Former ferry turned into floating lodge

THE CATCH with fishing
is that they make you get
up so early in the morning.

It was a nagging thought as I
boarded a Wag Air flight at Van-
couver for Bella Bella (known by
the smart crowd as BB).

BB was a way point for a group

going to the new St. Joinn's Fish-
ing Lodge. At BB we took a van
down to the harbor and climbed
aboard an Otter, and after 10
minutes were landing in a
sheltered cove beside what looked
like a B.C. Ferries vessel.

lt used to be the Queen of the
Islands, recently retired from the

photo. submitted

. DAVID AND: James. Wishart with. the 60-pound chingok salmon

- that . dad caught,

with a little help

from son. The fish

~~ fought for more than 40 minutes before being rsited and haviec

: onto the boat. .

‘New Britannia Beach tea room
has distinguished atmosphere

TWIN. GABLES. ‘Tea . Room, which opened July 1 in’

Britannia Beach, just 20 minutes from Horseshoe Bay, of-

fers authentic afternoon tea.
‘| The Tea Room overlooks Howe

. 7 Sound and has a white trellis and

-baskets with a brilliant array of
flowers on each step.

Finches in a cage at the en-
trance chirp to the music of Enja,
Pachelbel and Zamfir.

The Tea Room is owned by

Patti Jean Bell whose elegant
watercolor paintings touch up the
soft lemon-colored walls, and the
honey oak antique cupboards give
it a distinguished, relaxed at-
mosphere.

Delicate, antique teacups are
displayed on the shelves. Some of
the teacups have been handpainted
by her grandmother; some have
been collected by Bell from Vic-
toria.

The menu offers cheesecakes,
baby-cakes, scones with jam and

By Esther Mciiveen
Contributing Writer

Devonshire Cream, finger sand-
wiches and her grandmother’s
famous cookies.

A variety of flavored coffees
and an assortment of teas are
available. The Tea Room is open
from i] a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you need that special cup of :

tea, or want to take summer
guests on a drive they. won't
forget, then set your sights on
Britannia.

Twin Gables is a place with a
sense of nobility.
For further

896-2265.

information call

run between Fulford harbour and
Swartz Bay. But enter Leonard
Ellis, angler and grizzly hunter ex-
taordinaire, with a dream.

After years guiding in and
around Ocean Falls he knew the
perfect spot for a floating fish
lodge.

Amazingly, it took him fess
than a year to find two hackers,
both commercial fishermen, con-
vert the vessel, and have it
moored in a corner of Athlone
Island.

What was once the car deck
now contains 24 handsome twin
rooms, each with private bath and
shower. Two more feature double
beds, a seating area and skyiights,
holding out the tantalizing possi-
bility of a combined honey-
moon/fishing trip.

The deck above is a spacious
area with dining room, bar, and
lounge, all of it blessed with huge
windows affording majestic views
of the cove, ocean, sunrises,
sunsets and fishing skiffs coming
and going.

Top deck has a hot tub, sauna
and tables with umbrellas, which
on a good day could be a luxury
cruise ship bound for Alaska. All
in all it’s a superb facility with
fine food that can. hold its own
with the best.

And there’s more. Two docks
are moored to the lodge. One is a
big T with space fortwo Wag Air
floatplanes, while the other holds
a flotilla of fish-killing boats
designed by Ellis and built by a
Coquitlam firm.

The 17-ft. aluminum boats have

centre console, radio, depth
sounder, and 45 hp Honda oui-
boards.

Unlike some lodges, St. John's
offers splendid fishing just five
minutes away.

So it was that the first morning
my son and I were up with the
larks and got a 24-lb. spring and
some coho off Cheney Point.

The pods of killer whales came
by; they provided a marveious
show but scared away the fish.

We were back the next day.
Good grief it was carly. We troll-
ed close to the kelp in about 100
ft. of water, fishing at about 60
ft. with 25-Ib. test.

When the fish hit I thought it
was a submarine. The reel howled
and the fish darted out to sea,
taking us through a dozen other
skiffs,

The fish went deep, then came
back. Disaster threatened when
the line was snagged by another
boat's tackle.. The fisherman
gallantly yelled for us to cut his
line, but my son was able to reach
up and pick the hook clear.

The reel screamed again as the
fish once, again set course for
Japan.

By this time a young fishing
guide from another lodge was tell-
ing his clients to keep clear or
wind up their gear, but _what
about the trollers? .

Several were working. ‘the same
patch, but . Sportingly. they did
their. best | to keep clear: JAt Jeast
one, ‘the Bonaaza II, made: an: ob-
vious diversion to. keep me. in the
fight. . :

PRINCESS CRUISES #32. 2
SPECIAL 4-DAY ALASKA CRUISE”

Sailing in May, 1993 aboard Star Princess
$399 us. Inside cabin
$499 us Ouside cabin
Cabins ‘assigned on a first-come first-served basis.
Space is limited. Call NOW for details! .
“. Over 120 locations in the world:

CALL 984-6122 .

{next to Canadian Tire)

VACATION

__IN SUNNY: on
PALM SPRINGS =
CALIFORNIA

We invite you to experience the iwo best kept secrets’ in

the desert.

The Arenas Inn - Luxury villas, snuggled up to the
mountainside, just four blocks to the viliage!! The BEST!! NS
Nothing even comes ciose!!! .

The Stardust.~ A unique country inn, all suites are
pooiside!! Just. two minutes from downtownll! Clean; .

quiet and affordable.

Reference - The Palm Springs ‘Chamber of Commerce,
Senior World Magazine. AAA rated, Senior Discounts

available, weekly, monthly.

To contact us: Telephone (618) 325-5t£2
fax (619) 322-7672
or write: Marsha Anderson, PO. Box 2817
Palm Springs, CA. 92263

David

TRAVEL

. After 40 minutes 1 got the fish
close to the boat. He made two
more runs, then my son got the net:
around him. .

“I’ve got nim, Dad,’’ he yelled. :
“But I can’t lift him!”” Los

I threw the'rod down on “the
bottom’ of the boat, and together:
we dragged the chinook: over the.
side.

As I fell back: exhausted “the
crew of a nearby: troller. clapped
and cheered. ‘They. knew! Jit was: a.
big fish. - ;

It was not yet?9’a.m-
teady been quite a day:

fe Return airfare. from .
B Vancouver to San ‘Jose§
from CDN: $759. 00. |

f © 2 nights Hotel | Packag
in San Jose™™:
from CDN. $96. 00

Ee 7 day Car Rental
Unlimited Mileage
from CDN? $235.00"

g ¢ 7 night Beach hotel.
packages —— choose :
from Jaco Beach,
Flamingo: Beach, Coco§
Beach or Manuel :

- Antonio Beach
from CDN. $348.00 -