A 257-kilometre route from Jericho Beach to Victoria would complete the B.C. leg of a coast to coast trail. Dean Stoltz has more.
Paul Grey is an avid paddler and Sunday was a great day to be on the water.
“It’s meditative. It’s calming. You’re in the outdoors, you see animals.” said Grey, President of the BC Marine Trails Network Association.
He is just one of thousands of people in B.C. making the waters here the most popular for kayaking anywhere in the world, even ahead of Hawaii.
“We might not have the same warm water but the beauty, you know the natural sandstone cliffs, the stonecrop plants, river otters, we’ve got it all here and this is where people want to get out,” said Grey.
It is no surprise then that his organization, The BC Marine Trails Network Association has been pushing for a marine trail to be the westernmost part of the Trans Canada Trail that stretches from coast to coast to coast in Canada.
“Well there’s some talk about BC Ferries being a link but this is the real link from Vancouver to Victoria, this is the final leg of a massive project by the Trans Canada Trail.” added Grey.
It would be a longer route that could take days to complete leaving Jericho Beach in Vancouver, heading north of Howe Sound to Texada Island, Jedediah Island and Lasquieti Island.
It would then head south to Nanaimo, the Southern Gulf Islands and finish at an as yet determined stop on the Victoria waterfront.
“So it’s 257 kilometres long and it’s got camping along the way, lots of provincial parks.” said Grey.
A public grand opening celebration of the Salish Sea Marine Trail will be held on Newcastle Island Sept. 16 and 17.
Dean Stoltz
