Thanks to Tide Rip Tours, Tourism Nanaimo was invited up to the small community of Telegraph Cove to experience a one-of-a-kind opportunity: Grizzy Bear Watching. Like Whale Watching, Grizzly Bear Watching is one of the most exciting tourist attractions on Vancouver Island. So, comfortably aboard a two of Tide Rip Tours‘ boats, we left Telegraph Cove at 7:00am and spent the next nine hours enjoying the beauty of Vancouver Island. Along the way, we ran into dolphins, deer, cormorants, orca whales and, of course, grizzly bears!

Wanting to share a glimpse of what we saw, we brought along a camera and took a whole bunch of photos!

Courtenay, Amy, Heather and Amanda were more than happy to drive up the island and take in the sights at Telegraph Cover.

Telegraph Cove. It was quiet in the morning, but when we arrived back in the afternoon, it was an absolutely bustling little village, full of locals and travellers, alike!

After a two hour boat ride, we arrived at a floating dock and transferred into two separate herring skiffs. They’re the perfect way to travel through the many estuaries of Knight Inlet.

Baby animals everywhere!

Our awesome guide, Lindsey, took us into water so shallow that he was able to pull the skiff himself! On the shoreline we found grizzly bear prints, left behind when one of the bears came down to the shore to look for salmon!

Mama Bear and her three cubs.

On the way home we were met by a pod of 40 or 50 dolphins. They trailed along beside us for about ten minutes, playing in our boats wake and jumping high out of the water!

Fed by glaciers, the water in Knight Inlet is an amazing turquoise colour.

Courtenay, our Manager of Visitor Services, gives Tide Rip Tours a big thumbs up!

Tide Rip Tours also has a great video about their service:

It was a wonderful adventure, and we’re very grateful that our hosts invited us to experience the grizzly bears and other animals of Telegraph Cove and Knight Inlet! For more information on Tide Rip Tours you can visit their website or find them on Facebook.

All photos © Aidan Moher, 2010.

For over two decades, the Nanaimo Silly Boat Regata has been one of the most fun-filled and highly anticipated events of the year. This year was no different. Teams from all over the Nanaimo area gathered together, built the silliest boats they could think of and ran hilarious races for a wonderful cause. The 26th Annual Nanaimo Silly Boat Regatta raised over $80,000 for the Childhood Development Centre. Way to go Nanaimo!

Not wanting to miss out on the fun, we headed down to Swy-a-lana Lagoon and joined the thousands of other locals and visitors who watched the race. We brought a camera along.

Teams preparing for the race

The first heat is about to begin!

Eager fans, waiting for the races to begin

*Bang* And they're off!

Traffic Jam!

The Mid-Island Co-Op Boat, winner of Super Silliest Boat!

Some were more functional than others!

A lot of people came out to watch the races!

The famous Nanaimo Pickle Boats!

At the finish line!

First to ring the bell wins!

Even if you weren't enjoying the races, there was sunshine, food and activities galore

The results:

• First Overall The VIEX Kountry Kritters
• Super Silliest Boat The Mid-Island Co-Op
• Super Silliest Sailors The Buccaneer Inn
• Super Silliest Costumes Nanaimo Realty/Royal LePage
• Best Team Spirit The Royal Bank
• First to Sink Carmichael Enterprises (What a dubious, but fun, honour!)

In all, it was another extremely successful year for the Nanaimo Silly Boat Regatta. We already can’t wait for next year!

Do you have any photos of the 26th Annual Nanaimo Silly Boat Regatta? If you do, email them to aidan@tourismnanaimo.com and we’ll post them here!

So what’s up next for Nanaimo? This weekend, again at Maffeo-Suttan Park on Sunday, July 18th, is the 26th Annual Silly Boat Regatta. Teams made up from different businesses and families have just a few of hours to build their boats (using only recycled material!) and then the race begins! The creative designs that some people come up with will blow you away, someone always gets wet and laughs are guaranteed. During the boat building there are interactive games and activities for children, including the opportunity for them to build their own Silly Boat.

Last year, Team Tourism Nanaimo had an absolute blast in the race!

All proceeds from this event go to the Child Development Centre here in Nanaimo. The CDC is a wonderful organization that provides child development services to families all over Vancouver Island. It is a great cause and is always a fun event. For more information on this year’s Silly Boat Regatta out their website: http://www.sillyboat.com/home.php.

Looking for something to do this weekend? Why not head downtown on July 9th, 10th and 11th to take in the Dragon Boat Festival. Recognized as Nanaimo’s most spectacular summer festival, the 8th annual Save On Foods Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival will be a true celebration of our diverse and beautiful city, attracting over 50,000 people and more than 80 dragon boat teams from across North America.

Beginning on Friday afternoon with the colourful Awakening of the Dragon Ceremony and Chinese Lion Dance, the Festival will continue with two more days of non-stop entertainment on the Main Stage, fabulous food and shopping, and of course, Dragon Boat racing of the highest calibre. Admission is free to the general public so what’s stopping you? Come on down to the waters of Nanaimo Harbour and celebrate with us!

• 3 Days of Unique Culture & Sport with Something for Everyone!
• Thrilling Dragon Boat Races
• Live Main Stage Entertainment Friday, Saturday and Sunday
• Mini Show ‘n Shine with members of the Smokin’ Oldies and Nanaimo T-Bird Club
• Shriner’s Pancake Breakfast
• Labatt’s Beer Garden
• Activities for the little ones in the Little Dragon’s Fun Zone

This is truly one of Nanaimo’s finest festivals, paddlers united in the fight to beat cancer. For details, visit: www.nanaimodragonboat.com/.

While kayaking, Amanda saw several Eagles, an endless array of Jellyfish and Starfish, and even a pair of Blonde Raccoons!

This is just the beginning of another wonderful Vancouver Island summer!

Do you have any great photos of Nanaimo? If so, send them to aidan@tourismnanaimo.com and it might appear on the Harbour City Howler!