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The Bay is gateway to outdoor adventure
Thursday, June 5th, 2003 by GetawayBC.com
Honeymoon Bay, whose inviting name seems to promise newfound pleasures, is located on the south side of Cowichan Lake.
It can be reached by following South Shore Road for approximately 10 minutes west of Lake Cowichan.
Visitors can also arrive by way of the Pacific Marine Circle Route, via Port Renfrew to Mesachie Lake, a distance of about 55 kilometres.
Honeymooners and the rest of the world’s campers, boaters, golfers, history buffs and nature lovers can find much in and around the town to enjoy.
Central Park stretches north from Honeymoon Bay Hall through a grassy field graced by children’s seasonal artwork banners, past the carved wooden welcome sign across the road to a swimming beach at the waterfront.
Near the hall is Memory Lane, where special trees have been planted to honour lost family and friends.
The hall is the heart of the town and the roadside reader board lists a wide variety of enjoyable local happenings such as movie evenings or bazaars hosted by its active community society. It is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
If a visitor is lucky, the coffee pot may be on when you drop in to use the post office, gym, public computer access centre or wireless radio.
There is a meeting room whose walls hold historic murals by an artist of stature, George Jenkins, as well as a large panel painted by old time resident Vince Allen that displays scientific but still beautifully painted diagrams of the wildflowers found in the wildflower reserve west of town.
Popular annual summer events include Bay Days, held July 31-August 2 this year, and the Blackberry Festival on the Sunday of the Labour Day Weekend.
Honeymoon Bay was first established as a logging operation in 1929. Since then, after many ups and downs in the industry, most of the remnants of the logging town have disappeared.
Each Saturday from spring to fall there is an outdoor market on the grounds of the Coffee Mill across from the general store/meat market and fire hall. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
One can enjoy delicious coffee and baked goodies while strolling to each vendor’s table to peruse local arts, crafts, preserves, hand made soap, healing plants, garden offerings and more.
Beyond the Coffee Mill is Walton Road, which leads to beautiful Gordon Bay Provincial Park complete with woodland trails, camping, swimming and a boat launch.
En route to the park visitors will find the Honeymoon Bay Herb and Vegetable Farm. Its charming shop and attractive garden beds marked by old brass bedsteads offer fresh herbs and produce, home made preserves and unique gifts. Its roadside stand sells bundles of campfire wood as well as free range eggs.
Just west of the town is the scenic March Meadows Golf Course, voted the best nine-hole course on Vancouver Island (see story on page 14).
Past the golf course is a Wildflower Flower Reserve, whose bleeding hearts, trilliums, pink fawn lilies and yellow violets are glorious in spring.
Lastly, where the pavement ends, is a complex crossroads nicknamed Chicken Joe’s.
From there it is possible to continue around the lake, but remember it is a logging road, headlights are mandatory and logging trucks have the right of way.
For more information on the Honeymoon Bay Wildflower Reserve and the history of the community, go online to www.honeymoonbay.com.
Area Parks
- Central Park. There is a beach, playground and baseball diamond.
- Lily Beach Park. This nature park has a beach.;