Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A WHALE OF A TIME
Once nearly extinct, today an estimated 20,000
gray whales
swim the length of
the British Columbia coast twice annually between Baja Mexico and the Bering
Sea. The spring migration (Mar.-Apr.) is close to the shore, with whales stopping
to rest and feed in places such as Clayoquot Sound and the Haida Gwaii.
Orcas,
best known as
killer whales,
are not actually whales but the largest member of the
dolphin family. Adult males can reach 10 meters (33 feet) in length and up to 10
tons in weight, but their most distinctive feature is a dorsal fin that protrudes more
than 1.5 meters (5 feet) from their back. Orcas are widespread in oceans around
the world, but they are especially common in the waters between Vancouver Island
andthemainland.Threedistinctpopulationsliveinlocalwaters:
resident
orcasfeed
primarily on salmon and travel in pods of up to 50;
transients
travel by themselves
or in very small groups, feeding on marine mammals such as seals and whales; and
finally,
offshore
orcas live in the open ocean, traveling in pods and feeding only on
fish.
The best beaches and ocean swimming is east of downtown starting at Oak Bay and ex-
tendingallthewayuptheSaanichPeninsula.Mostofthesummercrowdsspendthedayat
thesebeaches sunbathing; althoughafewhardyindividuals braveaswim,watertemperat-
ureheretopsoutataround17°C(63°F).
Willows Beach,
atOakBay,ispopularwithlocal
residents, but doesn't have as much sand as points north.
At the south end of Arbutus Cove is
Hollydene Beach,
a short stretch of sand that is
as soft as anything found in the Victoria region. Continuing north is
Cordova Bay Beach,
a wider stretch of sand with similar cool waters. Farther north still is
Island View Beach
Regional Park,
wherealongstretchofsandisbackedbypilesofdriftwoodandaforested
area.
Warmer than the ocean are lakes dotted throughout the region. I've swum in most
placesandfound
Eagle Beach
on
Elk Lake
tohavethewarmestwater.It'salargeshallow
lake with a mostly sandy bottom that warms the water through the day, plus the beach is
backed by a row of grand old willow trees. To get there follow Highway 17 north toward
the ferry terminal; you'll see the lake off to the left of the highway before reaching Say-
ward Road, where you will need to exit. At forest-encircled
Thetis Lake,
west of down-
