Tuesday, June 11, 2019 (Thunderbird RV Park, Campbell River, BC)

We woke to sunny blue sky this morning...it's going to be a fabulous day to go out boating! Emery had called last night to invite us out on their boat this afternoon. So we spent the morning puttering around and preparing for our afternoon.

I took this picture out our back window...we have a view of the estuary when the sites behind us are empty...

We were ready and waiting when Emery and Glenda picked us up at 1:00...and we headed down to the marina where their boat is moored. After getting everything ready, we were off...

Our first wildlife sighting and we hadn't even left the harbour yet...a harbor seal...

A closeup of one of the many gorgeous yachts moored at the marina...

A whale-watching group heading out...

Vancouver Island is in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is 460 kilometres (290 mi) in length, 100 kilometres (62 mi) in width at its widest point, and 32,134 km2 (12,407 sq mi) in area. It is the largest island on the West Coast of the Americas.

We are located at that blue dot. You can see the narrow channel that all the Alaska cruise ships take...

If Steve has recalled correctly this was our approximate route taken from Campbell River, to Refuge Cove, Lund, Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park (barely visible in light green at the bottom) and cruise ships upper left...

Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island...

We weren't out long before Steve said he saw a tower of mist in the distance from a Humpback Whale exhaling through it's blow hole. Emery headed that way but we were never able to get close enough for a clear view or photo before it showed it's tail and sounded into the deep to never be seen again.

Unfortunately so far this year 70 of these whales have been found dead from starvation along the coast from California to Alaska...

This Rhinoceros Auklet kept following us...

 Emery would go to full throttle and this little guy did the same!

Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park. Emery said back in the day the Spanish would off load their sheep to graze here. We'll be checking it out on our way back. A tugboat hauling a log boom...

BC mainland...

Emery said this rocky spit is from glacier deposits...

With the boat bobbing around Steve couldn't tell if there were seals here but after cropping this somewhat blurry telephoto shot there were...

Even this far out from shore we could see boulders below us...

Canadian Coast Guard...

Entrance to Desolation Sound on the BC mainland in the distance...

We stopped on the other side of Cortes Island and had snacks and drinks that Glenda and Emery had supplied...nice!

 Entering Refuge Cove...

In the summertime this place is packed with boats...

They're still a little behind here...LOL!

After checking out the store we headed back to the boat...

 Coffee Shop and Gallery...

The sign in the window said Lucy's Place...the roof and ladder were in sad shape...

Comox Glacier left, on Vancouver Island...

  Approaching Copeland Islands Marine Provincial Park behind the boat ahead...

Sailboats anchored in a bay at Copeland Islands...

 Leaving the islands, left...

 Approaching Lund on the BC mainland...

 The Lund Hotel where we'll have dinner...

Beautiful view as we exit the gallery at the hotel...

 Everyone had pork belly except for Steve who had fish and chips...the food was great!

This guy flew by...

Stairs to the hotel...

That's a big chess board!

Our last stop was to Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park where we had quite the audience!

Harbour Seals, Northern and California Sea Lions frequent the island...

Gulls...

The island is home to the largest seabird colony in the Strait of Georgia...

Cormorants...

As we passed by the sea bird colony these guys checked us out...

They actually followed us for awhile...

That was cool...would be fun to hike around the island one day...

Lots of fishers off the tip of Quadra Island. Campbell River's claim to fame is Salmon fishing capital of the world. Looking back at the mainland as we head back to Campbell River...

As we headed back to the Marina we spotted cruise ships ahead so we continued...passing by Thunderbird RV Park...

And Painters Lodge...

Lodge shuttle leaving sister resort April Point Resort and Spa on Quadra Island headed for Painters Lodge...

Coral Princess...

  Holland America Volendam...

One of the Regent Seven Seas cruise ships. Because of the very strong currents running through the channel the cruise ships time their sailings on a slack tide...

It was getting late so we turned around and headed for the marina. This guy is loaded with crab nets...

The Royal City Star - Fraser River Casino Cruise Ship formerly the Queen of New Orleans...

 Ray and Anne's yellow flag and ours is the other flag...

Just over 7 hours later we were back...what an awesome day! The weather was perfect, the ocean was calm, and the scenery outstanding! Oh...and the company was pretty good too! We live in such a beautiful area of the country and this area is certainly a boaters paradise. Thanks for a wonderful day Emery and Glenda!