Friday, September 12 to Saturday, September 20, 2025 (Puntledge RV Park, Courtenay, BC)

It was almost exactly 2 years ago when we last took a day trip over to Hornby Island, so it was time again to make the trip over to check it out. This time Steve took his drone and got some great pictures an videos. If you are interested in checking out our blog from September 2023, click here.

Denman Island is between Vancouver Island and Hornby Island, so there are 2 ferries to take...the first one is from Buckley Bay over to Denman Island. You must drive to the other side of of Denman Island to the ferry that takes you over to Hornby. We left the trailer bright and early and were in time for the 8:20 a.m. sailing to Denman.

Waiting for the ferry to Hornby Island from the Denman Island Ferry Terminal...

Our first stop once on Hornby Island was at Tribune Bay Provincial Park. We walked to the beach but it was so cloudy and windy that we decided to go for our hike at Helliwell Provincial Park and stop back at Tribune Bay later this afternoon...hoping the wind will have subsided and for some sunshine.

Last time we were here, we hiked the trail loop counter-clockwise...this time we went in the opposite direction...

Huge trees in this area with unusual looking bark...

Steve thinks there are Seals on the distant island so zoomed in with his telephoto lens...

And there they are!

Once out of the forest, the trail follows the ocean...

It's definitely a windy day!

Yeah...a little sunshine!

Steve saw what he thought was the blow mist from a Humpback Whale just left of the distant island. Then he saw the large dorsal fin of a large bull Orca (Killer Whale) rise out of the water just as it disappeared behind the island. 

So we rushed ahead and waited awhile hoping to see it pass on the right of the island, but unfortunately it eventually appeared about a mile away and was barely visible... 

So we continued on...

Vancouver Island and Denman Island in the distance...

Looking back...

Looking back...

The trail takes us back into the forest and the parking lot...

We have always enjoyed this hike...and although the weather wasn't perfect, it didn't disappoint this time. About an hour and a half and 5 kms later, we were back at the car. 

Next on the agenda was a visit to nearby Whaling Station Bay...

A 2:09 minute video of the area...

By this time, we were starving (in an attempt to loose weight, we have both been intermittent fasting with our eating window noon to 8:00 p.m.) so we headed to Ford's Cove on the south end of the island.

We shared Halibut and fries at the Ford's Cove Restaurant...Yum!

After leaving the restaurant we...

...walked to the end of the marina pier.

Thousands of oysters line the shoreline and below the pier...

Steve launched his drone for 360 degree photos from Ford's Cove...

 A 1:05 minute video...

On the way to Tribune Bay Provincial Park, we stopped at Little Tribune Bay...

A 29 second video...

We returned to Tribune Bay Provincial Park...

Steve here: When I was a kid (1967) we used to snorkel during high tide amongst the sandstone formations... 

Take a walk with Steve along the sandstone formations...

Low tide is still 2 hours away. After hot summer days the baked sand would warm the water as the tide came in making it fabulous for swimming...

Our next stop for the day was for ice-cream at the CO-OP and to check out the shops...    

A 30 second video of the area just outside of the island's main grocery outlet, the CO-OP...

We noticed this wood art when we first arrived on the island so decided to stop on our way back. The signage said "By Appointment Only"...

We just missed the 3 pm ferry by about 10 minutes so had to wait for the 4 pm sailing. While we waited we wondered around the small terminal area taking in the views of the Shingle Spit Resort on the right which is relatively new...  

Steve here: These old cabins, now privately owned, used to be rentals as part of the Shingle Spit Campground that no longer exists. We spent many fabulous weekends and summer holidays at the campground in the late sixties...

All aboard!

Saturday morning (Sept. 13) we headed out to CFB Comox...I'll pass it over to Steve now.

I'd heard on the radio that six CF-18 Hornet fighters from the 410 Cougar Squadron located at CFB Cold Lake in Alberta had arrived for intensive training at CFB Comox...  

I noticed a fellow parked in front of us getting out of his car, and his T-shirt read Hazer's Flightline. I've been following him for a few years on Facebook. He takes fabulous photos of and with the military for himself and Skies Magazine. I walked over to compliment him on his photography. He told me the fighters were using his car for simulated strafing runs yesterday diving from 6000 feet to 500 feet, and sure enough they were doing the same today...so cool!

My Nikon D5100 DSLR camera has been on it's last legs not focusing and locking up intermittently but I did manage to get a few shots...

I was blinded shortly before this photo as he dove out from the sun at 6000 feet on a strafing run...

Pulling up at 500 feet and pulling many G's to I'm sure...

After awhile they were done and returned to base...

As we headed home past Point Holmes the waves were up as it was a very windy day...

Not much other than the usual stuff happened over the next few days. I did start a Pilates class on Tuesday that will continue weekly for a couple of months. After my class, we went for our walk on the riverfront and Steve videoed the seals playing...

 

Thursday (Sept. 18) was a clear beautiful day. The forecast over the next couple of days is for blue sky and sunshine with temps in the low 20's. Steve took a picture of the Comox Glacier on our morning walk. Compare this summer photo of the glacier to the winter one at the top of our blog...

Steve took advantage of the good weather to clean out the shed before the winter rains set in. It was more about the many spiders that set up home and their webs. He later sprayed some Spider Blaster...

That evening we had tickets to the 'Ikons of Rock' concert at the Sid Williams theatre. Their bus parked in the lot beside the theatre...

Before the concert, we went to the Gladstone Brewery for a drink which is across the street from the Sid Williams Theatre......

The concert started at 7:30...

The Ikons of Rock are a Canadian classic rock tribute show, originally from Winnipeg, but are now corporately based in Las Vegas with most performers still residing in Canada. The musicians are former members of famous Canadian rock bands like Harlequin and Streetheart.

Journey...

Pat Benatar...

Def Leppard...

KISS...

Joan Jett...

Motley Crew...

Alice Cooper...

He nailed Ozzy Osbourne!

3:28 minute video...Turn up your volume for Ozzy's No More Tears and Crazy Train!

They did Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, Cher, Journey, Pat Benatar, Def Leppard, Heart, Lita Ford, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Motley Crew, Joan Jett, Ozzy Osbourne and a few more...great job on all!

Final song set with the whole cast.

Steve here: What a show! If you ever get the opportunity to see them it's a great evening out. It always amazes me looking around at all of us old rockers, grey hair, no hair, and out of shape bodies and realize that yep, that's us too.😟

Friday (Sept. 19) afternoon, for something to do we went for a drive to Comox Lake. We also checked out their upper campground and found it to be very rustic and more for tents and very small RV's. They do have another small area near the beach for larger rigs but it's awning to awning...

We then backtracked to Cumberland for a brew. British Bitter Nitro...not bitter at all!😋😋

They have a nice outdoor area...

As we have another concert to attend at the Sid Williams Theatre we decided to have dinner at the Gladstone Brewery before heading over...

We love people watching...

Fleetwood Magic are a tribute band from Vancouver, BC...

1:27 minute video of the opening song...

The ladies were especially good!

Father Steve here: Thank you Rob and Angie for the birthday concert tickets...it was another great show and a fabulous night out.

Back to the usual Saturday (Sept. 20)...

And that's it for now! A fast week, as usual...

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