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# Day 11: Barcester Bay
- URL: https://www.tumtum.com/we-are-pelagic-day-11/
- Published: 2026-07-10T01:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-26T18:36:40.000Z
- Author: Tom Unger
- Tags: vancouver2026

We layover because: it’s forecast to be a misty day with limited visibility, heavier rain late afternoon to evening, and a south wind. There’s a potential camp at Hesquiat Point, but there is uncertainty about landing and the state of the camp. We may face a longer paddle to the south.

The forecast calls for a spot of rain at 4 a.m. and there is a spot of rain at 4 a.m. We get this precision from Windy App’s ECMWF model and that is one reason for carrying starlink

Colin and I meet under the rain tarp at seven. He observes that the whales are now in close to the shore on the far side of the bay. We walk over with Nelson, but by the time we get there, the whales have moved on.

The shore is layered rock, tilted 20deg.

A healthy-looking black bear steps out of the forest. I’m the only one who has brought bear spray. It is difficult to keep ear spray discipline when the threat seems so low. This is the first beach in which we have seen bear prints and that is why I have my spray. We start our walk back so as not to let the bear get between us and camp.

![](https://www.tumtum.com/content/images/2026/09/day-11-02.jpg)

At the head of the Bay, there’s an interesting feature, a berm with a short ravine behind it, maybe another berm, and the forest. We see several camps. One used by hikers above a rocky beach, nicely nestled into some trees. Two more on the berm.

![](https://www.tumtum.com/content/images/2026/09/day-11-03.jpg)

We see tracks of three wolves who traversed the whole beach after the 4 a.m. rain. One appears to be dragging 1 foot. We can see where its toe leaves a trace in the sand.

Back in camp, we sit under the tarp for breakfast. We watch the bear traverse, the berm slowly moving towards us. It goes out of sight behind some grass. After a while, I get up to check its location, and it’s not too far down the beach.

![](https://www.tumtum.com/content/images/2026/09/day-11-04.jpg)

I believe it is aware of us, but shows neither fear nor particular interest. It seems to just want to walk down the beach. David holds up his jacket and yells, which eventually encourages the bear to enter the forest. Now, we don’t know where it is. A while later, it exits the forest further down the beach from us and continues to walk.

We see more whales off the rocks on our side of the bay. We walk there, but by the time we arrive, the whales are now much further out.

We walk the rocks, look at the tide pools, and the landscape.

![](https://www.tumtum.com/content/images/2026/09/day-11-05.jpg)

Here, there are large layers of conglomerate rock in between the sandstone.

![](https://www.tumtum.com/content/images/2026/09/day-11-06.jpg)

The tide pools are full of life, crabs, amenities, some starfish, and coral.

![](https://www.tumtum.com/content/images/2026/09/day-11-07.jpg)

Coral

I take an afternoon lay down which verges on a nap. Rain starts on schedule.

At dinner we watch a whale swimming around just outside the breaking surf.

Plan for tomorrow is to whip down camp the moment after the last rain drop falls and paddle out of here. Our time in this bay has been interesting but we are pelagic.