Codville Lagoon to Jenny Inlet via Ocean Falls

Unknown
to use, today's trip covered three major destination - Wallace Bay,
Ocean
Falls and Jenny Inlet.
Wallace Bay
The boat started at 6:30 am - we motored out of
Codville Lagoon and
up to Cousins Inlet. Our first stop was Wallace bay where we
hoped
to see a collection of cabins and a petroglyph. I was a little
surprised
to see all these cabins here - were at least three hours from Bella
Bella/Shearwater
by small boat. I guessed the fishing was good.
The cabins were in various states of
repair. Some are still in pretty good state of repair.
Other cabins have
collapsed. There are still trails between the houses but the
forest
is getting pretty thick around the houses.



On
one of the trails between the cabins Jan found this nice collections of
mushrooms. I looked them up - they are (probably) Scaly Vase
Chanterelle.
We continued looking for the Petroglyph (apparently it's on a rock that
moved into a rock wall in front of one of the cabins) but we never
found
it.
Ocean Falls
We continued up Cousins inlet and came to a most
amazing site - a town
in the middle of forest! First you see a small collection of
houses
(The bedroom community) and as you turn the inlet you see Ocean falls
proper.
Ocean falls is dominated by the large dam and multi story
buildings.
Behind the damn is massive Link lake where lumber was collected and
sent
to the pulp mill or lumber mill.


There are some interesting old pictures of Ocean
Falls in the
BC
Archives:
Title :
"Link Lake Dam at Ocean Falls".
Photographer/Artist: Clark, John William
Date:
[192-?]
|
Title:
OCEAN FALLS
Photographer/Artist: McRae
Date:
[192-]
|
The pulp mill has been mostly torn down (except
for the massive tool
works) but the dam is still going working. One of the locals told
us that the dam is providing power for the remains of Ocean Falls,
Bella
Bella and Shearwater on one third of one of the four generators.
Most of the local community (many homes, an olympic sized pool, and
other
buildings) was torn down when the provincial government "renormalized"
the area but some of the core of the town remains - a few apartment
blocks
and a hotel, the fire department, and a few buildings.



Some of the town is still functional - the court
house has a library,
a clinic, and a post office. The hospital now has coin showers
and
a pretty good cafeteria style restaurant (way over equipped for the
job).
There is a fishing resort and apparently there is a store about 15
minuets
from the ferry landing. One stop you shouldn't miss (if
it's
open) is the museum.
The Museum in Ocean Falls
Once we walked around the town, we stopped in at
the museum. The
museum is in the basement of the co-op store, what used to be the
Bay.
The basement is filled with stuff that was left around the buildings
when
Ocean falls was "renormalized". One wall is covered in
signatures
from people who have visited the town museum. Because Ocean falls
is a deep water port (used for pulling out the lumber and and paper
from
the mills) it could hold a cruise ship. Unfortunately, the town
has
a long ways to go before it's a cruise destination.


After our tour of the town, we walked back to
the boat. Just past
the dock, just off to the side of the road, we noticed two deer eating
the plants. The deer were a yearling and a two year old Mule Deer
(or black tailed deer).


We got back on the boat and drove off to own
next destination - Jenny
Inlet.
Jenny Inlet
Welcome to Jenny Inlet! After the (decaying) development of the
Ocean Falls, it was nice to see something recovering. Jenny Inlet
was logged in 1992 by interfor and it's recovering slowly.
We
tied up at the dock that was left behind. We think the dock was
used
to unload supplies to support the log cutting operations.

We
got off the boat and went for a walk before dinner. After walking
up the logging road (boy did I wish I had my mountain bike) we came
across
a nice waterfall.
We
continued walking down the road and arrived at the log sorting
yard.
From what I understand logging trucks come down with a full load of
logs
and after the restraining cables are removed the logs are dumped and
sorted.
The sorted logs are then bundled together, tagged and pushed into the
ocean
where they will eventually be towed to market.



After dinner we split up. Some of us (Bob,
Dan, Charles, Mike
and myself) went out for a fishing trip.


Jenny and Paul went out for a kayak. All
to short it became sunset
and then night.

Tags: derelict(10), logging(6), coast(5), building(4), cabin(3), Dam(3)
From: John Harvey Photo > Mid Coast of BC on the Curve of Time > Codville Lagoon to Jenny Inlet via Ocean Falls
From: John Harvey Photo > John's Overnight Page > Mid Coast of BC on the Curve of Time > Codville Lagoon to Jenny Inlet via Ocean Falls
Someday, I will go to Ocean Falls.
Dave Hedges
Sunday, June 3rd, 2007 at 18:10:13
I looked at your pictures of Ocean Falls and was fascinated by what I saw. Thanks you for sharing your travels with me.
Kevin Wells
Sunday, June 3rd, 2007 at 22:18:33
Wow, those pictures are really amazing. Considering that I haven't been back there since 1980, I still remember my home town. Of course it was alot more lively but the beauty still remains. I have been wanting to go back for a visit but afraid of what I was going to see. Seeing those pictures now makes me want to revisit, thank-you for sharing with me and others the rare beauty of Ocean Falls.
Shannon Goode(Gurney)
1975-1980
Shannon Goode(Gurney)
Saturday, June 30th, 2007 at 10:31:24
hi,I lived in ocean falls in 1960,i was 20 years old then.This was the best time in my life,and i always think back of my OCEAN FALLS.My biggest dream came true when i saw after 35 years in 1995 )we got there in a small boat froM BELLA COOLA )my ocean falls back.I enjoyed your fotos very much.
hi my name is jorge i know ocean falls in 1976 year, i need speak with sherri shaw,sorry because my english is bad tank you. jorginho53@hotmail.com
jorge
Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 18:06:19
Millie and John Fair, my grand parents lived in ocean falls for many years (1950ish plus or minus?-1973), and I had the joy of visiting numerous times between 1956 and 1966. I have always had a passion for Ocean falls, as have many who have lived or visited there. This passion has led me to open www.OceanFallsMuseum.com and invite all those with photo memories to submit them to be a permanent photo record of the place we all love.
i havent been back since late 73 my mom used to own a small bait and tackle store plus my dad worked in the mill as a safety man and he also worked in the hospital love the pics wish i go go back
chris rawson
Monday, January 26th, 2009 at 12:43:36
Enjoyed your photos very much. Have many similar ones I took on my only return to the home town after a 35 year absence, in 2000. Once a rainpeople, always a rainpeople.
Brian Adams
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 at 12:58:03
I was born in O.F. on 07/12/1946 and left on 07/31/1955. I had the opportunity to return the July 1st weekend of 1988 for three glorious days. I met Jim Owen and Hazel at that time and some others in town. My big disappointment at the time was that my mountains were all stripped logged but I see from photos they have filled in. I think of O.F. daily and go into different sites just to look at the pictures. For all who ever lived there, there will never be another place in the world like O.F. How lucky all of us were to be born and/or lived in such a place. I tell everyone I had National Geographic ever day for nine years. I am so thankful for all these sites as I can share my childhood and my town with my children and grandchildren. I now live in Rochester Hills, MI USA.
Jean Tokarski-nee Taylor
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009 at 08:52:51
I lived in Ocean Falls for just under two years from 1976-78...ages 4-6. My dad was one of the two RCMP officers stationed there. It is so cool to see the old court house still standing! We lived in one of the upper apartments and me and my sister would run to the front windows to watch the barges drop thousands of logs into the ocean! We even played downstairs in the jail cells when no one was "residing" in them. We learned to swim in the old pool and enjoyed visits to "Scotty's" for candy necklaces and licorace..Great memories!
Heather Shaw
Friday, April 10th, 2009 at 14:01:51
I worked with someone a while ago who was born and raised in Ocean Falls, it sounded like a piece of Heaven on Earth. Years later I met someone who spoke fondly of Ocean Falls again and showed me some pictures. It's been many years since I first heard of this beautiful place and hope that someday I will be able to make the jorney there. It looks and sounds beautiful
Another great visit to my beloved Ocean Falls. Thanks for publishing this. I lived there as a young man from 1969 to 1972. My intention was to stay only a few months to make some money and then go back to civilization. Ha. Check out my blog and click on Ocean Falls in the Labels. I have just today finished my stories and photos project.
Ocean Falls was a very special and magical place and I am glad I spend many years of my childhood there. I lived in OCean Falls from 1974-1980 ages 6-10. My mom was the grade 2 teacher and my dad taught at Charleson High School there. Sadly, I lost all my photos full of memories of birthday parties, the sandbar, christmas concerts at the movie theatre, school friends...when my house was flooded. So, these photos of Ocean Falls were very nostalgic for me to see. If there's anyone out there who remembers me and has photos of me or my parents or brother (Eric) hope you can get in touch with me...
charlotte (carlos)
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 22:05:23
We lived above the Post Office in 1976,my father was the Postmaster.I was 11(Grade 6)at the time,lots of good memories of old friends and adventures,what a great place.
Lorne Williamson
Monday, July 13th, 2009 at 20:45:19
Hi
I lived in Ocean Falls as a child from 1966-1969. My father was the Anglican Priest there during that time. I often think of my time spent there surrounded by mountains and the ocean right at our front door, and yes how I miss it to this day. After living all over Canada, nothing compares to the beauty of this special place!
Teresa Catton
Saturday, July 18th, 2009 at 16:58:57
Hi i was born in ocean falls in 1954, my brother Brent was born in 1953,sister Lori-ann 1958, and brother Kelly in 1960.We are the children of Barry and Jean Mackay and granchildren of Roy and Grace Mackay.We have many fond memories and we left the town too soon.We now all reside in New Westminster,BC.It would be great for all of us to go back there, and if anyone remembers us please email lesengelquist@shaw.ca.
Darlene Engelquist/Mackay
Sunday, August 16th, 2009 at 20:25:42
I was born in Ocean Falls in 1955 and lived there until 1964 when I moved to Scotland with my mum and dad and 3 sisters. All of us are back in Canada now , I now live on the Sunshine Coast and hope to visit Ocean Falls again some day. I have lots of good memories of the town.
John Law
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 at 11:46:55
I lived there with my "SHAW" family from 1973-80. Rhonda (me) and my siblings - Tracy, Kevin, Carmen, Sharri, and Tony. Tracy and I left in 1980 to finish high school, the rest left later. My dad and stepmom Hazel didn't leave until 1990. I loved the years I was there, 9 - 16 years old. I could walk everywhere, be involved in everything..... It was an awesome life for me.... Then the closure and back to the city I went..... It's a chapter of my life I will always think of. I'm so thankful to have lived there and stay in touch with many of the friends from there still.
Rhonda Campbell (nee Shaw)
Friday, April 9th, 2010 at 19:42:01
I lived at Ocean Falls with my Ablett family from my age of 7 to 14 (summer of 1942 to Easter of 1947. Best years of my childhood! Great times at Bella Coola for Cubs and Scouts camps..Sleigh rides down the Dam hill on snow that could be gone in a few hours. Softball games between the Millwrights and the Papermakers. Delivering the Vancover Sun newspaper ..always wet from the rain!
The Burma Road where all the duplex houses were. Going down to the fishing boats to buy any salmon fish for only one dollar! School Phys. Ed. outside almost always in the rain.Soft balls and soccer balls painted with shellac to be fairly waterproof. Celebrations like Dominion Day...now called Canada Day...free ice cream and hot dogs all provided free by Pacific Mills limited! The roar of the often heavy rain on the roof of my upstairs bedroom in house 691. The wooden roads. Especially the ones so like bridges on the hillsides of much of the townsite. The beautiful mountains,Sawmill and Clare Marion. Huge Link Lake and the dam. And the very friendly people of course!
Doug Ablett
Saturday, May 29th, 2010 at 19:49:18
Last Modified Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 at 00:29:31 Edit
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