June 22nd Monday

From: Newcastle Island        To: Blackberry Point, Valdes Island
Start time: 0600        Finish time: 1400      Distance: 31 km
Tide: Nanaimo
0523    2.6
0946    3.3
1605    1.7
2322    4.4

Current: False Narrows
Turns   Max     kts
0333    0636   +2.2
0923    1115   -2.3
1428    1713   +3.0
2144    0007   -3.0

     I was up at 4:30 a.m., made a cup of instant coffee and had a bite to eat. I was off at 6:00 to find a interac machine in Nanaimo. The camp attendants had cleaned me out of my last $20 bill last night. Paddling across Northumberland Channel to Gabriola Island I monitored the marine traffic channel for approaching ferries from both Gabriola and Duke point. I went through False Narrows a little before slack ebb then weaved my way between Link, De Courcy, and Ruxton Islands, taking a bunch of photos of the amazing rock formations along the way.

incredible sandstone formations

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I stopped at the campsite on De Courcy for lunch. It’s a really nice spot and I was tempted to stay the night but it was still too early in the day.

Looking down at the beach from the De Courcy Island campsite

At the south end of Ruxton Island I was going to head strait to Blackberry Point but decided to cut across Pylades Channel to Valdes Island instead and enjoy a nice scenic paddle along the shoreline. Blackberry Point is the nicest campsite on my trip so far, and I have it all to myself, I’m in the shade almost right on the beach all set up with a nice place to sit and cook.
Followed an old logging road for about an hour before turning around but never saw any sign of life. After a hot meal and a not so cold beer I hit the sack around 9:00. This site is a must to return to someday in the future.

Blackberry Point

Old logging road at Blackberry Point