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Cruising: Jedidiah Island

22K views 29 replies 13 participants last post by  bwindrope 
#1 ·
One of our all time favourite places to spend a few days each year is this island park. To the previous owner's eternal credit, they turned down developers' offers of much higher figures to allow the Island to be purchased as a park, with a large part of the funding coming from the estate of Dan Culver, a Canadian mountaineer.

Only 40 miles or so from Vancouver, this island is nestled between Lasqueti and Texada, on the edge of Sabine Channel.


The island itself boasts numerous smallish anchorages, a large meadow, an old homestead, sheep, goats (and for a time, Will, the resident horse - whose grave is well tended by visitors) - if the weather or crowding makes anchoring difficult, Boho Bay on Lasqueti Is is an alternate, and Jedidiah is a short dinghy ride or a decent kayak paddle away.


The most popular anchorage is probably Deep Bay, in the Northwest corner of the island. A cleft in the shore, partly sheltered by Paul Island, can host as many as a dozen or more boats in sheltered weather. Plenty of water and shore rings make for some interesting patterns of rodes and sternlines - to the point that we get concerned about having to leave in a hurry.... Impressively large cedar windfalls at the head of the bay are testament to Paul Island's ability to funnel a really strong NW wind in there... and that'd just be nasty.


Our favourite is White Rock Bay, more open but in some ways more secure than Deep Bay, and not as busy as a rule. There's a white boulder on the south shore that gives the bay its name, but also watch for a near-drying rock near the eastern shore. We like this one (or two if rafted) boat nook here.


Carrying on south down the west shore, Boom Bay nearly dries completely, but a boat could find a spot on the edge of the shoals. The same goes for Long Bay, which also largely dries but has some room at the mouth. The ends of the shoal sections are marked on shore by red-painted concrete blocks. There's an un-completed house in Long Bay, and at higher tides it's a great kayaking "lagoon".

Otter Cove and Sunset Cove are other small coves that offer secure anchorage, but somewhat exposed to the Northwest - so check your weather.

Little Bull Passage is a treat - you slowly make your way through with vertical bluffs on the Jedidiah side, using caution as you pass over a mid-pass bar (doesn't dry, probably 5-6 feet a LLW). You may well hear some of the resident sheep or goats in the cliffs above you.


The no-name nook at the southern end is a neat little dog-leg inlet with room for two friendly boats - but be prepared to bolt if a SE wind comes up.

Around the south end and up the eastern shore, on Sabine Channel now, Codfish Bay offers good protection in strong NW winds. (and NO protection in strong SE winds... the story of our lives up here) Seen here from "Gibraltar", lower right.


Home Bay, so called because that's where the homestead with house, barn, sheds, orchard, and connected to the meadow, is a beautiful landlocked bay that would be an exceptional all weather anchorage except that it dries completely. It's a popular kayak expedition landing spot.







The tree in this last shot, near the mouth to Home Bay, is a testament to the power of the winter winds....

Another must-do here is the hike to the "Gibraltars" There are two peaks with cairns an easy 40-50 minute hike from Long Bay. Both give good views, the first across Bull Island to Lasqueti, the second, a panarama from Texada Island, around south to the mouth of Howe Sound, and across to Vancouver Island as well. These shots are sequenced in a "panaroma" from the second peak.








One of British Columbia's gems... a convenient stop to almost any other destination along Georgia Strait - a magical place altogether!
 
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#2 ·
WOW!

What a place to cruise! Makes me realize that what the Chesapeake is missing is some topography. There are really no vistas in these parts. Your PNW cruising grounds remind me of Maine, but on a larger scale.

Thank you, Faster.:)
 
#4 ·
We usually anchor in Long Bay at Jeddediah and move out with the tide. I have a shallow draft boat. Again I usually go there in the spring. Not too many boats there at that time. Codfish Cove can be a nightmare if a SE comes up in the evening.

Another great little spot near Jeddediah Island is off the North end of Lasqueti Island. A small group of Islands called the Finnerty's. In the spring the cactus are blooming and it is very pretty. There is one small nook there that is sheltered from the SE.

I live on Denman Island so I spend a lot of time there.
 
#5 ·
We usually anchor in Long Bay at Jeddediah and move out with the tide. I have a shallow draft boat. Again I usually go there in the spring. Not too many boats there at that time. Codfish Cove can be a nightmare if a SE comes up in the evening.

Another great little spot near Jeddediah Island is off the North end of Lasqueti Island. A small group of Islands called the Finnerty's. In the spring the cactus are blooming and it is very pretty. There is one small nook there that is sheltered from the SE.

I live on Denman Island so I spend a lot of time there.
Thanks for the tip! We're exploring the Gulf Islands a bit more next year and this sounds like a good choice.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Faster- great post and excellent pics, I missed it when you posted it. We are in Pender Hbr. (one of the few places that we have wifi) and heading for Jedidiah today and Laurie thought to search here for info. Thanks, this is great. Sorry we didn't see you on our trip.

Update- we left Pender Hbr. and I tried calling Faster on the VHF, not knowing if they were even still cruising, and they were less than a mile behind us! Ron suggested pulling into Anderson Bay on Texada Island for lunch so we rafted up, talked and had lunch. Ron and Eleanor are the nicest people, and know practically everything about cruising in BC (thanks again for the BC Parks book). A couple of days later we were nearing Dodd Narrows and Fast Forward was right behind us (they sailed through the rapids with a reefed main, no engine). Then, a day later, as we were pulling the anchor to leave DeCourcy Island they sailed in to wait for the slack at Gabriola Pass. It was great to meet them both and we hope to see them again when we are back up there.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Hey Ron

Me and a buddy will be catching the flood tomorrow afternoon for a run down south to Jedediah. Although I've ducked out weather in that area on a few occasions, we'd like to do a bit of exploring/hiking/kayaking down there for a few days. Southeasterlies aside, do you know what the bottom is like outside the mouth of Home Bay for an overnighter and can we hike up to Gibraltar Peaks from that old homestead in the bay? Also...if I get to the Lasqueti/Jedediah general area in the middle of the night which is more than likely, is Deep Bay the best place to get the hook down without a stern tie?
 
#9 ·
Steve

I'd say that White Rock bay (just South of Deep bay) is a better candidate for an in-the-dark anchor/swinging free.. There may be some other stern tied vessels there already. Deep Bay is strictly stern tie, esp this time of year. Boho Bay on Lasqueti would be another better middle-of-night drop.

We've seen boats anchored in the mouth of (drying) Home Bay... you can hike the Gibraltar peak from there but you must go to Long Bay (where the other house is) first. There's a side trail from near Will's grave that leads left off the Long Bay trail and connects with the trail to the peak. Last time we went the trail was fairly well marked.
 
#13 ·
Ohhhh

myyyy

gowwwwd.

I'm shocked to the very core than you would even think this way...we're not like you blokes down there...up here everything's above board and then some...everything, honesty is what makes us tick. Well, ok, sometimes not but in this case, above bored all the way.

bump!!!
 
#12 ·
Reckon away, your furriness....... for once, you'd be wrong :eek:
 
#15 ·
Well Jedediah was every bit worth the cruise south. Been here before but always just passing through. We decided to hit the Texada Boat Club in Van Anda the first night. In the morning we got a nice push down the east side of Texada and around the bottom with a nice beam reach across to Bull Passage.

This is a wonderful part of the west coast to say the least and quite different than only a stones throw north. These islands are quite wind swept judging by the tree fall and I can only imagine the winters here.

This is the old homestead in Home Bay, we hiked here from Deep Bay.



The wild sheep on Jedediah Island. These guys are all over the place, I wonder where they get water, never did figure that out.



Wild goats behind my boat...Stern tied in Deep Bay. We hiked through the bush looking for these beasts catching obscured sights here and there but to our surprise, when we sat in the cockpit later on for drinks they show up clear as a bell.





Lasqueti Island Government Dock looking down from the bar. We had good intentions to hike across the island but never made it much past the bar short of a quick hike up the road a bit. We anchored just around the point to the North and paddled here. Nice place and very interesting people.



Help yourself and pay what they ask...roadside cookie shack with a french twist. Honesty is the best policy on Lasqueti Island just up from the False Bay Government Dock.





As far as I can tell, most people don't have plates on the vehicles here. I've noticed that on many islands.



And jury-rig fenders are OK.

 
#17 ·
Nice post Steve... glad you enjoyed Jedidiah.

We've actually never gone ashore on Lasqueti other than a quick step off at False Bay probably 20 years ago.. will have to follow up on that one.

Did you manage to find the path to the peak??
 
#18 ·
Thanks Ron, it was nice to get my wings out for a wide open run both ways. Jedediah is a perfect stop for a run to Vancouver or the other way.

I found the path (thanks) but didn't pursue it...maybe next time. Good oyster spots around Jedediah. :)

Lasqueti is nice...years ago I pulled into Squitty Bay at the south tip (seen from the window of a float-plane once) so we had to investigate. Tight little bay to get into and it's a good place to explore, kayak and hike through the windswept sheep trimmed south hills or all the way up the road to the top of the island.

My friends Yawl peacefully secured at Squitty Bay Government float.





Windswept & stunted trees on south Lasqueti Island



Squitty Bay Marine Park

 
#19 ·
I still reckon you guys are photoshopping those pics ... :p:p


Gobsmackingly beautiful. I love (albeit through gritted teeth :() to look at pics of the PNW.

Hey, someone mentioned oysters. What kind of oysters ? Rock or bottom dwellers, small or large ?
 
#20 ·
I still reckon you guys are photoshopping those pics ... :p:p

Gobsmackingly beautiful. I love (albeit through gritted teeth :() to look at pics of the PNW.

Hey, someone mentioned oysters. What kind of oysters ? Rock or bottom dwellers, small or large ?
Thanks your furryness, Hope I'm not drifting off Faster's thread...but since you asked, they're large oysters here generally with new shell growth rings, so very healthy. They're rock dwellers to be pried off at low tide. Most people will tell you small is better but this is not true at all, although the winter and spring months produce better/firmer oysters. We go for the largest ones and doctor them with a special BBQ recipe.

These are my BBQ oysters with special old cheese melted on top and some other special ingredients.



This is a good oyster beach...completely white with oysters.



I fed these to someone last year and he told me many months later that this is likely the best food he has ever eaten in his life...could be an exaggeration :rolleyes: but he seemed to be sincere.
 
#21 ·
My dock mate in La Conner goes to Lasqueti the past couple summers to some sort of festival or fair. He says where he anchors, it's a walk of a couple of miles to the community center, but he says you don't have to walk long before someone gives you a ride. He loves it.
 
#22 ·
Ray...probably False Bay I would guess, that's where the ferry comes in. The local folks seem to be quite interesting, all you need to do is kick back at the bar and watch them...real interesting for sure. I like this island.:) It'd be interesting to know what that festival is. The festivals on some of the other islands farther north are usually pretty great with all the freedom you like...not anything you would see elsewhere except maybe Amsterdam.;)

There is no power on the island, everything is generated by solar and other means, this was a choice made my the inhabitants. The ferry out of French Creek only carries people.
 
#23 ·
The festivals on some of the other islands farther north are usually pretty great with all the freedom you like...not anything you would see elsewhere except maybe Amsterdam.
He did mention that some folks didn't think it necessary to wear clothing to the festival.

I think this is the one he goes to. Arts Fest | Lasqueti Island
 
#24 ·
Other popular anchorages on Lasqueti include Boho Bay across from Jedidiah and Scotty Bay in behind an island near the top of the island. Scotty Bay in particular, though sometimes heavy on local vessels, is a good all-weather hidey hole. Also, the two groups of islands just off the northern tip look like an interesting fair weather possibility, with excellent kayaking on top.

 
#26 · (Edited)
Great channel you have there Larry...just great. I'm out in the inlets right now with poor connection so I could only watch part of the first one but can't wait to see what you have there when I get back to civilization.

I'm in Lund often, kept my boat on the commercial float for much of last winter.

Steve
 
#27 ·
I'm glad this thread of Faster's got revived. I was meaning to add something to it after unsuccessfully trying to anchor in Codfish bay. We tried three spots starting in the southern portion and moving to the north part of the bay where there was already one boat at anchor. All three times our Bruce felt and sounded like it was sliding across smooth rock, occasionally catching a bit but not securely. You might be able to get and anchor to snag and stern tie, but we gave up and went around to White Rock. We didn't get to spend any time on Jedidiah, so it's still on the list.
 
#29 · (Edited)
False bay can be dangerous, unless you anchor in the north side. The Qualicum, blowing from that little gap you see in Vancouver Island, can be rough.
Boho Bay can be rough in a southeasterly. It's largely filled with a fish farm. Long bay and Home Bay are great for twin keelers . The north end of little Bull Pass is a great place to stop, if you arrive at night. Lots of swinging room in shallow enough water to anchor in. Deep Bay blows like hell in a strong westerly, but no swell.
I spent most of October, November and December cruising this area. I usually spend a couple of months a year in this area.
There was a surprising increase in the number of cruisers passing thru here this past November and December, mostly retired cruisers. .
 
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#30 ·
Have to chime in that Jedidiah is one of my favorite places! First went there by kayak back in 99, and stayed two nights in Deep Bay last summer on Aeolus. If ever there is a testament to the benefits of land preservation, this is a shining example.

Quick story: My young boys and a friend would swim all around Deep Bay, and eventually found a few driftwood logs on the beach that were like surf boards. They then laid down on those and paddled around for what seemed like hours. They were fish! Jedidiah is just far enough north to have warm water, though not quite Desolation Sound.

And the hike to the peaks is a must. As of last summer, the containers were over filled with paper and so they were spilling out the messages people had left over the years. Sort of a shame. But inevitable. Don't know that anyone has the job of dealing with it.

My family will be stopping there again when we bring Aeolus back south from Desolation Sound to Bainbridge. Can't wait to see the meadow, Home Bay, and all the beauty of Jedidiah. Thank you to everyone who made this park possible!
 
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