Day 13: Lighthouse Dog and a Close Encounter with a Feller-buncher

This morning we went back down the short trail to Bere Point.  We saw a weasel scoot off the path when we rounded a corner.  Alas, no orca rubbing in the bay today.  This beach is made up of large perfectly weathered round rocks.  When the waves recede it makes a delightful rippling sound as the rocks are pulled back into the ocean.


After lunch we jumped in Mr. Thirsty (my truck), put it into 4 wheel drive and headed 8 kms down a bumpy gravel road in search of the lighthouse.  At the end of the road there is a faded sign indicating the trailhead.  So, off we ramble through the forest.  We pop out at a beach with no further indication of where the lighthouse is supposed to be.  It seems logical that we turn left down the beach so off we go, scrambling over the rocks in search of the goal.  Thankfully, the tide is low otherwise this adventure would have been over.

After about 10 minutes we are joined by a friendly old golden retriever - Lighthouse Dog and voila there is the lighthouse.

We spotted a deer and the shells of two kelp crabs that had washed up on shore.   Across the channel there is a large freighter either loading or unloading via a large enclosed conveyer belt.  Later we hear that this is gravel being exported to southern California. Who knew?!

The boys are into reading the Harry Potter books so they chill in the late afternoon.  Alex and I head down to the beach and see more humpback spouts and backs in the distance.

For dinner we head towards town down that narrow gravel road again. . . and have a bite to eat at the Burger Barn.  On the way back we are stopped at the T in the road by a pick up truck blocking our way.  A Feller-buncher (super large excavator-type machine) on a low-bed is coming down the road.  We happily wait as the prospect of backing up 3-4 kilometers to get out of its way is not a good alternative. A feller-buncher grasps the tree upright and then has a big circular saw that swings across to cut the tree down.  The whole business then swivels and the machine places the tree down.  I think it can even de-branch it, too.

A blade of kelp rooted on a large rock at low tide. 

Lighthouse trailhead. 

Posing with Lighthouse Dog. 

The shell of a Kelp crab. 

Lighthouse Dog escorts us back down the beach and up the trail to our truck.  As soon as we get in the truck he turned and trotted down the private access road like the Littlest Hobo. 

Photo to binoculars, not bad!

Halibut and chips.  It was almost gone before I thought to take a picture. 

It may not look all that impressive from this picture but that machine was massive.  There were broken branches littering the gravel road when it was our turn to pass.