Category: Tours

As you all know, we offer the Columbia III for tours for a very nominal fee at Christmas time. We cruise the local BC waters, well lit with Christmas lights, for a few hours and serve tea, coffee and home made cookies. One passenger was Tom Kruesel of the local Lutheran Church. So about a month ago Pastor Tom called and asked if we would take his congregation out for a similar cruise before our summer season commenced. We had to take the mothership to Campbell River for our annual Transport Canada safety inspection so the time was perfect. This time Pastor Tom supplied the cookies and we the boat and the weather was perfect.

Pastor Tom













Even when the mothership has 25 people on board there are still quiet moments to reflect: warm sun, light breeze, salt air, snowy mountains and just a tiny bit of peace.

Category: Tours

We seem to have started a new tradition in Cambell River BC, the town nearest our island home. Originally we ran the tours at Christmas to allow the many old timers in the area that know and love the Columbia III but realistically aren't going to join one of our tours. For some it is admittedly too expensive or outside their mobility. Many are quite elderly. But still they do love the boat and the chance at a ride aboard "the old girl"is not to be missed. We started out running 2 tours on a Saturday 5 years ago, but we had to expand to Saturday and Sunday. And still we turn down the reservations by the dozens! You have to be quick to get a spot on the much coveted cruise. We charge $10 per per person by donation. If you don't have the money, we don't ask, and everyone seems to appreciate the Christmas thought. Fern and the kids make a MOUNTAIN of homemade cookies for the weekend. I wanted to make a giant batch of chocolate chip cookies for simplicity, but no, there were some very fancy and time consuming Christmas treats made. The candy canes were two types of dough rolled together. I know this is a classic wooden heritage vessel and she is high maintenance, but even the cookies are a lot of work!










Brian and Ann are coastal mariners but they drove the 3 1/2 hours up island to join the 2 hour cruise.

And here is Rick of Rick and Carolyn. They drove 4 1/2 hours(!) just to travel with us again. They had been with us in September in the BC Great Bear Rainforest but they wanted to be on the Columbia III again. It was great to see them. It was a present for us.







I am going to submit this shot below to Transport Canada. They keep a close eye on our operations to ensure everything and everyone is "up to snuff'. So I thought I would reassure them that I am "Training for the future". This little guy was glued to the wheel! His eyes were as big a saucers, even if Tavish had to nudge the wheel a little left or right. He wasn't quite strong enough to steer unassisted but he could sure hang on.

Category: Tours

What a great start to our Great Bear Rainforest Season! There was a humpback whale feeding in harbour! and it spent the whole day lunging for food. Over and over and over. It was a wildlife photographers dream.
And the GBR just kept putting wildlife in our way for all our tours. As crew, we get just as excited as the guests! This stuff never gets "old".











Tara's family has joined us twice in the BC Great Bear Rainforest and once to the Broughton Archipelago.



Two sisters and a daughter. 3 times guests!











Scott from the USA has joined us in the Great Bear for four 9 night tours over 5 years!





Damien Gillis is carving himself quite a name as a political documentarian. We were honoured to have him aboard. And yes, he does have a golden voice. Below is a "still photo" from a great opportunity that arose for Damien. The group happened upon a grizzly feeding on crab apples and Damien set up his tripod to record the action. Well, great shots are not to be missed, even if the tide is coming in. And in, and in. Until Damien was waist deep! (no chest waders) but the camera kept rolling!





Lead Guide Luke Hyatt. here in his element. Luke is a walking encyclopedia for the natural world. He reads and reads and even remembers it all. He and Miray have also perfected the technique for taking great shots of the spectacular nudibrachs that they have keen eyes to find.





We don't need much prompting to make a great day an extra celebration. Here is a wedding anniversary. Congratulations Rick and Carolyn!!


And a final whale's tail good-bye to the GBR for another season. With out a jest, we now have reservations for 2011,2012, and a 'HOLD" FOR 2013!! Some folks really plan ahead!