Maritime Heritage Centre & Beach Fire Brewing

We drove along the scenic ocean route from our campground to Campbell River. Snowcapped mountains against a sunny seascape greeted us through the window all the way.

We parked at the Maritime Heritage Centre and took a walk along the pier before heading into the museum. The seating for fishing and the rod holders sat empty and the ice cream shop was closed for the season. I can imagine this pier being lively in the summertime.

The museum may not be large, but it is rich in history, stories, and artifacts. The maritime memorabilia transported Bill back to nostalgic days as a young navy seaman and his first ship, the Qu'Appelle.

The Heritage Centre is renowned as the home of the historic BCP45 seine fishing boat, which was once depicted on the Canadian $5 bill. It features interactive, family-friendly exhibits and guided tours. It was quite fascinating to stand on the actual fishing vessel that is illustrated and now restored.

We were fortunate to be welcomed and guided by Bill, who was knowledgeable and shared the history of some of Vancouver Island's most iconic tales, including a boat that, over 68 years (retired in 1996), served as a salmon seiner, troller, and herring packer, operating from the Fraser River to the Alaska border. It's definitely worth visiting and taking the tour.

Bill, our guide also recounted a period in BC's history involving Ripple Rock, a notorious twin-peaked underwater mountain located in the Seymour Narrows of British Columbia, Canada. This formation posed a significant marine hazard until its dramatic destruction in 1958. It was responsible for sinking or damaging at least 20 large ships and over 100 smaller vessels, resulting in the loss of approximately 114 lives. The explosion was recorded and can be found in historical footage online by searching for it on google. The museum also provides an online page dedicated to this event.

Ripple Rock: https://crmuseum.ca/learn/ripple-rock/

The Martitme Hertiage Centre's website: https://www.maritimeheritagecentre.ca/

We discovered one of the town's local breweries and decided to have lunch there. It was another fantastic experience with tasty beer flights, delicious food, and friendly people. We enjoyably wasted the afternoon away sipping our suds, sharing stories, and relaxing with the locals. https://beachfirebrewing.ca/

Fair Winds and Following seas,

Bill & Cat