250m summit. Since I haven’t been hiking regularly of late, I was feeling the cardio workout. My quads gave a cheery “Hello!” at about step 150..(there are 206 stairs). But this hike is completely worth the effort. The view from the top is simply amazing.

 

I could sit up there for hours. It is a great place to think, to relax, and soak in the sun. The rockface at the summit shows the power of the mountains and the ocean is such a deep blue. It was low tide today…you can see the sandy beach ringing the land. This is Gibsons Harbour…a few more boats popping up as summer approaches. Vancouver Island is in the distance with a few snowcapped mountains still in view. My photo skills don’t do it justice. It’s an amazing 240 degree view.


This is the view to the southeast. Keats Island is in front with the Paisley Islands in the back. We can’t see these from town…only up this high can we see over Keats. Look at all the boats who have already arrived in Plumper’s Cove for the holiday weekend. It was just a little hazy. On a crystal clear day, you can see to Richmond and YVR.Paradise….just 5 minutes from home. One of the best places in the world to simply escape for a while.

Gibsons Landing – March 19, 2011

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Happy Spring! It may not be official just yet, but today was a lovely spring afternoon to stroll Gibsons Landing. Nothing better than taking a short rest in Winegarden Park gazing out at the marina and the snowcapped North Shore Mountains in the distance.

New this week in the Landing is Feastro the Rolling Bistro. Delicious fresh food from the purple truck. Today I had my favourite treat…halibut tacos which feature organic greens from Henry Reed Farm just down the road. There is a full menu of yummy treats…plenty of seafood options including bonzai prawns, pulled pork, and chicken. My partner tried out the poutine today and thoroughly enjoyed. I think my next trip will be to sample the sockeye salmon taco.


Winegarden Park…the perfect spot to walk the dog, pull up a seat on a bench, and in summer…the place to be on weekends for Music in the Landing. A scoop of locally made gelato from Mike’s Place, an organic smoothie from Liquid Living Room, and a treat from Feastro’s purple truck. So many sweet treats.

Catch Feastro and the Sunshine Coast featured on the Food Network’s “Eat Street” on April 27.

Soames Hill – Jan 8, 2011

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Another gorgeous sunny day on BC’s Sunshine Coast. I just had to get outside to make up for missing yesterday’s group hike. So I headed to one of my favourite sunny day spots…Soames Hill.

Now if you came across these stairs in the middle of the forest, wouldn’t you head upward? Of course! 65 steps to the first bridge and rest point gets you ready. A little heavy breathing and your heart starts beating. 206 total winding stairs in addition to a bit of natural slope gets you to the first mini-summit. It’s those last 35 steps that really get the heart rate up.

But so worth it! The views here are just amazing. Soames Hill is the highest point around Gibsons without climbing Mt Elphinstone. It is 200m to the first viewpoint and 250m to the highest viewpoint.

This shot is looking eastnortheast over Howe Sound to the Coast Mountains. The edge of Keats Island is on the right.


This is the second viewpoint…standing on solid rock. Keats Island is in the front and the Paisley Islands on the far side. There was a single sailboat out in the harbour today…gorgeous day for a sail.


It is hard to see from the picture, but there is a solid rockface behind these trees. This is the otherside of the hilltop…south of the stairs. I was just standing up on top of those rocks a few minutes earlier. Taking this shot, I am on fairly level ground in thick forest.

If you follow this particular trail, you decend all the way down to Marine Drive. Someday I’ll make that part of the hike. The trick is…not wanting to hike up from there. It’s a serious uphill climb. So you park at Shirley Macy to access the main trails and stairs to the summit. If you hike down to Marine Drive and the water….how do you get your car back? Some day…