1995 Vancouver Island Trip

Sunday, 8/17

Day 10: Quadra Island, Campbell River & Nanaimo

Opening to Lucky Jim Mine Looking out of Lucky Jim Mine We took the ferry from Cortes Island to Quadra Island. We started out by walking along Rebecca Spit. This is a long thin piece of land, with a beach on each side and woods in the middle. It's a challenge to walk on the beach, because the pebbles were quite large. There are no public campgrounds on this island. It started raining late in the afternoon as we were looking for the Lucky Jim Mine. This was a gold and cooper mine in operation from 1903-1910. This sight is at the north end of the island. There is a gravel road off of the main road that will take you there. A large flyhweel still remains there and a pit that is still open with a ladder going down into the pit. I went down the ladder about 20 feet with a flash light and all I could see was more ladder leading to a big pit full of green water at the very bottom.Large Flywheel at Lucky Jim Mine It was an earry feeling as we were in the middle of the woods with no one else around, with objects that had been abandoned many, many years ago. There were supposed to be some old bunkhouses in the vicinity but we didn't see any.We wondered if there were any more mines like this, as this was just a wooded area that was not currently being used for anything. After staying here for about an hour we decided to leave but I would like to spend ore time on this islandsome day. We took the ferry back to Campbell River and then drove south on Highway 19 back to Nanaimo.

We went thru the town of Courtney and also pass the pass the fairy exits to Denmand Island. About 45 minutes south on Denman Island we turned east to go to the Horne Lake Caves. There are four caves here. We went in one of them. We hiked about a mile up a steep well-used trail to another cave only to find out it was closed. We stopped at Paradise Bay Campsite nearby as this was a nice site near a lake. We also stopped at Spider Lake Provincial Park which is a day area use only. This had a sandy lakeshore with picnic area. It was still early in the morning and was quiet and peaceful.

Everybody should try it onceMarina in NanaimoI had wanted to go Bungee jumping at the Bungy Zone. Something I have wanted to do for long time. I had always thought it would be interesting to try. I watched a couple people jump 140 feet into the Nanaimo River Gorge wearing a bungee cord. They bounced up and down a few times before being rescued by a worker in a rowboat who would disconnect the bungee cord from around their ankle. The kids didn't think I would do it. Once I got up there I didn't want to hesitate because I thought I might back out. I jumped forward first and I let out a scream as I was going down. I don't think I was worried about falling but I was when I got to the bottom and realized that I would be going back up again. That was the best part. I started thinking this is just the beginning. You go up slower and have more time to think before you start back down again. It was fun and I have done it once since then. Getting back on the road again I was still full of adrenalin just thinking about it. We drove back into Nanimo as this is a area that I recommend going the speed limit because you see a lot of police using their radar guns along the highway. This town has a lot of nice restaurants and large shopping malls. We walked in a nice park along the marina where many people were jogging an d other just enjoyingth scenary. Afterw the marine we went along the main business streets and shopped at four used bookd stores. The best place to buy Canada books in the Providence is the Literacy Nanaimo Bookstore. A large collection and cheap prices with many good Canadian magazines for 25 cents. We looke for a hotel andwould stay at the Dorchester Best Western in downtown and had a great corner room room a view ofthe marina. It was $99 Canadian and well worth it. The clerk mentioned that they were almost booked and that it is hard gettng a room as a walk in.

 

 

 

 

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  • Introduction