Tribune Bay to Nanaimo

There comes a point in a long cruise when the chart begins to look familiar again. The places ahead are places we visited on the way north, and each stop brings us a little closer to closing the loop. Today, that place was Nanaimo.

With the wind and current at our stern, OceanFlyer made quick work of the run down from Tribune Bay. We tucked into Departure Bay and continued south through Newcastle Passage, hoping to find room at the Newcastle Island docks. Given the holiday crowds, we knew we were asking quite a bit.

Still, there is always that moment on approach when you peer between the boats, willing an empty space to appear.

None did.

A quick call to Nanaimo Harbour secured us a spot at the Cameron docks, and we settled into an entirely different sort of stop from the one we had imagined. The island trails would require a dinghy ride, but the city was now right outside our door.

Nanaimo usually means provisioning for us. We arrive with a list, make the rounds, and return to the boat carrying enough bags to make the walk back feel considerably longer than the walk out. With this year’s cruise nearing its end, however, the cupboards needed nothing. For once, we could step ashore without an errand.

That small change made quite a difference.

We often walk the waterfront promenade, but somehow Harbour Air has always marked our turnaround point. Today, with no particular destination or reason to turn back, we kept going. Beyond our familiar stretch lay a lovely waterfront park, with tree-lined paths and water features that invited us to slow down and linger.

After so many weeks of forest trails and rocky shorelines, there was something pleasantly novel about a walk someone had thoughtfully paved.

Newcastle Island offers the other side of a Nanaimo visit. A short dinghy ride puts you back among the trees, with trails to wander and sandstone beaches to explore. The city remains in plain sight across the water, yet it takes very little walking to feel removed from it. Even without a place at the island docks, we could still enjoy what had drawn us there.

I think everyone will always call it new castle island

the docks at new castle

many nice pathways overlooking the sandstone beaches

We have always appreciated Nanaimo as a useful stop. This visit gave us time to appreciate it simply as a place to be.

Soon we will continue south, retracing more of our spring route. For now, it was good to leave the shopping bags aboard, walk a little farther than usual, and discover something new in a familiar harbour.