View from Halliday Ridge Trail
In May, we spent five glorious days on Mayne Island. We hiked four trails and rode our bikes twice, strolled through a Japanese garden, and saw black-tailed deer, driftwood sculptures, and much stunning scenery. We’re agreed that Mayne is the most beautiful of the Gulf Islands we’ve been to.
I’ll let my photos prove it.
Day 1: “Giant Arbutus” is the name of a trail, not this tree, in Mount Parke Regional Park.
Halliday Ridge Trail includes some steep climbing … lots of steps … and motivational messaging.
The views from the summit rewarded our efforts.
An actual arbutus trunk, though clearly past its prime
View from Bennet Bay Bistro during a well-earned dinner
Day 2: We cycled to Georgina Point Heritage Park and Lighthouse under cloudy skies, with a few drops of rain.
Day 3: Kadonaga Bay in St. John’s Point Regional Park …
… where 70- to 90-kilometre wind warnings were in effect. No better time for a cliffside hike!
The sheltered return trail, where we could still hear the wind battering the opposite side of the cape
The birds were quite loud, but almost drowned out by the wind (turn sound on).
The last stretch of St. John’s Point Regional Park trail; you’d never know a windstorm
was raging less than a kilometre away (Mayne Island lost power for 26 hours).
Day 4: At the end of the day spent cycling and hiking Mount Parke Regional Park again,
a couple of brazen black-tailed deer dropped by our cabin at suppertime …
… completely unfazed by being videotaped.
Day 5: One last hike in Henderson Park, straight uphill on Vulture Ridge Trail.
Mr. Fluffster made it to the top, but I turned back early … too many steps … too hot.
After lunch on our last day, a Japanese Garden …
… several driftwood horse sculptures on the lawn of a riding stable …
… plus a seal guarding the park across the street.
Next up, Texada Island in September.
