Lady Rose - End of the Line

Any backpacker who has hiked the West Coast Trail from Port Renfrew to Bamfield can recount the pleasant voyage aboard the Lady Rose to Port Alberni. It was a time to bask in the memories of the trail, swap anecdotal stories, and enjoy that burger that you were dreaming about on the trail.

The Lady Rose will no longer be a cherished memory associated with WCT. It was sold to a company in Tofino, BC, as a floating restaurant and maritime museum.

The Lady Rose, originally christened "Lady Sylvia" at her 1937 launching, was built in Glasgow, Scotland.

Designed for the sheltered coastal waters of British Columbia, she became the first diesel powered vessel to cross the Atlantic driven by a single propeller.

In 1942, the Lady Rose became one of a small fleet of vessels operated by the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and was assigned to carry army and air force personnel, as well as food and mail, between Port Alberni and Ucluelet. Reconditioned she was returned to commercial use after the war where she continued service to coastal communities to her retirement for the 2012 season.

So, goodbye old friend, and thanks for the memories!

Orca Calf For the New Decade

A 12 year orca female has given birth to a new calf. The calf and mother are part of one of three separate families [pods] that make BC's Georgia Strait their home. The calf was spotted for the first time, swimming with its mother, on Sunday, January 3.

The survival of the calf will depend largely on the availability of food, especially the preferred diet of salmon.

The current orca population of all three pods is 88 which is up from 85 in 2008.

To find out more, visit orcas.