Enchanted Islands, a Farwell




Beach at Cabbage Island

We departed Ganges on Salt Spring Island at 10am bound for Cabbage and Tumbo Islands, a National Park Reserve within the Gulf Islands of British Columbia.  Located off the southeast end of Saturna Island, the tiny islands of Cabbage and Tumbo are exposed to the north winds blowing down the Strait of Georgia.  Winds predicted for the evening would be coming from the southeast allowing Saturna Island to act as a shield and provide a relatively comfortable anchorage.  

Got d' Fever at Cabbage and Tumbo Islands

We arrived at Cabbage Island just before 1pm and tied to one of the Park buoys.  The sandy beach glistened in the afternoon sun beckoning us to come ashore.  We paid the Park fee at the self-registration box and hiked along the shoreline among the beautiful stands of Garry Oak, Arbutus (Madrones), and coastal Douglas fir.  


Tumbo Island

Neighboring Tumbo Island is equally beautiful with bright red Arbutus bending over the shoreline of sculptured sandstone and tide pools.  As reported in the Waggoner Cruising Guide, coal mining was attempted on Tumbo Island in the early 1900’s but the shafts flooded and so the effort was abandoned.  

Shoreline of Tumbo Island

During the 1920’s and 1930’s a farm was established to raise foxes on the island.  We motored the dinghy over to Tumbo Island to see if we could find remnants of the old homestead and anchored the dinghy off-shore.  As we hiked along the trail still visible from wear, we approached a house surrounded by an old orchard including a tree bearing peaches, the house was abandoned and boarded-up.  

Inviting Rope Swing on Tumbo Island

As we continued walking east along the shore, we came to a rope swing hanging from a large oak tree extending over the water; a row of Lombardy Poplar trees ran along the shoreline as if intended to be a windbreak.  

Row Boats found among the Orchard and Fields of Tumbo Is.

Our curiosity was now growing by the minute; heading inland we came upon another stand of orchard trees with remnants of row boats scattered about.  

Old Homestead on Tumbo Island

Soon we spotted what appeared to have been the original homestead of the fox farm: a few out-buildings, an old log cabin, and a house looking to be from the 1930’s, all of which were boarded-up and locked for safe keeping.  

The Farm Plow

  

The Old Log Cabin, Tumbo Island

Deer at home on Tumbo Island

The only animals we saw on the Island were deer grazing in the open meadows, they stared at us as if we were strange new creatures in their world.  

What Stories Lie Within?

Tumbo Island is another one of those magical places with stories untold.  

Heading across Boundary Pass into U.S. Waters

Tomorrow we would cross Boundary Pass into U.S. waters but we would carry with us the memories of the enchanted islands of Jedediah, Tumbo, Chicagof, and Haida Gwaii, home of the Haida people, in addition to many other places of enchanted beauty and hidden secrets.