Return to Shoal Bay, Thurlow Island, Discovery Islands, British Columbia

Our Return to Shoal Bay – One of my all-time favorite places on Earth!

I tried to capture in photos the magnificence of Shoal Bay, to give our readers an idea of how the atmosphere naturally swallows you up and holds you captive to its charms.

One perspective, as we try to describe the character of the bay, is from the government dock, or from the shore looking out towards the mountains. We secured a spot at the end of the Government Dock, with our bow facing shore, putting the snowcapped mountains off our back deck. The enormous mountain range extends north towards the mainland, creating a cavern of mystical yearning.

The other vantage point draws your attention towards the shore; the lush grassy valley and an endless rocky, tidal beach contrast with the stone-cold and often misty mountain range. And the mountains, along with the grassy meadow, together create a feeling of boundless harmony, working together to make us feel as if we are in some gigantic outdoor theatre.

Hard to believe, but Shoal Bay was once a busy gold rush town in the 1890s; later, logging and fishing sustained the town until the 1950s.

Big Music Festival at Shoal Bay

We have also heard that a big music festival used to be held on the grounds every summer. Not sure if this still happens. I can’t help but think, what a majestic venue to host a music event. The sound created in that special place would be magical, to say the least!

A magical, lush forest backs the valley up with busy creeks making their way to the sea by dancing their way through the mossy woods.

We were at Shoal Bay 10 years ago, and the same couple we met then are still there today, keepers of the realm. The homestead has changed little; it still has the same natural style we came to love during our first stay. Visitors to the dock are welcome to get off their boats to roam the grassy knoll gently, while not disturbing the quiet paradise that the owners, along with Mother Nature, have created.

Mark and Cynthia (The Cottages of Shoal Bay) have a few small cottages for rent on the property. The couple has been there for 28 years. Visitors will also find an outdoor “Boater’s Lounge,” a covered patio for visitors to congregate and enjoy the view, a laundry and shower building with indoor and outdoor bathing areas. There are trails in the woods for guests eager to get away from the confines of their boats and to give their legs a stretch on land.

The garden has the feel of effortless creation

A beautiful garden, with a natural stream running through it, lies at the center of the valley; it looks more like a fairy garden than any forced agricultural construction. While I know some hard work went into those plantings, it has the feel of effortless creation. Flowers, herbs, onions, lettuce, kale, sugar snap peas, broccoli, and more grace the garden, happy to grow in the pristine environment. Visitors to the dock are welcome to enjoy time in the garden, pick produce, and leave a token of their gratitude in the jar provided. We did so twice and had a few freshly picked salads during our two-night stay.

A magical, lush forest backs the valley up with busy creeks making their way to the sea by dancing their way through those mossy woods. The stream is one of the natural sounds you’ll hear while cruising the islands in British Columbia, where nature’s sounds rule the environment.

When we leave Shoal Bay, we will head for Forward Harbour to wait for a weather window to transit through Johnstone Strait and onto the Broughton Islands, where we will spend three to four weeks.