Marine Avenue, Powell River BC

Highway 101 is called the Pan-America Highway because it runs all the way from Canada down to the tip of South America.  Nearby Lund boasts that it's the end (or beginning) of this lengthy intercontinental thruway. But within the limits of Powell River, BC, it's better known as Marine Avenue.

Marine Ave starts in Westview and ends in the Townsite.  There's a lot of history along this roadway. When the Townsite was created for the workers at the papermill in 1910, it was known as Oceanview. In 1959, the name was changed to Marine Avenue.  On the east side are the large homes of Manager's Row that originally housed the papermill's most important employees. Perched above the Strait of Georgia, they had a birds-eye view of the mill below.

As Powell River's population grew, people moved to homestead land north and south of the company owned town. The community that grew to the south was called Westview. The "main drag" became Marine Avenue.  Today you can still see many of the old buildings preserved as stores, restaurants and homes. Thanks to John for sharing this historic picture on Facebook.

Today Marine Avenue is still an important part of life in Powell River. It is the location of important events such as Sea Fair, the Blackberry Street Party, and the Santa Claus Parade.  It is also the home of Powell River Books.

Come take a stroll down Marine Avenue. Maybe I'll see you there. -- Margy

Wind Warning

Any time there's a storm up the lake it brings wind.  When a storm is moving in, the wind comes from the southeast and hits the cabin in front. After the storm passes, the wind shifts to the northwest. Then it hits us from two directions. The cliff behind the cabin splits it. Some comes through the notch of Hole in the Wall. The rest comes down the lake and angles past us towards John's place across the bay.

Wind that comes through the Hole pushes our log boom in. Because the lake level is so low, the anchor cables let the logs drift more than usual.  During the last storm, the boom went so far it bumped the sides of our boats tied to the cabin's float.

The first two pictures show how close the logs came. This last one shows the log boom's normal position with no wind.


The wind also makes our cabin rock on its anchor cables. Fortunately, our good friend and cabin builder John invented a tire shock absorber system.  In case you haven't seen the video, here it is again.

We don't get jerked around any more.  It's more like rocking in a hammock. Thanks John. -- Margy

Powell Lake Reflections

I live in a floating cabin on Powell Lake in British Columbia. My front, back, and side yards are all water. I am captivated by the reflections I see, especially on windless days. Here are a few of my favourites. First, reflections from my cabin's front porch.

And two closeups.


If you are new to my blog, I invite you to browse around. You can also check out our website for more information about Wayne's book about our cabin life, Up the Lake. -- Margy

Coastal BC Birds: European Starling

 European Starling

When I visited Granville Island in Vancouver, BC, mixed in with the seagulls and ravens scavenging the grounds, I found quite a few European Starlings. With so many places to shop and eat, there was quite the buffet in the open compost containers and on the ground.

Starlings are well know for flying in large flocks, but these were in small groups and pairs trying to make a living off human leavings. Also known as Common Starlings, they were brought to North America in the 19th Century. Now they are one of most common songbird, often forcing out native species with their sheer numbers and aggressive behaviour. This guy still has his spotted winter plumage. Guess the cold spring has him fooled a bit. -- Margy

Changeable Weather

Early spring brings changeable weather. When you get the chance, you head out exploring.


On one such day John, Wayne, Bro and I took off in the tin boat.


John and Wayne wanted to do trail building in Chippewa Bay. I wanted to explore the old logging camp site exposed by the low lake level at The Point. Bro just wanted to play along the shore and take a nap in the scattered sunshine. -- Margy

Powell Lake, BC

Powell Lake in mainland Coastal British Columbia is about 175 kilometres (110 miles) north of Vancouver. It's water flows from rivers and glaciers in the Coastal Range through the short (only 500 metres or one-third of a mile long) Powell River into the Strait of Georgia near a town bearing its name.

Powell Lake is 51 kilometres (32 miles) long with 480 kilometres (300 miles) of shoreline. Our cabin is about 17 kilometres (10 miles) up the lake from the marina at the Shinglemill in a bay called Hole in the Wall. The only way to get there is by boat. That gives us lots of privacy, but it can also be a challenge at times. Powell Lake can get up to 4' waves on it's longer reaches.

Here are some interesting facts. Powell Lake ...

• is a glacial cut fjord
• is over 1000' deep in places
• has ancient sea water trapped at the bottom
• has massive Goat Island rising from the middle
• is good for fishing and water sports
• is part of Powell River Forest Canoe Route
• has 230 floating cabins along its shores
• is our home.

Resources about Powell Lake include:

• Tourism Powell River
• BritishColumbia.com
• Tourism British Columbia
• Powell River Museum
• Haywire Bay Regional Campground
• Shinglemill Pub, Bistro and Marina
• Up the Lake, Farther Up the Lake, and Off the Grid

Come for a visit and see why we love it "up the lake." -- Margy

Little brown jug, don't I love thee!

Rusted remnants of wood stove.

At the turn of the 20th Century there were logging camps on the shores Powell Lake.  One of those camps was at what we now call The Point. A dam built at the papermill in 1912 and increased in 1924 raised the lake level. Now you can only get to the camp location at low, low water.

The last time I could get there was in 2008. I found the legs of a wood stove buried in the rocks. I also found shards of pottery, some of it with oriental designs including Mt. Fuji, and the top to a jug.  Some of the treasures were above the waterline, some below.

This time I found a few remaining pottery shards and more pieces of the jug I found five years ago.  A "Little Brown Jug" to be specific.


It immediately made me think of the old drinking song of the same title.

LITTLE BROWN JUG

by Joseph Winner in 1869

Me and my wife live all alone
In a little log hut we call our own;
She loves gin and I love rum,
And don't we have a lot of fun!

Ha, ha, ha, you and me,
Little brown jug, don't I love thee!
Ha, ha, ha, you and me,
Little brown jug, don't I love thee!

The song goes on, but the first verse makes me think of Wayne and me all alone in our little float cabin (even though I prefer a brew).  Here's a video of the song that I think is a hoot.

"Little Brown Jug" I do love thee as a part of my treasures collection. -- Margy