Cruisin Fever to Alaska: Boardwalk of Names

Hot Springs Cove Marine Park

Busy Hot Springs Cove

We departed historic Friendly Cove and cruised out of Nootka Sound, rounding Estevan Point on Hesquiat Peninsula. We entered Rae Basin in Hesquiat Harbour to take a “look-see” and then continued south to Hot Springs Cove. Maquinna Marine Park at Hot Springs Cove is a popular tourist attraction and is named in honor of Chief Maquinna of Nootka Sound. Tourists arrive by floatplane and fast speed tour boats out of Tofino for a soak in the natural hot springs reached by a boardwalk. Others arrive by private boat and anchor out in the bay as we did. We saw every type of boat imaginable come and go at Hot Springs Cove, including the sailboat family of four we had met earlier. It took us a while to walk the beautiful 2-mile boardwalk to the hot springs; not because it was so long but because many of the boards on the walkway are etched with boat names of those who have come and gone. We spent a lot of time looking at the artistic drawings and boat names; and to our surprise, we found the name “Loch Fyne,” our sailboat friends from Vancouver, Washington. We finally reached the Hot Springs, which flow down a creek into a ravine of jagged rocks, capturing the water in pools. After our previous experience with the ultimate remote natural hot springs, Leonard wasn’t excited about soaking in sulfur smelling, lukewarm water shoulder to foot with other people in shallow pools of sharp, protruding rocks. Leonard remarked that the only redeeming value of the sulfur smell was the reassurance that any lacerations from the sharp rocks would not become infected – he did appreciate the very pretty setting however and the excellent boardwalk through the forest. The German tourists that arrived of course loved it; they pay big money in Germany to visit a mineral spa. On our walk back, we discussed how we might add our boat name to the boardwalk. It’s a long-standing tradition among boaters at Hot Springs Cove and the park attendant will even give you a board to take home and mail back if so requested. In our case, we printed the boat name on paper and used it as a template. After three hours of etching and scraping, the job was done. It’s nice to know that “Got d’ Fever” is included with other boats that have sailed the west side of Vancouver Island – our own little piece of history in perpetuity.