www.suncruiser.ca I 2012 SunCruiser WEST COAST


The Cowichan Valley Story and photos by Glenn Kohaly


round temperatures in Canada, and the country’s longest agricultural growing season.


Nestled between


the bustling cities of Victoria, to the South, and Nanaimo, to the North, Cowichan is home to an enviable collection of artists and artisans - working either from home studios or from one of the many galleries around the valley. Gulf Island boaters can enjoy full-service amenities at the lively cafes or pubs located in one of the many sheltered marinas in this region.


Visitors can almost hear the past Cowichan Bay, Fisherman’s Wharf


Restaurant is the oldest wooden structure


ONE OF THE TOP CULINARY DESTINATIONS in Canada, the Cowichan Valley is home to award- winning wineries, organic farms and innovative artisan food-producers. Over the last two decades, residents have created a thriving central- island agri-tourism industry based on the principles of providing fresh, local, sustainable and seasonal foods. Along with a cidery, a distillery, a brew pub and a dozen top wineries, you can also find everything from asparagus to kiwis, pasture-raised meat


to French lavender - all


cultivated here. Visitors can also take part in guided tours that involve foraging for many varieties of wild mushrooms; including coveted porcinis and chanterelles. Cowichan Bay Village is a


working


marine community that houses a fascinating blend of sail and fishing boats, piers, wharves and floating homes. Built in 1863, with a beautiful deck that overlooks the village and harbour, the Masthead


in


the Cowichan Valley. An international clientele


travel here for the fresh local fish, meats and produce, which are carefully selected with a focus on organic, free-range and sustainable industries. The atmosphere


here


is elegantly understated, and the service is second-to-none; from table-side preparation of your caesar salad, to the final touches on your chocolate cheesecake! Cowichan Bay is the ideal base for visitors interested in boating, kayaking, diving, and for exploring the Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island’s vineyards, Victoria or the West Coast and Long Beach. Or, you can stay in Cowichan Bay and settle in for a couple of days - there’s lots to do. You can even play tennis on the 2nd oldest active lawn tennis court in the world, next to Wimbledon. The Cowichan region of


Vancouver Island enjoys abundant farmland,


deep ocean bays,


whitewater rivers, sun-bathed lakes and low, rolling mountains. Cowichan boasts the warmest average year-


echo of train whistles as they cross over the historic railway trestles whilst travelling on portions of the local Trans Canada Trail. A series of low-rise mountains – known as the Cowichan “mounts’’ – are prime recreational playgrounds for hikers, mountain bikers and hang gliders. This terrain is equally as appealing to those who come to explore the area’s ecological wildflower reserves which are brilliantly blooming in the spring with Blue Bamas and Shooting Star flowers.


This is the home of the mighty Orca (killer whale), the porpoise, the sea lion, the seal and the otter. Bald eagles soar overhead, while colourful puffins, cormorants and blue herons feed and nest. Chinook and Coho salmon entice the visiting fishermen, along with sole, lingcod and snapper.


Tidal pools abound


with sea life; crab, sea urchins, starfish and anemones. Maple Bay Marina has been welcoming boaters to their sheltered waters for years, especially during their Wooden Boat Celebration, held May 18-20. The event will celebrate the magic and craſtsmanship of wooden boats. Whether you prefer power, paddle, or sail boats, there will be something of interest here to see. Visitors are given a rare opportunity to view classic boats, while rubbing elbows with others who appreciate and maintain these wooden beauties.


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