August 14th to 15th Seymour Narrows and into Campbell River

August 14^th to 15^th Seymour Narrows and into Campbell River           We time our departure from our Kanish Bay Cove anchorage so that we are at Brown point at 10:15.  This will put us through Seymour Narrows at slack.  Years ago we came off the ferry in Campbell River and drove up to where you can watch the narrows.  The currents were roaring through the narrows looking like a class 5 rapids on a white water river.  To safely go through on slack seemed quite anti climatic after seeing the rapids at their most powerful.

We pass into Campbell River and tie up at the Discovery Harbour dock.  We have plenty of time to walk through town and visit the two museums.  Our tour guide at the Maritime Heritage Centre is one of the six person team who lovingly restored the museum’s main attraction, the BCP45, “the only known example of a wooden seiner (in its original configuration) still in existence, a class of vessel intimately associated with the commercial west coast fishery during the 20th century that has all but disappeared from use.”  The BCP45 was launched in 1927 and lovingly restored by volunteers from 2003 to 2007.   

He takes us through each of the exhibits extolling the virtues of all of the generous donors.  Exhibits include an entire huge collection of coast guard and maritime memorabilia donated by the local optometrist, amazing scale model boats made by a local man and donated by his widow, and the research room exhibit donated by the University and on it goes.  This museum is very well done and worth the time to visit.   

The Museum of Campbell River takes you through time showing the way of life for each group of people who have called this area their home over many generations.  This includes First Nations people, loggers, pioneers, salmon industry families and current residents, who over time have tried to mix and meld their lifestyles while sustaining the natural resources that they depend upon.