January Field Trips
Cowichan Bay - Friday, Jan 9
Hemer Provincial Park - Saturday, Jan 17
Maple Bay - Friday, Jan 23
Bowen Park - Saturday, Jan 31
Cowichan Bay
Date: Fri, Jan 9
Meet: Hecate Park Parking Lot - ample parking available
Time: 10am
Costs: none
Washrooms: Sani-Can units at Hecate Park, inside washrooms at the Government Dock
Walking Conditions: mostly flat, all docks subject to slippery surfaces; ramps to water level docks may be steep and slippery, narrow roadways
Directions: driving time from Duncan approx 10 minutes; distance approx 10 km
1. travel south from Duncan on the Trans Canada Highway past
the Farmers Market and turn left onto Cowichan Bay Rd
2.
go approx 1.5 km to stop sign and turn right on Cowichan Bay Rd
3.
travel south approx. 3.5 km on Cowichan Bay Rd, look for
Hecate Park and parking lot on the left side of the road.
Cautions: docks, ramps and other surfaces may be slippery, narrow roadway through town with occassional heavy traffic
Features: large bay, boat mooring, small shops, Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre
Photo Opportunities: always see varied types of boats, storefronts and displays, float homes, beach and bay scenery; usually see eagles, herons, gulls, and tiny brown birds; may see otters,seals, sea lions
Post Trip Review (coffee): TBA
Hemer
Provincial Park
Nanaimo, BC
Date: Saturday, Jan 17
Meet: parking lot at east end of Hemer Rd - parking limited, easily room for about eight cars, suggest car pooling - A car pool is available from the Duncan Library parking lot, leaving at 9 am sharp.
Time: 10am
Costs: none
Washrooms: Sani-Can units about 100 meters inside gate
Walking Conditions: There are approx 11 km of good wide walking trails (14-16 ft wide) for the majority of the park, trail rises 20 to 30 ft in elevation from parking lot, with other slight elevation changes through out the park
Directions: driving time from Duncan
approx 40 minutes, distance approx 46 km
1. Head north from Duncan on Trans Canada Hwy for approx 35 km
2. Turn right Cedar Rd just before 2nd light north of Ladysmith
3. Travel approx 10 km on Cedar Rd and watch for Hemer Park sign
4. Turn right onto Hemer Rd and continue to the end of the road and the
Hemer Park parking lot approx 1.2 km
Cautions: wind; if it is a windy day we
will not enter the park, we will proceed to Maffeo-Sutton Park in
Nanaimo
Features: an old forest with lots of decaying trees, some larger trees (cedar and fir); large pond/marsh plus large lake (Holden Lake); large viewing platform at marsh edge; old farm buildings can be accessed and are in a state of disrepair, no real trails around buildings
Photo Opportunities: possible ducks, geese, herons (many can be seen at once if not overly disturbed), trumpeter swans, bald eagles, turkey vultures, otters, beaver, tiny brown birds and more; ferns, moss, lichen
Post Trip Review (coffee): TBA
Maple Bay, BC
Date: Friday, Jan 23
Meet: Maple Bay Marina Parking Lot - should be ample parking, watch out for privately marked spaces
Time: 10am
Costs: none
Washrooms: on site and in pub and coffee shop
Walking Conditions: level except for ramps; higher tides on 23rd mean ramps to the water not too steep, all ramps have good footing and railings; use caution if inclement weather, docks and ramps may be slippery
Directions: driving time from Duncan approx 17 min.; distance approx 11.5 km
Starting at the intersection of James St and Trans Canada Hwy,
Duncan:
1. Turn right and go south on Trans Canada Hwy
2. Turn left and go east on Trunk Rd
3. Stay straight to go onto Tzoulalem Rd go approx 1 km
4. Turn left onto Maple Bay Rd
5. Turn slight right to stay on Maple Bay Rd go .16 km
6. Turn slight right again to stay on Maple Bay Rd go 5.14 km
7. Turn right onto Genoa Bay Rd go 1.28 km
8. Turn left to stay on Genoa Bay Rd go 1.9 km
9. End at 6145 Genoa Bay Road, Maple Bay, BC
Cautions: the road to Maple Bay is narrow and twisty, use caution when driving; if inclement weather road, docks and ramps may be slippery
Features: marina environment with boats, shops, landscaping,
Photo Opportunities: gulls, tiny brown birds, boats, bay, dry-dock; probably eagles, herons, geese, ducks; possible otters, humming birds (yes, humming birds), Comerants, seals; water birds, interestingpeople
Post Trip Review (coffee): at marina
Bowen Park Complex
500 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo
Date: Saturday, Jan 31
Meet: lower parking lot, just off Wall St - ample parking available
Time: 10am
Costs: none
Washrooms: Bowen Park Complex, 10 min walk up hill
Walking Conditions: about 60 feet change in elevation along creek in 10 block walk from top to bottom
Directions: driving time from Duncan
approx 48 min; distance approx 64 km
1. head north from Duncan and go 62.7 km on Trans Canada Hwy
toward Nanaimo
2. turn left off of main highway onto Comox Rd (watch for Tally-Ho
Hotel on left)
3. Comox Rd becomes Bowen Rd in 1.2 km
4. turn right onto Wall St (2nd main road on right)
5. turn left into Lower Bowen Park Parking Lot
Cautions: rocks along river and near falls slippery if wet
Features: historical house, Bowen Recreation Complex, several buildings including club house, lawn bowling area, two water falls, fish by-pass with dams and ladders
Photo Opportunities: mixed forest, Milstone River, moss, ferns, lichen, fish by-pass, ducks, tiny brown birds; possible herons, eagles, owls
Post Trip Review (coffee): Tim Horton's,
3-min from parking lot