Our recent trip to the Sunshine Coast wasn’t overly blessed with sunshine, but when it did warm up, it was wonderful.
We were staying just a few kilometres along the coast from Powell River, a mill town that is transitioning to an outdoor hub/cultural centre/pleasant place to while away a few days. We didn’t tackle it, but there is a trail, the Sunshine Coast Trail that runs through the high backcountry, from hut to hut, that presents a moderate challenge to keen hikers.
Instead of taking on the high trail, we drove to the end of the road, mile zero of highway 101, a coastal road that winds north to south 24 000 miles to Chile. We’ve made a good start, only 23 950 miles to go…
Mile zero is in Lund, a bustling little harbour at the end/start of the road. We drove there last week, setting off under cloudy and drizzly skies, but by the time we arrived after a short and pretty drive along a lakeside and through wooded hills, the sun was starting to break through.
We parked in the lot overlooking the harbour, and what a wonderful spot Lund is located in! Our first priority was the ever important second cup of the day, and Nancy’s Bakery was just the place. We sat on the outside terrace in front of the harbour, and with the sun now fully beaming, and after a long cold spring season, we had to nudge ourselves we were in the PNW.
Snow capped mountains in the far distance, boats bobbing on sparkling water, palm trees and lavender plants fringing the terrace, and a fine cup of coffee? Not too bad! Lund is a gateway for adventurous types heading into the wonderfully named Desolation Sound, but in those moments, it wasn’t too desolate. We didn’t rush to leave…
As fine as all the above was, the absolute highlight was spotting a pod of orcas moving across the bay, spouting and speeding from left to right, dorsal fins high out of the water and just outside the harbour. Hello orcas! You made an already great day even better.
I’ll leave it there for this week – remembering the beaming sun and the magnificent orcas has me beaming as I write this. Right now, I can hear the fog horn from the lighthouse, and it doesn’t look as though we’re in for any sunshine anytime soon, so the memories of last week will have to warm us. Hopefully we’ll be saying hello sunshine as we head into summer…
Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
OldPlaidCamper 
What??………..no Orca beer anywhere? You seem to find the end of the road wherever you go.
Looked like a great day to be out and about Adam!
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It was a good one, Wayne! Yes, I’m always curious when there’s an end (or start) to a road. Like where you are – the end of the road is the start of a different adventure?
No orca beer, though a friend of mine claims he was involved in the orca design seen on Vancouver island Brewing labels.
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well lets hope you never come to the the end of the beer road!
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Glad you found this sparkling get-away at the road’s end on a beautiful coast. I’ll bet that Townsite with its kingfisher blue label had a taste of real brightness, too.
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Thanks, Walt! Happy to report the Townsite saison with the kingfisher label was as good as it looked – a winner, like the Sunshine Coast!
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I heard a happy “mmm” come out of my mouth as I read about the pod of orcas you spotted. All these beautiful vistas, sunny day, sparkling waters, bobbing boats…and then orcas too. Wonderful to see your adventure to the Sunshine Coast, pc. Thanks for taking us along.
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Happy you could come along to the Sunshine Coast via the blog! It’s a lovely corner of BC, and because it is a little harder to get to (on the mainland but only accessible by air or sea) it has an isolated – in a good way – feel.
Seeing orcas is such a thrill, and with local numbers being very low, it’s a real lift to the spirits if you do spot them!
Thanks, Jet, and I hope your week is going well!
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Wonderful to learn about another gorgeous part of Canada captured wonderfully in your photos and words!!🙂 This was added to the travel wishlist after reading more about the area and the Sunshine Coast Trail (and, of course, because of the harbor and the orcas). Love the beer artwork and is that the first saison to make the blog?!🙂
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Thank you! I’d sound a bit of a sad beer geek if I knew that this saison is the second to appear on the blog, so I won’t mention that…
Lund was particularly lovely, a delightful setting for a tiny colourful harbour, but I’d say the Sunshine Coast is worth making a trip to. Although it is on mainland BC, it can only be reached by air or sea, so it has an isolated feel. And the Townsite Brewery is highly recommended!
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