Billy Proctor has spent his life doing the time-honoured work of generations of up coast men – fishing, hand logging, repairing boats, clam digging and beachcombing.
We happened on to this man while walking a trail that took us to his museum in the Echo Bay area. Bill Proctor is a coastal legend and we were privileged to spend several hours learning about the past, present and the future. He has spent his last 10 years as a committed environmental activist trying to return the salmon runs back to the numbers of the past.
We met Lorna Chesluk at Port Neville and were given a tour of her family homestead. She has lived her entire life on the piece of property, with her daughter being the 4th generation. Her grandfather Hans Hansen settled there in 1891 and started one of the first Post Offices on the coast in 1895, which Lorna still runs.
Hans built his second home in 1920 for his family. Lorna’s house was built in the 80’s. While having dinner we spotted a grizzly bear across on the beach. He was not large but the distance between us may have made him seem smaller.
We then motored to Yorke Island. We anchored in a bight and by dinghy we ventured onto the island. This would to prove to be to date one of the most unique explorations we have done while out this summer. Canadian Government built a gun emplacement to protect the country’s west coast from enemy invasion. We scrambled up 500 feet past the crumbling officer’s quarters and hiked along the path. After about 30 mins, we reached the deserted bunkers and gun emplacement situated on a cliff overlooking Johnstone Strait. The walls were made in such a way that from the sea it looks like the surrounding cliffs. The date on the cement block read 1937.
We are currently at Shoal Bay. A breathtaking anchorage. We plan to stay here a few days then head towards Campbell River.