May03_2008

Botanical Glossary - Home - References Cited

Sewell's Marina - 6409 Bay Street, West Vancouver. BC - The family-owned marina has operated at Horseshoe Bay since the 1930s.

Photos - Frames left and right: Horseshoe Bay with a few boats. Of course, Horseshoe Bay is all about boats. This is Sewell's Marina one of the premier moorage locations in the lower mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Salmon fishing from Horseshoe Bay is excellent! On average charters from Sewell's Marina means 15 to 20 minutes running time to the fishing grounds. Horseshoe Bay is uniquely located in the center of most of the prime BC salmon fishing spots.

Center frame: A vintage wooden boat 'Miss Anchorage' chugs out of Horseshoe Bay, rounding Tyee Point towards Howe Sound.

The region referred to as Howe Sound is geographically surrounded by Horseshoe Bay and the world famous road to Whistler on its east and the picturesque town of Gibson's Landing, the jumping off spot for the Sunshine Coast, on its west.

The Howe Sound region comprises 4 separate islands. Bowen Island, with a resident population of 3,000 and serviced by BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay, is a bedroom community of West Vancouver. Anvil Island rises steeply from the sea on all sides and remains virtually uninhabited. The jewels of Howe Sound remain Gambier and Keats Islands with a resident population hovering around 100.

The pristine beauty of Gambier and Keats Islands is untouched and the population has remained small even though they are less than a 30 minute boat ride from Horseshoe Bay. This is due to the fact that there is no car ferry service to either island. Access is by private boat and scheduled water taxi service from Horseshoe Bay or Langdale.

The greatest feature of Gambier and Keats Islands is the quick, easy and cheap access. The fact one can just visit for a day or get there after work on Friday is so convenient. No ferry line up's, no all day traveling and so inexpensive.

Photos - L-R - Mercury XIV is a one of four water taxis operating out of Horseshoe Bay, with capacities of 12 to 40 passengers, providing charter and scheduled services throughout Howe Sound and the Gulf of Georgia.

On board the Queen of Surrey looking from the top deck down to deck four automobile deck watching three dogs hoping for lunch handouts with a young passenger.

Mercury XII leaving Sewell's Marina at Horseshoe Bay on the way to Gambier Harbor.

Photos - L-R - Leaving Horseshoe Bay through Howe Sound on the Way to Langdale - One of the most spectacular views from the BC Ferry boats is the view to the east toward the coastal mountains. This photo shows the Lions Mountains still laden with much snow.

Arriving at Langdale ferry terminal aboard the Queen of Surrey Ferry, looking toward the Queen of Esquimalt Ferry which was built in 1963 at Victoria BC. Overall Length: 129.97 m (426'5") Gross Tonnage: 9,304 Car Capacity: 376. A bit old, but still in operation.

After unloading from the Queen of Surrey, I headed up to Sechelt on the western overlook of Porpoise Bay. This is a view east from my friends place at 6347 Gale Avenue N - looking across the bay toward Porpoise Bay Park.

Click here for more photos of Sechelt for this day.