When most people visualize the images of North Vancouver Island, what usually comes to mind has something to do with the ocean; favourite fishing spots, beaches that offer solitary walks or spectacular views of the Coast Range over the North Pacific Ocean. However, those of us who live here year round know that the interior of the island is equally as enchanting. The painting shown here is one of those places. Let me tell you about it.

I have a fifty year old canoe (I kid you not!) that I throw on the back of an old Ford truck used to ramble around the back roads of the island. If you look closely at the painting you can see the canoe pulled up beside a smoking campfire.The lake in the foreground is Wolf Lake, a pretty little jewel just off the road to Zeballos.

To get a canoe or kayak into the lake takes a bit of doing but is well worth the effort. If you have ever driven to Zeballos you will most certainly have seen this lake, although you’ve probably looked down on it instead of viewing it at eye level. The Zeballos road does a major split at one point where Atluk Main takes off to the right. If you continue left, on to Zeballos, you begin a steep climb for several kilometres until you finally reach the top of this ridge only to find yourself making a steep, switchback descent. As you descend, you will see a small lake gleaming below you to the right. This is Wolf Lake.

In order to launch your vessel to enjoy the delights of this small body of water, you need to turn down the first road to the right at the bottom of the hill. As you level out, keep a close watch for this road because it is somewhat concealed. After turning watch for the first creek, complete with a bridge. Don’t cross it! There is access to the creek on a “if you blink you’ll miss it” road just before the bridge.

On the day I put my canoe into the creek it was fairly dry and I had to portage over rock fall at several points. My old truck has a two-wheel drive so I couldn’t go on down the creek with it as, evidenced by the tire tracks, a number of others had before me, besides I don’t really want to disturb stream beds with my vehicle. Twenty minutes of paddling and pulling got me into this superb little lake to paint for the afternoon.

I called the painting “Shore Lunch” because later I pulled the old canoe up on shore and made a small fire to prepare a gourmet meal of pork and beans and wieners. Tough slugging but somebody’s got to do it!