BC trip July 18-25

Hot springs this morning, had it to ourselves for about 30 mins before the float planes started ferrying people in. This place was magic, hard to describe the feelings being there stirred up. Best thing I’ve experienced yet on the trip.

The trek in on the boardwalk

Got to go ashore in Nootka today. It’s the point of first contact between Eropeans and Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation. Pretty cool lighthouse. The highlight was visiting Sandford Williams wood carving studio. His work is world renowned, and pretty incredible to see in person. Seems like he uses few to no power tools and does everything by hand. He had few pieces for sale as he reported spending a lot of time on commissioned totem poles for fishing lodges.

He was working on a beautiful paddle with a salmon pattern when we visited. On the way out, we got invited to join a cougar hunt. It was getting a bit too interested in some of the young campers last night, a shot scared it off, but all of the little ones were waiting on tue dock to get ferried out as a precaution. As we were leaving, one of the year round residents was heading off to find it and finish it off. If only I had the right footwear 

https://hashilthsa.com/news/2019-08-23/guided-spirits-master-carver-finds-inspiration-ancestral-home

This brings back memories.  Probably 15 years ago, we got on ferried over to Yuquot, Nootka with 3 kayaks, camped there and fished from there.  Good times.

-Allen

I was fantasizing about doing something like that, how was there good fishing in kayak range? I know the Salmon can hang tight to Friendly Cove…was Sandford there when you visited? If so, based on what he told us he would have been in his beach front shop.

I guess we did it in 2007.  https://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=347.0

-Allen

Great pics! Keep ‘em coming!

Thanks for sharing! I lived in Victoria BC for 6 years and know the island and other places you visited. Thanks for the nostalgia and good luck for the rest of your trip!

That looks amazing.  Was that boardwalk and hot springs near or the same as this one?