@Christine , a life-long Islander, planned a wonderful fall hike October 5 to Sandy Island, just off the northern tip of Denman Island. Three of us joined her: Carol, Jane and Ian. From Morning Beach Park we walked along the rocky shore – finding salamanders the same colour as the rocks – then Longbeak Point, and across the tidal flat to Jáji7em and Kw’ulh Marine Provincial Park, aka Tree Island, aka Sandy Island. A SAR helicopter was flying low and slow, practicing manoeuvres for most of time we were on the island. Curious and bit annoying.
Christine showed us sea asparagus, sand verbena and various types of seaweed, including one that is dried and used as an exfoliating scrub in spa treatments. She even found some sand verbena in bloom which attracts the sand-verbena moth (Copablepharon fuscum), a species at risk because of its threatened habitat.
Along the beach, we waded through slippery masses of seaweed. From Longbeak Point, we thought we were going to cross another matt of seaweed but it turned into soup. Soup so deep it threatened to overwhelm our rubber boots. Christine, ever the hearty Islander, splashed through in her day-hikers and enjoyed wet feet for the rest of the morning.
We started with intermittent light rain, then steady light rain. We stopped under a huge tree for a snack and after that it rained pretty hard until we got back to Morning Beach Park. It was a lovely, typical fall day. Thanks to Christine for coordinating the ferries and showing us such delights!
I lovely rainy walk on the beach on Tree Island, aka Sandy Island.
Carol, Christine and Ian stand by a large maple on Morning Beach.
Christine
Carol
Ian
Trip Report and Photos by Jane Maduke