Exploring: Wandering along central Vancouver Island

The second half of our June trip to Vancouver Island was spent in the Qualicum and Parksville areas. Visiting family and friends was again our priority. However, there was lots of time for photography.

My photography on the coast is inspired by renown British Columbia artist, E.J. Hughes. I love how he depicts the colour, action and the serenity of the coast. There is a jauntiness to his work that I find very appealing.

Despite the heat I relished the opportunity  to wander some nearby beaches, coves and wharfs. I started with the French Creek Government Wharf. During fishing season it’s a busy place with fishing boats coming and going, some being repaired and cargos of fish  being unloaded. 

Many recreational fisherman launch their boats here. They bring their catches to the cleaning table where fish are gutted, filleted or cut into steaks. Gulls cry out in excitement as they try to make off with the discarded heads, tails and innards. Otters and seals move in to snag anything the gulls failed to fly off with.

Travelling north from French Creek I stopped at an old farm,  a few saltwater wetlands and the government wharves in Fanny Bay and Deep Bay. Sometimes, I chat up a fisherman working to get his gear ready for the next day’s fishing trip. 

While they are all very similar each is quite distinct from the other. For example, French Creek is open to the storms of Georgia Strait and is protected by a huge breakwater built of irregularly shaped granite blocks.  Deep Bay is located on a wide quiet bay with a back drop of the beautiful Vancouver Island mountain range.

In fishing season all of the wharves are busy with commercial and recreational fishermen trying to make their quotas in a relatively short season. The action is frenetic. The colour is vivid. The atmosphere is engaging. There are so many photo opportunities.

An old barn just north of Qualicum Beach caught my attention.  Rustic and weathered, the sun, wind and rain had obviously left their marks on this old gem. It was surrounded by a split rail fence which was as weathered as the barn. Along the fence line, in the long grasses, wild flowers provided a brilliant splash of colour. 

The central east coast of Vancouver Island is known for its long and wide sandy beaches. The water at Rathtrevor Beach in Parksville recedes almost a kilometer at low tide. It is very popular with residents and tourists alike. I like to explore the smaller beach areas. It’s here that I imagine the forefathers of our first nation peoples fishing, digging for clams and harvesting edible plants and berries. 

In the collection of images included here I’ve tried to illustrate the beauty that I found on the Vancouver Island’s east coast. I’m really looking forward to our month long trip to the Island in October. My camera will be very busy.