Volume XVI: Wallace Island
We had poked Rikki's nose carefully around the shoals to peek into
Princess Cove when we passed Wallace Island back in August. Boats were
cheek-to-jowl along the shore, so we kept going, vowing to return when
the crowds had vacated. Following Juniata into the cove this late in
the season, we were greeted by only two other boats. Dave directed how
he wanted us to anchor and tie to Juniata's port side. I took the
opportunity to practice maneuvering Rikki in reverse. I'd only done it
once before in Smuggler Cove, did just fine too. Needless to say, I am
not good at it– yet. Clark and Dave were giving me instructions at the
same time. I told them both that it's best if I can be allowed to feel
how the prop pushes the boat without the noise in my ears, so be quiet
already! I managed to back close to Juniata, then Clark took over and I
handed lines to Marcia..
Clark had baked a low-carb zucchini nut bread while we were underway
from Russell Island. After we settled in at Princess Cove, Marcia
sautéed some of the Tod Inlet apples to go with the zucchini bread.
What a yummy topping that made, lots of butter and cinnamon! Toasty
aboard Juniata after dinner, Dave discussed fitting his boat with an
autopilot like Rikki's.
Here we are, snug as bugs in a rug at Princess Cove, Wallace Island.
Well, at least one bug... Rikki-tikki looks like a giant water skipper,
doesn't he?
Next morning, we rowed our twin dinghies to shore for a hike and a
haircut for Dave. Marcia put the electric clippers into service, deftly
trimming Dave's hair into shape under the canopy of an arbutus tree
while I watched rufous-sided towhees and winter wrens in the shrubs. We
also spotted an eagle sentinel on the rocks to the west of Conover Cove
and a great blue heron.
We found these strange jelly things in the water. At first we thought
they were damaged pieces of jellyfish washed up to shore. But on closer
examination, we saw an attachment foot underneath each creature. Can
you identify these odd jellies? They are about a large hand-width
across, shaped rather like a wing, and with a tendon-like attachment to
the rocks.
The trails were wet with the recent rains and huge, orange maple leaves
draped themselves over everything like damp paper towels.
Wallace Island also has a cruiser memorabilia cabin like the one we
found at the Octopus Islands. Hundreds of small driftwood signs,
emblazoned with the names of visiting boats, hang in profusion from the
ceiling. New arrivals attach their sign to ones already hanging,
creating gigantic mobiles inside the cabin.
At the far south tip of Wallace, Panther Point, Clark appears to have
reached the edge of the world, as the horizon blends away in the fog.
There had been quite a successful small resort on the island for many
years before it became part of the BC Provincial Parks system. Some
cabins and relics are left for visitors to explore. There is a drive to
collect funds for restoration of some buildings. We are not the first
to pose in and around this old pickup truck! Clark's keen eye found a
Rubbermaid-housed geocache under the Jeep. Everything in the box was
soaked, so we drained it out and signed in on a waterlogged Post-It®
note with our geocaching "handle" and the date. Before we go set out
again in the spring, we'll log on to geocaching.com and make a list of
geocaches to seek! Geocaching can add another facet of adventure to our
already fascinating travels. Wouldn't it be fun to leave a Rikki Trail
of geocaches?
Anyway, here we are (except for me, the photographer) all smiles on
Wallace Island.
May the SE gales never blow your way,
Clark & Nina
We found these strange jelly things in the water. At first we thought
they were damaged pieces of jellyfish washed up to shore. But on closer
examination, we saw an attachment foot underneath each creature. Can
you identify these odd jellies? They are about a large hand-width
across, shaped rather like a wing, and with a tendon-like attachment to
the rocks.
The trails were wet with the recent rains and huge, orange maple leaves
draped themselves over everything like damp paper towels.
Wallace Island also has a cruiser memorabilia cabin like the one we
found at the Octopus Islands. Hundreds of small driftwood signs,
emblazoned with the names of visiting boats, hang in profusion from the
ceiling. New arrivals attach their sign to ones already hanging,
creating gigantic mobiles inside the cabin.
At the far south tip of Wallace, Panther Point, Clark appears to have
reached the edge of the world, as the horizon blends away in the fog.
There had been quite a successful small resort on the island for many
years before it became part of the BC Provincial Parks system. Some
cabins and relics are left for visitors to explore. There is a drive to
collect funds for restoration of some buildings. We are not the first
to pose in and around this old pickup truck! Clark's keen eye found a
Rubbermaid-housed geocache under the Jeep. Everything in the box was
soaked, so we drained it out and signed in on a waterlogged Post-It®
note with our geocaching "handle" and the date. Before we go set out
again in the spring, we'll log on to geocaching.com and make a list of
geocaches to seek! Geocaching can add another facet of adventure to our
already fascinating travels. Wouldn't it be fun to leave a Rikki Trail
of geocaches?
Anyway, here we are (except for me, the photographer) all smiles on
Wallace Island.
May the SE gales never blow your way,
Clark & Nina
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