Okeover Arm Weekend

There are so many wonderful places to explore in Powell River, some are open/accessible, some aren't, and some are partially open.  Okeover (pronounced like Oak + over) Arm Provincial Park is partially open which means the 4 picnic sites are open, the campground is closed.  No problem.  Miss P's just a little girl and we can tuck in almost anywhere. 

Saturday was a miserable early-afternoon with weather that makes the ducks hide their little heads in the dry underside of their wings.  I didn't care, so what if I got a bit wet hooking up and so what if it poured all weekend, I was bringing along a book that my friend Paula recently sent me, some wool to crochet sweet things with and my ukulele so it could rain all it wanted.  After loading the car with a few rations I thought that I might like to have a little fire so I drove down the access road to the beach and found some wood lying by the side of the road, declared it as mine and threw it in the back.  It's not real "firewood" just rotted down trees that have fallen in conveniently sized pieces - obviously some too big to load alone but the ones I could manage went in the back.  One batch was sort of wet and heavy the other batch was super-light and fairly dry, a good combination. 

I drove out in the rain, setup in the rain, turned on the heater, and the fridge and put things away when I noticed the rain starting to subside so I tootled off down to the beach.  Tide was out, picnic spots ablaze with fires and oysters roasting.  Okeover is known for it's amazing oysters and at low tide you just need to bring a bucket and gum boots and you're in business - oh and that fishing license that the Conservation Officer will ask for just as you're coming back up the stairs from the beach (surprise!)

We had a great time nestling in under a big towering alder tree right beside the picnic sites.   Tucking back we were able to only take up 1 1/2 parking spaces which seemed to be just fine by everyone else there when I pulled in.  One lady was nice enough to move her car and another man gave me hand backing her up.  Love the people of Powell River !

The picnic site is just a few feet above the shoreline peering out over the lovely calm waters of Okeover Arm.  If you're not from these parts you may wonder exactly where this is, well here you go.  It's an arm that comes off of Desolation Sound near the little town of Lund.  You do feel like you're at the ends of the earth when you travel there but like anything in Powell River it's not really THAT far away, only about a 40 minute drive from where I live in the Historic Townsite.

A fire pit close to Miss P was in use when I went down to the beach and when I came back the people were heading out, leaving me a warm fire and a big stash of fire wood, they waved as they drove off and said "we left the wood for you".  Thank you.  I spent the rest of the night tending the fire, poking, moving, drying wet wood and bringing out my favourite Gerber folding saw having fun sawing through a really long piece of cedar left at another fire pit and a few of the pieces I brought as well.  There's something about fire and water, I can't seem to do anything else when I'm around them.  I tried so hard to sit and read a bit by the fire but I was just constantly drawn to watching the flames or moving a log, I guess it didn't help that the wind was a bit shifty as well so it was best to be on foot and dance in time with the smoke.

As the night sky darkened a sliver of silver waxing moon came to light amongst the grove of alders that made a pollen-explosion of a canopy. 

As the flames of the fire got brighter and my surroundings shifted into a cloak of darkness I enjoyed every moment, gazing up at the sky, the moon, the stars then back the campfire and out over the water.  I spooked myself a couple of times thinking I heard something and maybe I did but then I just stoked the fire a bit more and got the blaze reaching high above the fire pit walls.  By 9:30pm I was thoroughly basted in campfire smokey marinade and headed in for a relaxing nightcap.  Beer and a book then onto bed.

A quiet and restful night brought on a gorgeous, sunny morning.  I threw open the curtains beside my bed and watched the world wake up.  The distant drone of a motorboat on the water, the chatter of birds and and the clicking on of my heater made for a gentle, happy welcome to a new day.  After a yummy croissant that I bought yesterday from Shawna at the Winter Market (on plate of California Poppies given to me by my friend Lilia) and a cup of team (compliments of Paula) I was ready to head back down to the beach and go for a little walk. 

Soapbox warning... On a side note:  I do feel that some global problems have local solutions.  One of the items that lies close to my heart is the health of our oceans and the effects of plastics in that ecosystem and the extended affected food chain.  That being said I don't feel like I need to join a organization or any type of initiative I just want to make a continued commitment to leave this plant (and my immediate environment wherever that may be) in a better state than I found it.  So during my morning walk to the beach I took a grocery sized bag with me and decided I would collect any garbage that I found along the way. 

When you look out at the beach and the ocean it looks pristine, it's hard to imagine that there are areas on this globe where the water is more of a poison than an oasis.  To my surprise after walking about 100 feet of shoreline my bag was almost half full. 

My first find of the day was this action figure torso, he looked quite proud and serious.  I found ropes, oyster farm plastics, glass, plastics often wrapped around a tree limb or caught up in a bush, candy wrappers, chocolate bar wrappers and even someones unmentionables.  None of the garbage was overwhelming or even noticeable at first glance but when you're actually looking for it it's amazing how evident it becomes.  I walked up into the campground and didn't find much there, but the picnic area had some "bits and pieces" of small garbage, things that normally go unnoticed or are easily hidden in the grass.  Bread bag ties, candy wrappers etc. but I also found some garbage just outside the perimeter including plastic fork/spoons, Styrofoam plate/bowl, bottle caps.  At the end of it I had my bag totally full.  One grocery bag isn't much but it's one more bag full of garbage that won't get blown into the ocean.  After sorting/recycling there was just a small bit that actually went in the garbage.

I did enjoy the abundant sea life that we have access to here, as well as the weathered drift wood - this piece reminded me of a swimming turtle.  I'm always amazed at the life that is easy to overlook at a glance from a distance, from barnacles to hermit crabs it's so much fun to stop and watch and wait for nature to unfold in front of you.  There were ducks (coots, mallards, barrows golden eye) a couple of Canada geese (or "Canada the Goose" as my nephew used to say when he was 3) swimming along happily on the calm, still waters in front of a backdrop of tree-covered shore-line that reached up into hills and mountains that were snow-capped and glistening in the morning light. 

I relaxed the remainder of the day, practicing my ukulele, crocheting and then I was happily found by Wally and Mo, they heard I was camping here and they came by for a little tour of Miss P and a visit.  What a totally unexpected but happy surprise.  

After lunch and a walk down to the government wharf where I helped a guy get his boat off a rock, I returned to find the picnic area starting to populate.  Low tide was approaching at 4pm and people were starting to come for oysters.  I decided that I'd get out of the way and head home.  I had my fill of beautify, beach and bonfire.  Okeover was awesome !







Packing up and heading home was quick/easy.  Within an hour I was settled in at home, clothes in the washer and me in the shower, rinsing off the smokey memories of another great (local) adventure.







A few extra pics: