The anchorage in Penrose Bay, a small cove deep in Malaspina Inlet, has one road and no cell phone coverage. It doesn’t feel completely cut off from civilization because there are houses along the shoreline, sounds of occasional human activity, and even a kayak camp at the head of the bay that opened its doors for seasonal operation just last week.
Even so, it has the feel of a place out on the edge of things; a place where contact requires effort if you don’t bring your people with you. It’s a place to get away from people or, if you’re sent there, to pine for company.
After the day’s activity: navigating the Malaspina Inlet and deploying the dingy to row in and have a chat with the couple operating the Kayak center; Bob, Kay, and I lounged in various places about the vessel. It was a pleasant evening of reading and enjoying our space, the solitude, and bird calls reaching out from the forest. Again and again a great northern owl, feeling the remoteness of the place, sent out a forlorn plea for its mate that went unanswered.
Drawing by Bob Bennett
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