Bicycle, tricycle, recycle

A big thank you to guest blogger, Mike Wiley, for this post. An avid tennis player, long-time member of the Recycle Society board of directors and a refugee from the prairies, Mike feels he has landed in paradise and they’re all good days on Pender Island.

One cannot live on Pender and be neutral about nature. Not with black tail deer on the roadside, eagles, osprey, and vultures overhead, spectacular Pileated woodpeckers darting through the woods, Orcas passing by, sometimes extraordinarily close to shore, and tidal pools teeming with tiny, aquatic life.  How could Penderites be noncommittal about nature? 

Talking the talk is easy, but many islanders walk the walk by recycling whatever they can.  On Pender, recycling is recognized as being important, and also as fun!

The little hill to the recycling depot gives you the first clue.  The depot entranceway is bordered by a brightly coloured array of old bicycles, tricycles and kids’ scooters.  Bicycle, tricycle, recycle – now there is a clever lead-in to recycling on Pender.  The recycling depot is a meeting place for Penderites.  Neighbours and old friends abound at the depot and, of course, they exchange information, ideas and news . . . not gossip . . . never gossip . . . well hardly ever gossip.

Depot users cover the spectrum of Penderites - permanent residents, seasonal residents, visitors, young old, wealthy, not-so wealthy, artists, writers, professionals and retired folk.  They all seem to have a smile for each other, partly because, more often than not, they know each other and definitely because by their very presence, each has declared that he or she “cares” about the island.

If that common bond isn’t enough, it is worth the visit just to observe the committed staff members who, even during those hectic rush periods, have time to offer a smile and assistance to customers puzzling over which recyclable goes into which bin.  Apart from a shared, passionate belief in recycling, the Recycling Depot staff also reflects Pender’s diversity - kayaker, photographer, pole dance instructor, medical first responder, an internationally acclaimed musician, gardeners extraordinaire, and lifelong recycling activists. 

 

In keeping with the commitment to recycling, the depot has a free store, a used appliance area and a repaired bicycle area.  The usable items in the free store are just that:  Free.  The appliance and the newly added bicycle area boast items in good operational condition available at a nominal, and I mean nominal, fee.

So, enjoy watching the passing Orcas from the Pender shoreline.  Have a sunny, unhurried game of golf or tennis, or the unique delight of disc golf, but be sure you don’t leave the island without a Recycling Depot drive through.  That drive through will tell you a lot about who Penderites really are.

More Info

Recycling Society web site:  www.penderislandrecycling.com

Pender Island Chamber of Commerce:  www.penderislandchamber.com/

Pender Island a Good Base for Outstanding Diving

Pender and its surrounding isles are blessed indeed. The seascape and landscape are soft and alluring, amongst the most attractive on the planet. But there is also an enigma, an air of mystery for the largest part of this area lies below the waves and is invisible and largely unknown. A seal head, a pod of orcas, a hauled-up crab trap give some insights into the watery world below. But they are mere glimpses.

To learn more I spoke with Derek Holzapfel, an enthusiastic SCUBA diver who has been exploring these waters for more than two decades. An expert underwater photographer, he is compiling a photo-catalogue of species using an underwater housing for his camera and a strobe/flash light. He is currently at 384 species. “This coastal area is phenomenal for diving,” he says, “The mixing of Pacific and Fraser River waters and the tidal currents yield a prolific and diverse abundance of life. It is best where the currents are strong, such as Tilley and Brooks Points.”

When I asked about his favourite moments, he answered, “I dove with some California sea lions and they were playful like puppies, playing and tugging on my equipment. But best of all,” he continued, “I love the tranquility of being underwater alone.”

But it is not always peaceful. Two years ago while diving in Shingle Bay, Holzapfel was attacked by a ten-foot Pacific Octopus at a depth of 70 feet. Fortunately, after a brief tug of war, the octo released him.

But all is not well in the watery world. The salmon that anglers once found in profusion are now elusive. Eelgrass, a critical part of the coastal habitat, is relatively unhealthy in the Gulf Islands compared to the west side of Vancouver Island. Hundreds of crab-trap buoys dot the water. And I won’t even get into the effluent from industry, boats and a large surrounding population.

Perhaps some protection is in order for the mysterious world under the waves. Perhaps the National Marine Conservation Area proposed for the southern Strait of Georgia is a good idea. Perhaps it will help Holzapfel increase his catalogue to 500 species.

More Information

- Holzapfel’s web site with superb underwater photos:  www.naturediver.com

- Pender Island Chamber of Commerce:  www.penderislandchamber.com

- National Marine Conservation Area:  www.pc.gc.ca/progs/amnc-nmca/cnamnc-cnnmca/dgs-ssg/index_e.asp

Photos
From the top: Baby seal riding on mom's back; Derek Holzapfel; Alabaster nudibranch; Cabezon with eggs; Sunflower star (last 3 photos by Derek Holzapfel)