Mastodawn

North Vancouver Island ferry route returns to normal service after vessel was temporarily replaced
A recent change in the ferry service between Port McNeill, Sointula and Alert Bay became such an issue that Sointula resident Sara Wood chose to live on her boat rather than attempt taking the ferry to her teaching job in Port McNeill.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/port-mcneill-sointula-alert-bay-ferry-9.7133763?cmp=rss

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Ms. Que Banh Dec 21

#SilentSunday 2023.
I loved waking up to snow falling outside & the ocean tide rolling out, while sipping hot tea in the cozy cabin.

February 2023. My #Winter #snow belated birthday #getaway.

https://cluxeweresort.com/

#VancouverIsland #VanIsle #PacificNorthwest #PNW #ExploreBC #ExploreVanIsle #WinterGetaway #SupportIndigenousBusiness #Cluxewe #PortMcNeill #Kwakiutl #Indigenous #morning #seaside #BroughtonStrait

Ms. Que Banh Dec 20

Located on #Kwakiutl #FirstNation territory, #Cluxewe Resort is #Indigenous owned and operated. It's just outside of #PortMcNeill town centre. I love it there. I want to return.

Photo from February 2023. When I stayed there with two friends. My #Winter #snow belated birthday #getaway.

https://cluxeweresort.com/

#VancouverIsland #VanIsle #PacificNorthwest #PNW #ExploreBC #ExploreVanIsle #WinterGetaway

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Ms. Que Banh Dec 15

Looking out at #BroughtonStrait - towards #Sointula / #MalcolmIsland.
Shot from a #CluxeweResort cabin deck.

#Kwakiutl #PortMcNeill #VancouverIsland #VanIsle #PacificNorthwest #Cascadia #PNW #WorldInMyEyes #DisabledPhotographers #photography #landscape #RoadTrips #Nature #ocean #Winter #snow #CoastalBC #WestCoast #panaroma #CoastalBC #CoastSalish #WestCoast

Ms. Que Banh Dec 15

#Cluxewe #Estuary #marshes & #wetlands.
The #CluxeweRiver flows out from here & runs into Broughton Strait.

#Kwakiutl #PortMcNeill #VancouverIsland #VanIsle #PacificNorthwest #Cascadia #PNW #WorldInMyEyes #DisabledPhotographers #photography #landscape #NaturePreserve #NatureConservation #IndigenousStewardship #WildlifeConservation #ProtectWetlands #ecosystems #ecological #environmental #BirdSanctuary #RoadTrips #Nature #wilderness #CoastalBC #WestCoast

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Ms. Que Banh Dec 14

I don't know what these two huge pieces of #industrial #machinery are or what they were used for. There's really no info provided at the site to help identify the old abandoned things that you see there. If you know what these are, please educate me - TIA!

We decolonized a BC government sign before leaving the site. We saw many toxic black tar pools, all across this abandoned coal mine site.

#VanIsle #AbandonedPlaces #ruins #Quatsino #PacificNorthwest #RoadTrips #PNW #ExploreMore #Backroads #OutdoorAdventures #BCMiningHistory #SilentSunday #InterestingPlaces #historical #AbandonedMines #abandoned #Suquash #CoalMine #mining #PortMcNeill

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Ms. Que Banh Dec 14

Some of the #ruins that are believed to be the former house of the #Suquash #CoalMining boss. Cool old #masonry work.

Ms. Que Banh Dec 14

#Suquash was the site of the first #CoalMine on #VancouverIsland. It still has lots of cool ruins & abandoned #mining #industrial machinery in the middle of the forest & on the beach below. It's very isolated & you'll likely see no one else around, if you go. It's just slightly north of #PortMcNeill town centre.

I often take friends here, when visiting North Island because the site has many different elements. The forest has a section where multiple trees were split down the middle by lightening strikes. New trees, plants & fungi are growing out of the burned out trees. The beach is full of prehistoric fossils of ancient marine animals. It is well worth a day visit. Follow flags to avoid getting lost there - it's easy to lose yourself in dense forest, if the site is unfamiliar to you. Carry a big stick & poke the ground before walking ahead - to avoid falling into hidden sinkholes.

The site still needs environmental clean up. There's still lots of black, greasy, toxic water that bubbles up from underground. The government only put up danger signs but they've otherwise abandoned this site.

More info on the #history of this site:
https://www.whattherock.ca/post/suquash-beach-vancouver-islands-first-coal-mine

My photos are from 2022 visit.

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Ms. Que Banh Nov 24

If you're on #VancouverIsland & in #Nanaimo #Ladysmith #CampbellRiver #PortMcNeill #PortHardy #AlertBay areas & want to meet up with me & my Indigenous sister-friend & 2 dogs - while we are on our road trip, send me a DM. You have to be practicing #CovidSafety 😷