Carrington Bay to Rebecca Spit

Well, today we doubled yesterday’s cruising time—to a full hour.

That is one of the pleasures of this part of British Columbia. Destinations are tucked remarkably close together, and for now we are happy to bank these short travel days. We know there will come a time when getting where we want to go will require most of the available daylight. Today was decidedly not one of those days.

Our destination was Rebecca Spit, a perennial favorite of ours and, judging by the company we usually find here, of plenty of other cruisers as well.

The spit forms a long, protected anchorage along the eastern shore of Quadra Island. It is popular from both directions: boats fill the water while campers and travel trailers occupy the park just beyond the shoreline. Yet despite all that activity, the anchorage is large enough that it rarely feels overwhelmed. There always seems to be room for one more boat.

the spit at rebecca spit

one of the most popular provincial parks in BC

the “Shallow” east end with campers on the shore

rebecca spit from east to west

Part of Rebecca Spit’s appeal is that it offers a little of everything.

Going ashore on the spit itself could hardly be easier. There are numerous friendly dinghy landings along the beach, and from there a network of trails makes it possible to walk much of the length of the spit. Water is never far away. The trail winds beneath the trees with frequent opportunities to wander out onto the rocky beaches, first on one side and then the other. After spending days moving from anchorage to anchorage, it is a particularly pleasant place to stretch our legs.

the walks at rebecca spit are not to be missed

the tip of the spit is a never changing panorama of boats

M/V Oceanflyer and m/v spellbound rafted in rebecca spit

the ferry to whaletown is always on the move

our landing spot on the beach at rebecca spit

thena warror princess, admiral of the m/v spellbound, makes the most of the beach at rebecca spit

For a complete change of scenery, we can point the dinghy toward Heriot Bay.

Landing at the Heriot Bay Inn puts us within easy reach of its pub, restaurant, gift shop and pleasant grounds. The pub makes an easy lunch or dinner destination, while the restaurant offers something a little more ambitious when we have had our fill of pub food. Either way, simply sitting outside on solid ground for a while has its own appeal.

haroit bay inn and docks

heroit bay is home to the ferry landing, heriot bay inn and the government docks

From the inn, a short walk along the road—often lined with vehicles waiting for the ferry—leads to the local shopping hub. The well-stocked grocery store is the main attraction for cruisers looking to replenish fresh provisions, but the same stop also offers a liquor store, post office, gift shop and coffee shop. After spending time in more remote anchorages, having so much within a short dinghy ride feels almost extravagant.

rebecca spit always seems to produce stuning sunsets

The ferry terminal adds another dimension to Heriot Bay. Boats, campers, island residents and ferry traffic all converge here, giving the little community a surprising amount of activity.

And for cruisers who prefer a dock to swinging on the hook, Taku Resort on the western shore offers a small marina that gets consistently good reports from those who stay there.

Rebecca Spit is hardly a secret, and that is part of what makes it different from many of the quiet anchorages we seek out along the coast. We do not come here for solitude. We come because it combines a protected anchorage, easy shore access, beautiful walks, provisioning and a bit of civilization—all within a few minutes of the boat.

With that combination, it is easy to understand why Rebecca Spit remains a perennial favorite.

And why we keep coming back.

oceanflyer enjoying the sunset show at rebecca spit