Vancouver Island and cruise home: 27 August Boat trip to Bamfield

Saturday 27 August

7.15 we were on our way to the Marina to pick up the MV Frances Barkley for a day on the water chugging down to Bamfield. The boat has a very interesting history which is all laid out in the “Ship’s Log”, a newspaper put together by the Lady Rose Marine Service which runs these trips. Essentially the Frances Barkley is a freight vessel, mail boat, passenger craft, servicing the people of the inlet. It is very similar to Sydney’s Riverboat Postman on the Hawkesbury River but on a larger scale.

The M.V. Lady Rose serviced the people of Barkley Sound and Alberni Inlet since 1937. She was retired in 2008 and since then the M.V. Frances Barkley has continued to transport freight and passengers from Port Alberni to Bamfield as well as to the people and settlements along the inlets.

The weather was very kind, if rather windy, and we thoroughly enjoyed our day. The wildlife along the route did not appear except for some whale blows in the distance and an abandoned eagle’s nest. Hopefully, we will have success on our tours next weekend.

Port Alberni seems to exist on fresh air alone. As a tourist place it all shuts down by 6.30pm, we nearly did not get our fish and chip dinner as the place closed at 6.30. Everything else around, except the waterfront restaurant where we had dinner last night, was also closed!

Tomorrow we have an easy start to the day.

The map of the route taken down to Bamfield which is at the bottom of the map

All manner of people live along the inlet

A heron came to visit briefly

Then flew off to another perch

There was an elderly gentleman holding a pole trying to catch the red chain

After several attempts - success. An empty gas bottle was brought on board

Here are some photos of Cooper. Owned by the operators of the cafe near the dock which sold anything and everything to supply all the marine traffic and visitors, as well as ice cream. Every person who bought an ice cream and stayed in one place for long enough was subject to the gaze of Cooper. He was very successful in his attempts to get a lick!

He followed some people right down to the dock. Sat patiently for a lick, then watched as we all boarded the ship for our return journey.

Meet Cooper - he greets all arrivals at the dock

This is the face of hope (that you will give me some of your ice cream!)

Are you leaving me behind?

Yes - looks like you really are going

While the ship was docked in Bamfield we walked to the beach over the hill. A good walk along a road with many homes built into the forest. Brady's Beach at the end of the walk was worth a visit.