Latitude/Longitude: N 49° 5' 58.70" W 123° 57' 9.76" (49.09964, -123.95271)
Trip Dates: June 28, 2014
In my post on Nanaimo Urban Lakes I mentioned that I had not found a good place to put in on Harewood Lake. Thanks to the comments of two helpful commentors, I was able to find the place. They were right, it is indeed off of Godfrey Road just across from Fernwillow.
It looks like this:
And once your are out on the lake looking back, it looks like this:
I have to say my expectations were not high for this little lake. The coal tailings and access under the power line belie a gem of unusual beauty. This is a classic Vancouver Island wetland lake, surrounded by a fringe of sedges, rushes, and willows.
Paul and I and Molly made our way slowly around the lake, enjoying the reed banks, but also the long meandering wall of rock that forms the North Western shore of the lake. Near the put-in on this shore is a sign that says, "Island Wildlife Sanctuary, private Property, KEEP OUT. I tried to Google this sanctuary without finding anything. Does anyone know anything about this? Can people make donations to help keep this gem looking beautiful?
Just to the right of that platform at the top of the stairs is a little path that leads to unobtrusive diving board.
We made our way along the long sandstone shore admiring the high outcroppings and other features.
At the far end of the lake we stopped so I could experiment with paddles. (I wanted to order a new one) and will write a review of what I ended up buying.
And eat our lunch among the lilly pads.
Then we lazily cruised around the lake for awhile enjoying the tranquility and beauty.
Trip Dates: June 28, 2014
In my post on Nanaimo Urban Lakes I mentioned that I had not found a good place to put in on Harewood Lake. Thanks to the comments of two helpful commentors, I was able to find the place. They were right, it is indeed off of Godfrey Road just across from Fernwillow.
It looks like this:
And once your are out on the lake looking back, it looks like this:
I have to say my expectations were not high for this little lake. The coal tailings and access under the power line belie a gem of unusual beauty. This is a classic Vancouver Island wetland lake, surrounded by a fringe of sedges, rushes, and willows.
Paul and I and Molly made our way slowly around the lake, enjoying the reed banks, but also the long meandering wall of rock that forms the North Western shore of the lake. Near the put-in on this shore is a sign that says, "Island Wildlife Sanctuary, private Property, KEEP OUT. I tried to Google this sanctuary without finding anything. Does anyone know anything about this? Can people make donations to help keep this gem looking beautiful?
Just to the right of that platform at the top of the stairs is a little path that leads to unobtrusive diving board.
At the far end of the lake we stopped so I could experiment with paddles. (I wanted to order a new one) and will write a review of what I ended up buying.
And eat our lunch among the lilly pads.
Then we lazily cruised around the lake for awhile enjoying the tranquility and beauty.
