Gabriola Island, BC

LUCKY LAGER ROAD TRIP
WESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA

October 4, 2015  (Day 16)
Gabriola Island Via Ferry
Today's Miles: 39 miles / Total Trip Miles: 1,121



Gabriola Island - Detail
-Click on Map To Enlarge-

Gabriola & Vancouver Islands
-Click on Map To Enlarge-



Gabriola Island:
Situated about 3 miles east of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, Gabriola Island is one of the Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia. Gabriola Island is a 20-minute ferry trip from Nanaimo harbor. It has a land area of about 22 square miles, and a population of slightly more than 4,000. Gabriola is forest covered with beautiful public beaches.

Gabriola Island was part of the traditional territory of the Snunéymux First Nation. The earliest archeological record on Gabriola is a cave burial dated to about 1500 BCE. Between about 0 and 1000 CE, several thousand people lived on Gabriola Island. Archaeologists have found that infant mortality at that time was surprisingly low, and that the population was well adapted to its environment. The population of the Snunéymux declined drastically because of smallpox and other diseases brought to North America by Europeans. The first European visit to Gabriola was by the Spanish schooner Santa Saturnina under José María Narváez in 1791. 

Mad Rona's Coffe Bar, just up the road from the ferry landing, is a must for food or coffee.

Today's Scenic Rating: B

Tomorrow:
Drive north to Campbell River.



- CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR A LARGER IMAGE-


Ferry
This ferry carried us and our Subaru between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island.


Driftwood
Drumberg Provincial Park on Gabriola Island.
[Flickr]



Rocky Shoreline 1
British Columbia mainland viewed from Sandwell Provincial Park on Gabriola Island.


Entrance Island Lighthouse
Entrance Island is a small rocky island located 2,800 feet due north of Gabriola Island. The Entrance Island Lighthouse is a manned light station. The original lighthouse was established in 1875 to guide ships into Nanaimo harbor from the Strait of Georgia. The current lighthouse facility was constructed in 1986. Technical specs: height = 46 ft; focal height = 62 ft; light source = solar power. Photo taken from Gabriola Island, with the British Columbia mainland and the Tsawwassen-Duke Point ferry in the distance.


Rocky Shoreline 2
Sandwell Provincial Park on Gabriola Island.


_______________________________________________________

Photographs
These photographs are the property of Leon Jackson, and are protected by copyright laws. Photographs may not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of Leon Jackson. © 2015 Leon Jackson. All Rights Reserved.

2 comments:

Robert Brown said...

Nice, Leon. Especially like the driftwood photo: it's good enough to frame.

Muriel J said...

I love the pockmarked rocks. I didn't know there were any manned lighthouses left. No photo of Mad Rona's?