Hi everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful week.
Have you had a chance to check out Smuggler Cove (not Smuggler’s)? If you haven’t, it’s a must; if you have, you have experienced an awesome adventure. From the land and the water, this tiny, protected cove is amazing. The trail entrance is located off Brooks Road and is an easy 4km hike along raised boardwalks in some sections, through beautiful forests and then opens to incredible ocean vistas and views from higher up on a rock ledge. This cove is an all-weather anchorage visited by watercraft of different shapes and sizes including pleasure boats, yachts, sailboats, kayaks and paddleboards. There are places to anchor and stern tie as well as rocky beaches to paddle up to, step out, stretch your legs and enjoy a picnic lunch.
It was reported that a pirate named Larry Kelly (aka King of Smugglers) frequented this special cove to run opium and people across to the U.S. through the San Juan Islands from 1865 to 1911. He was known for his skill at the helm of his sailboat and was well acquainted with most of the jails in Washington State. Now it is simply a serene and quiet place to roam and fill the senses with all things beautiful from the blue ocean to the majestic trees. Ahhhhhhh.
I asked for some Halfmoon Bay stories. Here are a few that were shared:
Halfmoon Bay School on Trout Lake Road: “I went to that school for three years. Mrs. Davies taught three grades all together in one room and Mrs. Tinkley helped us put on our Christmas concerts.” And “Mrs. Surtees was the teacher. I lived on Trout Lake Road.”
House on Redrooffs: “My grandfather built my house in 1931. During some upgrades to the windows, we found old newspapers in the walls possibly used for insulation. I kept the papers.”
House on Southwood: “Both my kids were born in our little house on Southwood. One was so quick the midwife didn’t make it on time! We made it into the Halfmoon Happenings in 1988. There was a two-room school on Trout Lake Road when I first lived here.”
Thank you everyone for sharing! If you have a personal story, event or memory you would like to share, please send me a note.
Halfmoon Bay Commu-nity Association’s new logo contest is in full swing. A $500 prize will go to best submission. Deadline for entries is Sunday, May 31. Please send to [email protected]. Winner will be announced later in June.
Did you know:
The house wren was not reported on the Sunshine Coast until 1993 when a pair nested in a box in Wilson Creek. Over the years there were sporadic sightings, but it wasn’t until 2015-16 that these little guys were spotted all along the Coast. Tony Greenfield, in his Good Birding article last week, reported that this April he noticed a house wren in his backyard, so he put out a bird house. The wren immediately took up residence there and sings his complicated tune from morning until night, but no female has been spotted yet. Here’s hoping this little house wren finds his true love soon.
To have your say at the Bay, please contact me before 5 p.m. on Mondays. [email protected]. Be kind, be gentle, be safe.
