It’s that time of year again. Maple Bay Marina is hosting the 15th Annual Wooden Boat Celebration on May 22& 23, 2010. As always there will be many wooden boats for viewing, a few for sale (I bought one of the boats last year…) lots of stuff for the kids and in general a good time for everyone.

If you enjoy wooden boats this is one of the better celebrations with “real” boats that actually get used. I get a little disappointed with some festivals where the boats are looked

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The Kinsol Trestle is an amazing structure when viewed from the air. Aerial photographs show how large the Kinsol Trestle really is from a very different perspective. For those not familiar with the Kinsol Trestle, the trestle was completed in 1920, its dimensions measuring 38m (125 ft) high and 188m (614 ft) long making it the largest wooden trestle in the Commonwealth of Nations and one of the highest railway trestles in the world.

Aerial view of the Kinsol Trestle showing the Trans Canada Trail on the north side, Cowichan Valley, British Columbia,

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Well, in a manner of speaking, Cowichan Valley Photos went camping.  After more than 20 years of sleeping in the great outdoors in a teeny backpacking tent, the family (Cherie, Kevin and Lana, the elderly sheltie) yielded to comfort’s siren call and bought a 24ft Flagstaff 5th wheel in August.  WOW!  Given that a 24ft 5th wheel is somewhat bigger to tow than said backpacking tent, we also bought a beefed up Ford 150 pickup – in flame blue, yet.   So, yesterday, on a whim, off we went to nearby Gordon Bay

Continue reading Cowichan Valley Photos Goes Camping to Gordon Bay Provincial Park

Gordon Bay Provincial Park located on Cowichan Lake is likely one of the most family oriented parks on Vancouver Island in the provincial park system.

The park has a beautiful beach and the water of Cowichan lake is surprisingly warm; the Cowichan Valley has the highest average annual temperature in Canada. Cowichan Lake is known as well for its excellent fishing with rainbow, cutthroat and Dolly Varden trout in abundance. Recreational activities also include hiking, boating, swimming and windsurfing.

Gordon Bay Provincial Park has a spacious camping area with 126 campsites plus an area for

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Brentwood Regatta 2009, Mill Bay, Cowichan Valley, British Columbia

Brentwood College School in Mill Bay holds a rowing regatta every year that is the largest event hosted by a single high school. The numbers are amazing with over 1,500 rowers taking part in 172 races over 3 days. These rowers are from as far away as Bermuda! Walking through the parking area was just incredible with hundreds of rowing shells everywhere one looked.

It was great to see the large crowds out watching on a beautiful spring day and the race organizers did an amazing job of keeping everything running. I’ll

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Past years have seen some old classics arrive such as the SS Master built in 1922, the only remaining wooden hulled steam tug in North America and Glendevon, a 1944 ex Canadian Navy tug that has been lovingly restored.  Numerous

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