Salt On The Road
A Travel Photo - Journal Of Tryna and Al Morton

Summer 2009 - Campbell River Area



2009-08-04: Eagles

Our campsite looks out on to Discovery Passage just south of Seymour Narrows. At low tide we can cross the street to the beach and watch the eagles feed...

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2009-08-04: Jellyfish

...and check out the huge jellies that have washed up.

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2009-08-05: Float Plane

There are several float plane facilities located here on the spit where we are camping so we get to watch them take-off and land.

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2009-08-05: Container Barges

We are so intrigued by the container barges being pulled north on the passage. They not only have containers but also cars, trucks, modular homes, railroad cars and construction equipment. Who would have guessed how entertained we could be just watching the traffic float by?

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2009-08-06: Cruise Ship

This evening we saw our first cruise ship, the Celebrity Millennium, going south on Discovery Passage. The channel between Quadra Island and us is about 1-mile wide.

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2009-08-06: Sunset

Because we're on the narrow spit at the mouth of Campbell river, the campground has water on two sides. Our sunsets here happen over the river.

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2009-08-07: Burial Grounds

Much of the spit belongs to the We Wai Kai Nation of natives (including our campground). This burial ground has been on the spit since 1880. There was a mixture of totems, many decorated with copper, and markers.

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2009-08-07: Canoe

Near the burial grounds we found the workshop of master carver Bill Henderson who is one of an artistic dynasty here in Campbell River. Zeniqwala, a 45- foot cedar canoe belonging to the local band of natives and housed here at the workshop was launched in 1993.

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2009-08-07: Fishing Boats

Campbell River is renowned as the Salmon Capital of the world by generations of anglers. This harbor is home to many huge working boats.

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2009-08-07: Museum

We visited the local museum which displayed artifacts crafted by First Nations peoples as well as the areas pioneer and industrial history. Here we also got to see a short movie about the blowing up of Ripple Rock which until the early 60's stood in Seymour Narrows making passage through this .9 mile gap treacherous.

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2009-08-07: Carving

In June of each year, the city art council sponsors a carving contest. Here, professionals and amateurs alike transform logs in 5-days into serious and whimsical forms that are displayed here in the park for a while and then moved to various places in the city. This incredible eagle won first place this year.

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2009-08-07: Mudge Point

Mudge Point lighthouse on Quadra Island stands at the southern end of Discovery Passage.

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2009-08-07: Tyee

Seeing lots of little rowboats in the water got us curious so we began making inquiries. We discovered that the tyee pool is located here just off the spit. Tyee are large (over 30 pounds) chinook salmon coming back to the Campbell River to spawn. Before going up river, they mill around the pool acclimating themselves to the fresh water. Anglers here try to catch one of these large fish using only a row boat, 20-pound line, a barbless hook, hand operated reel and a 6-9 foot rod which will gain them entry into the Tyee Club which was formed in 1924.

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2009-08-07: Tyee Club

When one catches a tyee, they bring their catch to the Tyee Club, located down the street from our campground, to have the fish weighed and the line tested. If the fish was caught while following all club rules, the angler becomes a member of the club.

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2009-08-07: Weigh-master

Since the club welcomes visitors, we went for a visit and talked with Bing, the weigh-master and added to our tyee education. Bing invited us to return to the club in the evening for the campfire and stories.

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2009-08-07: Tyee Club

What a fun group and what fish stories. Although only one underweight fish was caught, it was fun to sit there and learn more about this kind of fishing. We then became regulars at the club every night! We also had the opportunity to watch many cruise ships make their way down Discovery Passage while watching the fishermen try to get the big one.

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2009-08-08: Old Growth Forest

We walked through this cedar, hemlock and douglas fir old growth forest on our way to get a glimpse of Elk Falls.

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2009-08-08: Campbell River

This beautiful river will be where the tyee who survive head in a couple of weeks to spawn.

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2009-08-09: Discovery Pier

Discovery fishing pier is centrally located in town and where anglers meet to catch dinner.

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