BCO Lifestyle: Private Islands

"You guys sell islands? Like, real islands?"

 Schloss Island

You can hear the slight awe, and longing, and envy, in the voices when people say this to us. It's true; BC Oceanfront sells private islands - whole, entire islands that are privately owned in a price range to suite many budgets.

Leech Island

Owning an island in reality of course requires a lot of thought and planning. How will you get there? (Generally boat, sometimes float plane.) Do you want protected or open water? How far do you want to be from civilization?

Harlock Island 

For some people the owning of the island is enough, and it will never be developed. It will remain a natural escape from the world, perhaps for camping on or just day trips. Or just for someone in a land-locked big city to know, they own an island in the Pacific Ocean.

 Round Island

Other people want to live on the island, at least some of the time if not full-time (and some definitely want to live there full time). That then becomes a more involved exercise. Where does the power come from? How will water be obtained? How will the building materials get there? Some people circumvent all these complicated issued by buying an island already developed, and so only requiring upkeep. But others want to create their own personal retreat and place. For them, the work and the creation of building is part of the desire.

Shewell Island

 

Within the BCO office there is a wealth of knowledge about the realities of coastal properties, including private islands. Ed has spent years working in the remote areas of the coast, making relationships, gathering information and seeing over time what works and what doesn’t. The BCO office team specializes in gathering information about remote areas.

Sturt Island

 

Islands are a dream for so many, and here at BCO, we really can help make that dream come true.

 

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

BCO on the Job: Hanging Signs

When recreational, remote and waterfront properties are your speciality, there are certain logistics that come into play. One that many people don't think of, but is a crucial part of the job, is getting signs up.

Shelley putting up a sign.

 

Ed putting up a sign.

Signs are awkward to carry and transport, and the ones we put up on properties have to be big enough to be visible from a distance. The minimum size is a 4 foot by 4 foot, and usually they are larger than that. Getting them into the boat or truck is one thing, getting them to where they are going to go on the property is another thing altogether!

This was a long hill with that sign in hand.

 

Shelley cliff climbing.

Signs need to go up at all times of the year, and they need to be sturdy enough and mounted well enough to withstand all types of weather, especially some of the wilder winter weather the BC coast can receive. This adds to the challenge of prepping the sign.

 

Keeping the sign standing.

Ed getting a sign ready.

Ed and Shelley are usually the ones to put up the signs, although both of them have recruited others to help on occasion. As Shelley says about these outings, "Sometimes it seems to be a comedy of errors - you never have the right supplies no matter what you bring and something always creates a challenge."

Ed and Shelley had to make this ladder from scrap lumber at the site.

 

 

Logistics on this massive sign were tricky.

Waterfront properties are usually done using Ed's boat. This means that Shelley is often the one sent to place the sign while Ed steadies the boat (and laughs at Shelley).

Was this before or after you dropped the hammer, Shelley?

Sometimes, like this summer, Ed will put friends and family to work putting signs up. In this case he recruited some family friends to get the signs out one day!

Two sets of hands definitely makes it easier.

"Getting the sign on the right property can be difficult," says Shelley. "There aren't any street numbers on these properties, so good mapping and charts are crucial." You don't want to go back and take it down until it is sold!

Picking up the sign hangers.

Some properties require travelling to by vehicle and some good trekking to find the right location to place the sign. Up on trees, in clearings and in other places of high visibility are what is needed. Sometimes on the beach is where it has to go.

A tall lone tree is perfect.

That driftwood root isn't going anywhere.

The reward in getting these signs out comes when we receive a call in the office from someone who is in a boat or on a remote road looking at the sign and calling to inquire about the property, or they've written the number down and called us when they are back in cell range. (Of course that can also pose challenges for us in the office, as we have a lot of signs out there and telling us it was seen from the water doesn't really narrow it down!)

Whatever it takes to get the sign in place.

Sign hanging is just another unique aspect of the BCO office. "It's always interesting, but in the end we get the job done while having fun and being outdoors. Just another thing that I love about the work I do!"

Smile Shelley!

 

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



Coastal Hidden Gems: Kyuquot

Kyuquot is a west coast village well known as a fishing destination and rich in First Nations history. Kyuquot Sound is one of five major waterways on the west coast of Vancouver Island, north of Gold River, where the fishing is exciting and the scenery breath-taking. It is a place to experience the true west coast.

 

The small village of Kyuquot is on Walter's Island in a sheltered bay. It is home to a general store, a government dock and about 300 residents. Most visitors come for the fishing, but there are also opportunities for other marine adventures, such as whale watching and exploring the region. Sea otters are becoming a more frequent sight as well along the west coast of the island.

Kyuquot is accessible by water or air only. Fair Harbour is the closest drive-to community, and that is a three and a half hour drive from Campbell River, mostly on gravel roads. It is a 30 minute boat ride and water taxi can be arranged ahead of time. One can also fly in from Gold River, or take the passenger boat from Gold River (MV Uchuck III).



 

The region has a true west coast history, with high First Nations significance, fur trading, whaling, forestry and fishing all as part of the development and story.

 

Ed says Kyuquot is "one of Vancouver Island's very few communities that still make the west coast of Vancouver Island their home. The abundant sea life is amazing."

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

 

BCO On the Wing, the Art of the Aerial Photos

Often in the BC Oceanfront office, business and pleasure go hand in hand. Case in point - taking aerial photos. When dealing with remote properties, large acreages, private islands, or residential developments, aerial photos can convey a great deal of information about a property and the surrounding location. So whenever the opportunity arises Ed, and sometimes Shelley, get up in the air.

Schloss Island

Ed has his own plane, so when he has a number of places to visit he will hire a pilot to fly him around while he visits properties and takes pictures. These are often long days planned in accordance with the weather forecast, to get the most out of his time in the sky.

Ed with his plane

 

Other times the local pilots will call the office and let Ed know they are going to be doing a flight that they have space on. If Ed or Shelley is able, they will grab their cameras and head out. The more time up in the air the more photos they can bring back to the office. Taking aerial photos is tricky, with glare, reflections and motion all adding to the challenge. Having a large selection of images helps with the final package preparation and lots of angles and different view points provide more information. Often a property will be photographed in different seasons as well, as vegetation coverage changes.

same area, first one in February 2010 second one in July 2012 

Weather (wind, rain, cloud coverage) can play a huge role in when they go flying. Ed has had to reschedule flight days many times when the weather just won't clear up enough. Shelley was out last week, and was unable to get over one of the west coast properties on her list because of wind turbulence.

Upper Campbell Lake

"The fact that this is our work, that we get to go out there and have this fantastic experience, is amazing. It's part of what makes BCO special," says Shelley.

Ed, Shelley, Kate and Louise - Your BCO Office Team!

 

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

BC Coastal Hidden Gems: Haida Gwaii

Haida Gwaii is one of those places that people consider in mystical terms - it's a magical place somewhere off the coast of BC, the BC Archipelago. But not many people actually go there, so although its name is well known it is still considered a hidden gem here at BCO.

Haida Gwaii

 



You can fly into Haida Gwaii or you can take the ferry from Prince Rupert on the BC mainland coast. The two main islands, Graham Island and Moresby Island, are separated by a small strait which you cross by ferry.

on the ferry to Graham Island

 



The main population centres are Sandspit, Masset and Charlotte City. Other populated areas are Port Clements and Tlell. The bigger communities average 1000 people, so the islands definitely have a small town vibe, where neighbours all help each other out. It's also one of those places that attracts a wide variety of people who have chosen to live a little farther away from major cities, etc, and this variety adds colour to the region.

 

Haida Gwaii is known for its First Nations culture and its amazing natural beauty. The most well-known beach is North Beach, outside Masset - where you can find miles of sand dunes and beach to explore.

Fishing is another thing that Haida Gwaii is known for, and many people enjoy visiting the remote lodges in the area. No trip is complete without some time out on a boat!

Haida Gwaii is one of those places that remains in your thoughts for a long time, and is certainly worth the time to get there.

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

 





 







Accessing the BCOceanfront Coast

BC's coast is a vibrant, active place - and it is also very large with lots of water and forests. Getting access to many of the regions and properties can seem daunting, until you speak to locals and people who are in the area frequently. In the BCOceanfront office, understanding the many forms of coastal access is crucial, as so many of the properties we visit are in amazing and remote locations.

The first level of access is BC Ferries. This is the main way most people access Vancouver Island (some fly over) and certainly is the most common way to access most of the more populated islands along the eastern shore of Vancouver Island (lower Gulf Islands, Gabriola, Quadra and Cortes, Denman and Hornby, Malcolm and Cormorant, etc).

The next level is by private, paid boat. On the west coast there are larger foot passenger/cargo boats that service Nootka Sound as well as Barkley Sound. As well, most coastal communities will have water taxi service available to take you to more remote locations.

Some people prefer float plane as a quick way to access remote coastal areas. This works especially well for the mainland coast where there are no roads and boating across the strait can be time consuming. Float planes operate out of most the towns and cities along Vancouver Island.

Forest Service Roads are the backbone of island access, especially in the central and northern sections of Vancouver Island. These are roads put in for the use of the logging companies, that are open to public use. Caution is always advised when travelling on these roads, and keep in mind smaller forest service roads can be over-grown if they are no longer in service. The larger forest service roads are a major system for recreational access to many of the camping areas and lakes on the island. The most common source of mapping is the BC Backroads MapBook for Vancouver Island, and some Search and Rescue groups also sell maps of the various regions.

Watch for wildlife as well!

The need for some extra planning in accessing these areas is what adds to their beauty and appeal for most people. For those who live and play along the coast, the forest service roads and waterways are an extension of the highway system just as a subway would be to someone from a large city.

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

Coastal Hidden Gems: Tyee Spit and the Campbell River Estuary

For decades the Campbell River was used as an exchange and holding area for many logging operations. In recent years efforts have been made to repair and restore the area, transforming the shoreline back to healthy, indigenous vegetation.

The Tyee Spit itself has been transformed into a wonderful park, complete with walking paths and beach access, a great place to look out over Discovery Passage and across to Quadra Island.

The estuary and Baikie Island are still works in progress, but are quickly becoming naturalized once again thanks to hard work by a number of groups.

A great place to explore in the middle of the city.

 

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