BCO Coastal Gems: Broughton Archipelago and Area

The Broughton Archipelago is a collection of islands and waterways off the north-eastern coast of Vancouver Island, between Vancouver Island and the mainland. It encompasses dozens of islets and islands, collectively brought together into the Broughton Archipelago Provincial Park. Many people refer to the area in general (not just the park) as the Broughton Archipelago, or the Broughtons.

The park was established in 1992, however the region has long been known by boaters and kayakers as a wonderful place to explore. It has also long been known as an excellent place to see whales and other marine wildlife.

Many of the communities around the area provide services into the Broughtons, such as whale watching, fishing and kayaking tours. There are also a number of floating lodges and marinas tucked in to the waterways and islands.

Whether exploring from a base such as Telegraph Cove, Sointula or Alert Bay, or taking a multi-day boating trip in the region, the Broughton Archipelago will amaze and delight any outdoor adventurer.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

BCO Coastal Gems: Knight Inlet

Knight Inlet is a majestic body of water on the coast of BC. The largest of the major southern BC inlets, it has become well known for magnificent Grizzly Bear watching. The spectacular landscape and easy access from Johnstone Strait and Vancouver Island make this body of water attractive to sight seers, fishermen and whale watchers.

The inlet is 125km long and averages 2.5km in width. It produces strong turbulence and outflow winds, affecting conditions in Queen Charlotte Strait at its mouth.

Properties in this region are accessed by boat or float plane. It is home to wilderness lodges and fishing resorts, most of them floating.

Knight Inlet is a place that takes your breath away and leaves you feeling in awe of the raw wilderness that shapes so much of coastal BC.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

BC Coastal Gems: Sointula and Malcolm Island

Sointula is a small community on Malcolm Island, off the north-east coast of Vancouver Island. It is reached by ferry from Port McNeill. The town is vibrant with colourful buildings, murals and shops and it is easy to walk around.

The village was originally founded by Scandinavian settlers looking for a secure place to create a Utopian society. After world wars and personal disagreements, the settlement dispersed. 

By then fishermen and other resource workers had joined the town, resulting in a varied and rich history for the community.

Pulteney Point lighthouse is just a short drive to the north tip of the island. As soon as you are away from the town all the roads on the island are gravel, but they are in fairly good shape. The lighthouse offers a great vantage point to look at northern Vancouver Island as well as the narrow waterways to the north.

Malcolm Island's beaches are wonderful for walking, and show the exposure of the coast to the winter storms. Views from the east side of the island look out over the BC mainland and the Broughton Archipelago, where one can watch the marine traffic go by.

Of course, one of the main reasons people come to the area now is to see whales. There are lots of opportunities to go on whale watching boats, but often the whales can be seen from the shore. There are certain areas on the north-east side which are commonly frequented by the whales at different times of the year, including some beaches where the whales are known to gather and rub along the cobble stones (as in the pictures above taken at Bere Pt Regional Park).

A gem of a place; one that adds some magic into the lives of all who visit.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

A Typical BCO Day

At 8am Ed and Shelley meet at the dock in Campbell River. Ed has already stocked the boat with signs and the necessary equipment for banging them up. They have the folders they need for properties they are visiting, as well as the mapping to make sure they are at the right properties. Looking at a flat map and comparing it to a shoreline has become second nature to them.

Banging up the signs is generally Shelley's job, as Ed has to manoeuver the boat and then hold it off shore while Shelley is onshore. The signs are 4ft x 4ft, and need to be hefted over the rocks to the nearest tree. Positioning is carefully considered as the signs need to have maximum visibility.

Hanging signs is also the opportunity to take another set of photos of a property. This way we can provide photos from different seasons and different conditions to prospective buyers.

This day there were also property visits. Once Ed knows the property schedule for signage he can then make appointments with clients in the area. They also visit and photograph more extensively new listings, or check on other listings (in this case they visited a new private island listing and also checked on dock repairs at a Cortes listing). This is a nice break from clambering over the rocks.

Every time spent on the water is an adventure. This day Ed and Shelley were entertained by a lone orca and then later by a pod of dolphins.

The last sign was put up late in the afternoon, and by then Shelley had banged her hands more than a few times. These BCO boat days are long - they were finished and back at the Campbell River dock at 8pm, 12 hours after they started out.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

West Coast Wildlife

It's been quite a summer on Vancouver Island, which means Ed has had some good days out on the west coast of Vancouver Island. And spending time on the West Coast means seeing interesting wildlife! These are just a few of our favourites from this year.

Rissos Dolphin

Sea Otter

Sunfish

Deep sea Mussels

Orcas

 

 

What a magical place we live, work and play in.

 

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!