After two nights at the Spit I hauled anchor and left for Princess Bay, Portland Island. I'm sitting here a week later, trying to remember the circumstances. I believe the forcast was for a strong North wind so I thought I'd rather go to Princess Bay on Portland Island than Ganges. No, that can't be it. Obviously Ganges is fine in a North wind. Maybe it was tide. Although Portland's only an hour away, so tides are not a factor. I remember.

Having hiked a few times on Sidney Island, I thought I'd go to Portland and hike around the Island. And that's what I did. I dropped anchor in Princess Bay and was soon hiking around the Island. Portland Island is a personal favorite of mine primarily for the great hiking but also for the shell beaches.

The only one I met on the trail was a Park Ranger on her walk about. She said there weren't that many people on the Island and she was correct. Her's was the only boat in Royal Cove, on the North end of Portland. Continuing on my hike I stopped at Shell Beach and cooled down by removing my boots and walking in the sea. There were a couple of small boats on Shell Beach along with a kayaker or two. I was surprised to see a half dozen boats (sail and power) anchored just South of Shell Beach, around the point from Princess Bay. Hadn't seen that before.

Portland Island