Mayne Island is one of the larger of the Gulf Islands that lie between the coast of southern B.C. and Vancouver Island. It can be reached by an hour long ferry ride from either the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, located just outside Vancouver. One of the best ways to see the natural beauty of the islands is by kayaking.
Exploring the small islands off of Bennett Bay in Mayne Island, the Belle Chain Tour serves as an excellent introduction to kayaking and the Gulf Islands. The Belle Chain tour begin off of Bennett Bay Beach. A guided tour can be booked through Bennett Bay Kayaking which provides the 2.5 hour tour for a cost of $66 a person including the rental cost of double kayaks.
Bennett Bay Beach
The tour begins from the beach of Bennett Bay located at the base of the Mayne Island Resort. Eagles and turkey vultures circle the air looking for the occasional dead carcass of a seal or porpoise that washes up on the shore. This is in contrast to the blue herons that prefer a solitary stance in the shallow waters, patiently waiting to catch a fish.
Georgeson Island
Just off of the point lies Georgeson Island, an inaccessible, heavily treed rock that features carved out sandstone cliffs. The most distinctive of these is called "the skull" because of the hollowed out stone that looks like eye sockets. Kelp forests surround the area, attaching themselves to paddles and creating an obstacle course for kayakers.
Seal Rock
The water is a calm, deep, green glass during the ten minute paddle to Seal Rock. The tidal change between the bay and the Straight of Georgia creates a strong, choppy current that can be mostly avoided by keeping to the right towards the bay. Seal Rock lives up to its names as a dozen seals, pups and mothers, sun themselves and nurse on the rocks. The high-pitched barks of the pups can be heard and the guide cautions not to get too close so as not to disturb them. In spite of this, the seals are curious about the kayaks and, periodically throughout the trip, sleek, little heads with big, dark eyes poke above the water a safe distance away from the boats.
Eagle Island
Like Georgeson, Eagle Island is deemed no access but kayakers are able to hug the shore to look for inter-tidal marine life, like sea stars, along the sandstone rocks. A rare glimpse of a sea otter might be had as the quick, shy creature darts in and out of the sandstone caves. They look similar to seals in the water but can be identified by their pointy noses and long tails.
Little Samuel and Big Samuel Islands
After Eagle Island, the tour takes you around the back of Little Samuel which features more sandstone,large, carved out hollows that look like caves, and small, holed patterns as intricate as lace. Off this island, groups of pigeon guillemots can be seen. From the same family as puffins, these cute, little red-footed birds dip and dive in the water, fluttering up to the sky when the kayaks pass.
Big Samuel is a short distance away as you paddle up the bay, with Mayne Island on the left, back towards Bennett Bay. The coastline is dotted with a row of houses, mostly summer cabins and wharfs built for the owners boats.
The Belle Chain Tour is a family friendly, relatively easy, kayaking trip. The waters are usually clam, the sandstone rock makes unusual and stunning land features and there is an abundance of sea and bird life to be found. Mayne Island provides a number of different lodging options for the overnight guest. but the tour could also be done as a day trip with ferries travelling to the island at least twice daily.
Other Gulf Islands To Explore
Saltspring Island Getaway
Weekend on Pender Island, B.C.
Weekend on Galiano Island, B.C.
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