2017 SunCruiser West Coast

Destination BC, Andrea Johnson
is operated by the Cowichan Bay Wooden
Boat Society and offers hands-on exhibits,
artifacts and photographs depicting the
Bay’s colourful history. Watch while classic
and modern wooden boats are being
built or restored.
The Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre
is just a short walk further, so hopefully
you’ve brought your camera and binoculars.
The centre overlooks the Cowichan
Estuary, a 400-hectare area, which provides
habitat for resident and migratory
birds, Pacific salmon, shellfish and a diversity
of inter-tidal life. See and touch marine
and intertidal creatures in the aquarium
and touch tank; and enjoy wildlife and
bird watching along the ocean front interpretive
trail and from the viewing tower.
If your legs haven’t given out, or if you’ve
rented a bike and have more kilometres in
you, continue on Cowichan Bay Road into
the estuary to Robert Service Memorial
Gord Webster Gerry Destination BC, Andrea Johnson
Park. A monument stands in honour of
“the Bard of the Yukon”. He is best known
for his poems “The Shooting of Dan Mc-
Grew” and “The Cremation of Sam Mc-
Gee”. The poet moved to Cowichan in
1896 and was discovered by an editor while
working as a store clerk. The rest, as they
say, is history.
Eagles and trumpeter swans are two of
the 220 species that live or pass by here on
this migratory rest stop on the Pacific Flyway.
Spring and fall are the peak times to
experience this wondrous natural relocation.
For more ‘civilized’ pursuits, play
golf at nearby Cowichan Golf & Country
Club, tennis at one of the oldest lawn tennis
courts in the world, or hitch a ride to
Rocky Creek Winery for a sample of their
blackberry wine.
Nature, history, sun, sand and sea
make Cowichan Bay an excellent port of
call on your next maritime excursion.
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