Discovery Islands: Cape Mudge Lighthouse

View of the Cape Mudge Lighthouse

    One of the coolest things about Quadra Island is that it’s home to one of Canada’s only road accessible lighthouses. Located at the south end of the island, the Cape Mudge Lighthouse stands proudly, topped with its bright red lantern.  Named in honor of Captain George Vancouver’s first lieutenant, Zachary Mudge, Cape Mudge Lighthouse was built in 1898 by G.H Frost. The original structure no longer stands, and was replaced in 1913 by the one currently installed. It’s also now been modernized with an automated weather observing system, solar-powered light, horn, and a videograph fog sensor. The original lighthouse was made into a dwelling but was replaced by a new one in 1949.  In 2009, it was proposed to have the place de-staffed but there were strong protests and the plans were put off.
     The original keeper, John Davidson, had only 3 successors, as the lighthouse’s close proximity to civilization made it a rather appealing place to be positioned. 

Petroglyphs on Quadra Island

     Today, you can walk by the lighthouse in Cape Mudge via the Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge. Along the way, if the tide is low enough, you’ll be able to see the petroglyphs on the beach.

Discovery Passages Events July 24th to 30th

Friday, July 24^th    

• Active History Afternoon at the Museum with Regular Admission from 1-4pm; 250-287-3103 
• Live Music in the Tyee Pub at Painter’s Lodge, 8pm. 
• Ride & Dine special with Gowlland Harbour and Hurricane Jack - $60/p includes a 3 course meal and a ride! Call 250-285-3572 for more information and to book. 
• The Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music continues. Friday: 7pm Family Concert at SouthEnd Farm Winery: "The Celtic Roots"- From Scotland to Ireland, to Cape Breton and Appalachia, revel in the unique styles of the Celtic tradition.  Sit out in the vineyard and enjoy tapas before the concert with a glass of wine.  A magical evening full of great music, food and people. For full details please visit www.quadrafestival.com or call 250-285-2422. 
• Summer Salsa Night with Zandhunga – live latin music – at the Quadra Island Legion, 9pm. $10 at the door ($15 with dance class!); 250-285-3121

Saturday, July 25^th

• 4^th Annual River City Arts Fest in downtown Campbell River, 10am-6pm. Free public admission and art activities for all ages makes this cultural crawl an exclusive arts marketplace experience for all to enjoy! Exciting, non-stop entertainment is being lined up! Visit www.rivercityartsfest.com for more details!! 
• Gospel Music Concert with Brent Warriner & Roberta Douglas, 7pm at Discovery Community Church. FREE! 
• The Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music continues. Saturday: 7pm Concert at Stone House: "Home and Heart"- Hear the joyous, warm music of Eastern Europe. Dvorak’s ‘American’ quartet reflects on his idyllic summers and longing for home. Our own brilliant Konstantin Bozhinov plays traditional works from his home in Bulgaria. For full details please visit www.quadrafestival.com or call 250-285-2422. 
• Scenic Ride & Dine at Mount Washington every Saturday: couple the Mile High Chairlift with a delicious lunch from Ted’s Bar & Grill. www.mountwashington.ca 
• Ride & Dine special with Gowlland Harbour and Hurricane Jack - $60/p includes a 3 course meal and a ride! Call 250-285-3572 for more information and to book. 
• Quadra Island Farmers’ Market & Bazaar, 10am-2pm 
• Racing at Saratoga Speedway! www.saratogaracing.ca  
• Live music at the Royal Coachman Pub, 8pm, with ‘How Could I’ and friends; 250-286-0231 
• Dance at the Legion with local cover band “Ten Times Bigger” at 9pm. Tickets are $10; 250-286-3434

Sunday, July 26^th                                      

• Pier Street Farmer’s Market from 10am-2:30pm 
• Museum Boat Tour to see Hardwicke & Yorke Islands. 8:30am-2:30pm - call 250-287-3103 to register! To view schedule for upcoming tours visit www.crmuseum.ca 
• The Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music continues. Sunday: 11am Concert at Quadra Island Community Centre: "Back in Buenos Aires"- breath the fiery passion of tango, including works by the greatest tango composers of all time, Astor Piazzolla and Osvaldo Pugliese. Featuring Tango dancers from Vancouver and a wonderful brunch by Chef Mariana Gabilondo. For full details please visit www.quadrafestival.com or call 250-285-2422. 
• Jazz & Blues event at the Royal Coachman pub from 1-4pm every Sunday! 250-286-0231

Monday, July 27^th

• Park Squad will be coming to a neighbourhood near you this summer! Visit them at Centennial Park, July 27^th-31^st, from 10am-1pm. Free arts, crafts, games and activities!

Tuesday, July 28^th  

• Summer Puppet Theatre is back at the Museum! Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30am & 1:30pm ($2 admission); Twenty-minute shows followed by a craft! 250-287-3103 www.crmuseum.ca 
• Lunch in the Square with Cat & Cal Kalyniuk; 11:30am-1:15pm. www.spiritsquare.ca    
• Leisure Skate at Strathcona Gardens from 11:30am-1:30pm; 250-287-9234 
• Open Stage Tuesdays at Misty Fin’s Eatery & Lounge, 7:30pm (Free Entry); 250-287-4320 
• “Music at the Point” every Tuesday, 6:30-9:30pm, at April Point Resort. To make a reservation call 250-285-2222

Wednesday, July 29^th    

• Croquet & Tea at Haig-Brown House from 1-4pm; Pre-register with 250-287-3103

Thursday, July 30^th

• Puppet Theatre at the Museum! 10:30am & 1:30pm ($2 admission); 250-287-3103 
• Leisure Skate at Strathcona Gardens from 11:30am-1:30pm; 250-287-9234 
• The River Concert Series continues at Spirit Square with “Werewolves” from 7-9pm.

UPCOMING

August 1^st & 2^nd – Motocross BC Championship Series Round 2; www.campbellrivermx.com

August 1^st-3^rd – Inukshuk Building Contest at Mt Washington, 11am-5pm; 250-338-1386

August 7^th-9^th – Campbell River Salmon Festival & Logger Sports 2015 at Nunns Creek Park.

Supernatural British Columbia: UFO Sighting

         The northern tip of Vancouver Island seems to be a hot spot for UFO sightings. One specific case, as noted on GoCampbell.com, tells of a Hannah McRoberts catching sight of something on October 8^th 1981 at, surprisingly, 11:00 in the morning. “They noticed that a cloud passing over the top of a mountain peak created the impression of an erupting volcano and they took a picture,” GoCampbellRiver.com writes. “When the photograph was developed, they noticed that there was a discoid object in the sky just beside the mountain that they did not see when taking the picture.  The mark on the photograph was not a scratch or defect in the film and a close scrutiny of the shot showed a distinct disc like object to the right of and above the peak and the plume of cloud.”  

July 17th to 23rd

Friday, July 17^th    

• Active History Afternoon at the Museum with Regular Admission from 1-4pm; 250-287-3103 
• Live Music in the Tyee Pub at Painter’s Lodge, 8pm. 
• Ride & Dine special with Gowlland Harbour and Hurricane Jack - $60/p includes a 3 course meal and a ride! Call 250-28-372 for more information and to book. 
• Charity Jazz & Blues Weekend in Spirit Square July 16^th-18^th. Bring a toonie tonight for the CR Hospice Society and enjoy the Desperation Jazz Band from 7-9pm.

Saturday, July 18^th

• 2^nd Annual Family Golf Classic at Storey Creek. 8am Registration, 9am GOLF! A Fundraiser for the CR Salvation Army Lighthouse. Teams of 4 (children & adults!), 9 holes & picnic lunch for $150; 250-830-8100 
• Super Saturday: Max Streicher Inspires – Full body tracings. Free Drop-in Art at the Gallery, 1-3pm; 287-2261 
• Scenic Ride & Dine at Mount Washington every Saturday: couple the Mile High Chairlift with a delicious lunch from Ted’s Bar & Grill. www.mountwashington.ca  
• Ride & Dine special with Gowlland Harbour and Hurricane Jack - $60/p includes a 3 course meal and a ride! Call 250-285-3572 for more information and to book. 
• Quadra Island Farmers’ Market & Bazaar, 10am-2pm 
• Cortes Day at Smelt Bay Provincial Park! Time for some Island –hopping. 
• Racing at Saratoga Speedway! www.saratogaracing.ca  
• Charity Jazz & Blues Weekend in Spirit Square July 16^th-18^th. Bring a toonie tonight for the SPCA and enjoy rockin’ good blues with ‘Brickhouse’ from 7-9pm. 
• Live music at the Royal Coachman Pub, 8pm, with ‘How Could I’ and friends; 250-286-0231 
• Dance at the Legion with local cover band “Ten Times Bigger” at 9pm. Tickets are $10.

Sunday, July 19^th                                      

• Pier Street Farmer’s Market from 10am-2:30pm 
• Museum Boat Tour to see Thurlow & Sonora Island with a lunch stop on Dent Island. 9am-2pm - call 250-287-3103 to register! To view schedule for upcoming tours visit www.crmuseum.ca  
• Jazz & Blues event at the Royal Coachman pub from 1-4pm every Sunday! 250-286-0231

Monday, July 20^h

• Park Squad will be coming to a neighbourhood near you this summer! Visit them at Dick Murphy Park, July 20^th-24^th, from 10am-1pm. Free arts, crafts, games and activities!

Tuesday, July 21st

• Summer Puppet Theatre is back at the Museum! Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30am & 1:30pm ($2 admission); Twenty-minute shows followed by a craft! 250-287-3103 www.crmuseum.ca 
• Lunch in the Square with Luke Blu Guthrie; 11:30am-1:15pm. www.spiritsquare.ca    
• Open Stage Tuesdays at Misty Fin’s Eatery & Lounge, 7:30pm (Free Entry); 250-287-4320 
• “Music at the Point” every Tuesday, 6:30-9:30pm, at April Point Resort. To make a reservation call 250-285-2222

Wednesday, July 22^nd   

• The Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music is returning for its 5^th Season with the theme “A Home of Homes”, running July 22^nd through 26^th. For full details please visit www.quadrafestival.com or call 250-285-2422. Each venue is selected to provide concert-goers with an intimate setting in which to enjoy the music. Wednesday: 7pm at Quadra Island United Church in Cape Mudge: “Our Native BC" - A concert about our beautiful BC with music by BC composers. Featuring the première of a collaborative work between Campbell River's Curtis Wilson and QIFCM artistic director Philip Hansen. 
• Croquet & Tea at Haig-Brown House from 1-4pm; Pre-register with 250-287-3103

Thursday, July 23^rd

• Puppet Theatre at the Museum! 10:30am & 1:30pm ($2 admission); 250-287-3103 
• The Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music continues. Thursday: 12:30pm Family Concert at SouthEnd Farm Winery: "Tangles and Tunes" - A fun-filled afternoon concert with our talented musicians performing and exploring selections from this season's music in an engaging way! For full details please visit www.quadrafestival.com or call 250-285-2422.
• The River Concert Series continues at Spirit Square with the Annie Handley Band from 7-9pm.

UPCOMING

July 24^th-26^th – The Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music continues! www.quadrafestival.com

July 25^th – River City Arts Festival

July 25^th – Gospel Music Concert with Brent Warriner & Roberta Douglas at Discovery Community Church.

On the Strait - July 7th - 13th

Attraction: Snorkel with the Salmon

Snorkelers enjoy a day out on the water with Destiny River Adventures

          Mental Floss magazine named it one of “The 12 Weirdest Experiences You Can Have in Canada”. Growing up in Campbell River, this didn’t really strike me as a “weird experience”, but I guess it might be a bit odd to those who aren’t used to it. Snorkeling with the Salmon has been covered by several different media outlets including the Rick Mercer Report and the Globe and Mail.
         In 2014, Globe and Mail reporter Alexandra Gill (what a fitting last name!) said this of the excursion:  “Slipping on my mask and snorkel, I dunk my face in the water. Arms stretched out in front of me – “like Superman,” as instructed – I float through the gentle current until the blurry glimmer sharpens into an aquatic bas-relief of whitish-pink bellies and scaly tails… Whoa! I really am snorkelling with salmon – thousands of them.” 

Action shot of the salmon in the Campbell River

          The attraction is offered by Destiny River Adventures, and is open to anyone between the ages of 5 and 95. It’s offered July 13^th through September and is fairly affordable for such an unforgettable experience. For three hours, it’ll cost you $125 per adult and $115 per youth, taxes included.