Dreams of wafting aromas from the barbecue, peaceful kids (well, it is a dream after all), blood red suns sinking over your own waterfront cottage after a hot sunny day, warm balmy waters (I know we are in Canada, but remember it is a dream). Ah . that's the life, all the stresses of the week falling away as you quietly fish from your own boat. As you deftly tie that crab trap on your own dock . only to lift it out with 6 or 7 (legal sized) crabs every night. ...Ah, that's the life. And many of us manage to buy exactly that dream. But all too often, while what we buy is great, actually getting there - using it - is another. No question about it, access is vital, particularly when you eye that recreational piece of joy. That's why Jurock.com's Real Estate Insider recommends the 2 hour 'driving radius' from your place of residence as ideal, the '4 hour circle' as o.k. and the 6 hour circle . well, maximum for commuting to dude ranch country. Otherwise the 'piece of joy' turns into that nightmare of either getting there punch drunk with exhaust fumes, mad at the world (kids, dogs) or all of the above. So, access is important, getting there is important and to a large extent access can determine the value of your property and its increase potential as well.

Clearly, that is also true for Island property purchases. While there is great mystique in owning a piece of the beach, the island, getting there for most of us is not as easy as just driving to the Cariboo, where the deer and the other weekenders roam. We need a boat . failing that we need the friendly and much indebted BC Ferries to get us there. Thus islands like Saltspring and Pender in the Gulf with car-ferry service have always had better price appreciation. You could own that piece of paradise, get there quick inside 2 to 4 hours travel time and are away from it all. Also, these and other larger popular islands offer schools, shopping where you could actually live there year-around. But because of this fact, these islands are no longer cheap . To get away now for your peace of mind you have to have a second mortgage that gives you ulcers.

There are, of course, hundreds of West Coast Islands stretching all the way north to Alaska. ALL have outstanding beauty, fishing, diving, hiking and are set amidst a hundred splendiferous vistas. Every little and large island with its own charm and its very own access problems. However, depending on which island you chose to buy on, even regular ferry service may not get you there in time for your Saturday night barbecue. Texada Island, while beautiful, takes actually 3 sets of ferries to get to, others may take even longer.

We at Jurock.com's Real Estate Insider have covered Bowen Island, Keats Island and Gambier Island in Howe Sound a few years ago. So when this spring a number of subscribers asked: "Is the bottom near and if so where should we buy," we revisited Howe Sound. Of course there are some ground rules when you buy any island property. Southern waterfront views southwest, southeast are generally best, but I have seen some outstanding northern view properties as well. There are currents, the weather, as well as open exposure to consider, if you have waterfront. If your property lies inland on a 'walk-on only' ferry island, there are transportation considerations. All recreational properties now also face the problems of security. And then a lot of the time the ownership one seeks and acquires can get into the hundreds of thousands.

If you have it to spend fine, but for the average family to have a true weekend get-away has to have a cash consideration. My family and I have cruised the Gulf Islands from the US side - the San Juan Islands - to Desolation Sound for 15 years. All islands properties are great in the summer and when you are there standing on it. But to have family use, there must be facilities that suit your personal life style and you must be able to get there quick. Getting there is the real problem. We have friends who came, saw and bought that great property, but it is so far away, they never use it. It is just a trophy to talk about, but actually walking the beach, picking the oysters and catching that elusive crab . well . it just does not happen.

That's why after years on the water, the 'Jurock clan' now cruises Howe Sound more than any other. It is beautiful, the fishing is spectacular, the marine parks are great . but most of all, you can get there . fast. Leave at 4 PM on a Friday, tie up on any Howe Sound Island by 7 pm.

For instance, Bowen Island is a mere 15 minutes by ferry from Horseshoe Bay - which is only 30 minutes by car from Vancouver - depending on traffic on the Lions Gate Bridge - of course. Not only ferry service, but drive-on ferry service.

Of course, one and all discovered Bowen Island. Vancouverites came and bought . driving values to the sky. While sales have really slowed sharply and values have come off substantially in 1999, you still need to hock your family jewels to own waterfront here.

But there is more to Howe Sound than Bowen Island. Stretching from West Vancouver to Gibsons to Squamish, the Sound offers miles of wind and weather protected ocean waterways surrounded by towering peaks rising straight out of the sea. There are clusters of islands both large and small - all with their own unique aspects. As we featured in one of our recent faxes, Passage Island at the entrance to the sound is one of the smallest island - a waterfront lot was recently offered at $99,000 - and the largest island is Gambier Island which dominates the north eastern part of the Sound.

While the south West Side of Gambier is deeply indented by a series of bays, the northern aspects are steeper with a few small bays to invite explorers. Anvil Island to the south of Gambier rises steeply from the sea on all sides. Believed to be a sacred spot for the coastal Indians, neither its history or geography encourages landing on its shores although there is a small beach on the north east shore. Just to the south tiny Christie Islet and Pam Rock provide ideal habitat for seals and a multitude of sea birds. These snippets of land are wildlife sanctuaries.

The southern half of the Sound is the ferry route from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale and Nanaimo and hundreds of commercial and recreational vessels are fishing, trading . doing ocean things.

From the Langdale Ferry Terminal to Lower Gibsons, the winding road follows the coastline passing by cute, older and new homes and cottages. The place names reflect a time when boats provided the only access to the coast, thus Hopkins Landing, Granthams Landing appear on the road signs. In one of these, world famous and renowned author (he of the Titans fame) Peter Newman hides his home and his tugboat named Titan (what else?) is found cruising the waters from here to Vancouver's Coal Harbor. The town of Gibsons sits at the north west corner of the sound just before it breaks out into the open water of the Strait of Georgia. Tucked behind Steep Bluff at the mouth of Shoal Channel, the harbour is enclosed in the rocky arms of the man made breakwater. My wife Jo's favourite place to buy fresh crab (well, you can't always catch the little buggers).

Looking straight across the very deceiving channel (the tide brings the water depth up to only a few feet) you will see Keats Island with Plumper Cove's Provincial Park on its north west corner. This cove was named by Captain Richards, RN, who commanded the Royal Navy Survey Ship, HMS Plumper which surveyed the coast from November 1857 to January 1861. The park provides sanitary facilities, water, picnic tables and campsites. The Shelter Islets guard the entrance to the cove. Further west you can see the wharf and ferry landing which is the focus of community life on the island. On the eastern end of the island facing Bowen Island lies Eastbourne. Again a public wharf gives you access to this small settlement. Summer cottages built in the twenties and thirties are slowly giving way to modern homes for year round residents. Rudimentary roads wind through the community and connect to the ferry landing across the island.

To the south the Pasley Islands appear, clustered together between Keats and Bowen Islands. Bound by Barfleur Passage to the north and Collingwood Channel to the east, this group consists of five islands and a number of small islets. Pasley Island itself is by far the largest of these.

Ok, ok you say, now this is Howe Sound . where do we buy? Well, having just talked of easy access, the average new age entrepreneur having less and less time and wanting that weekend getaway, it seems to me, the place to be may well be in Howe Sound. Not just at popular Bowen Island but rather on Keats and Gambier Islands. And I speak from experience. To me the very fact that the whole world is looking for "car-access getaway islands" is an oxymoron. While our family used to cruise far afield, ever since 1995 I take wife and kids, three grandkids, my brother's 4 kids and we point the Net-E-Scape towards Keats Island. We leave on any Sunday afternoon and stay till Thursday and feel like we were gone for weeks. Even in the highest season - never meeting but a handful of people in one of the most beautiful places in the world - Plumpers Cove. In the morning I set out to gather the food . well I go look for AND CATCH salmon on the bottom of Keats, in the evening we cook it over at the campsite on the island. Why is no one there - during the week - in July and August? Because you can't get there by car! Although it is easy enough to take a $14 water taxi ride out of Horseshoe Bay, few make the effort . No stores, no McDonalds - just magnificent beauty. In fact BC Ferries has a Langdale - Keats Island - Gambier run. With a fare of $4 for adults and $2 for kids it is an outright bargain. It runs 7 times per day, but you have to walk-on, no cars allowed.

So, from time to time we featured properties on Keats Island, which were (and still are) cheap. We featured this year a 50 ft. ocean waterfront lot with deepwater dock and a rundown house for $159,000 (sold at $135,000 in May, 1999) and a number of view properties . with small cottages - non-waterfront - can be had for under $100,000. Of course, you may want to spend more, but if you truly just want to get away and not go broke in the process . you can here.

So, if you are looking for a true weekend getaway, close to Vancouver, where no hordes of weekenders with their smelly cars will bother you, take a look at Keats. And if you want inexpensive waterfront acreage take a look at Gambier.

A few weeks ago, I took the ferry to Langdale and met long-term Sunshine Coast real estate professional Steve Sawyer (Gibsons Prudential: 604-886-2277). He picked me up in his magnificent 53-foot former RCMP speed yacht M.V. Pearkes and we headed over in 20 minutes to Gambier and walked some of the finest waterfront in the world. Steve knows his stuff and his love for Howe Sound compliments his deep knowledge of coastal properties. Gambier, just north of Bowen Island is close enough to be easily seen from Horseshoe Bay, a mere 1/2-hour boat ride away. Yet, it remains quiet and has a small year round population. There is one small general store that sells staples and meals and is located at the New Brighton ferry landing in Thornbrough Bay, on the west coast of the island.

Gambier Island itself is a great place to explore as it is mostly unpopulated with many secluded bays providing protected moorage for your boat. Although close to the city, Gambier Island is worlds apart. With it's quiet, tranquil setting it is a perfect getaway for boating, camping, hiking or biking. There are a number of subdivisions on Gambier. The one at Halkett Bay near the Marine Park (featured here 2 years ago), almost sold out all of its waterfront lots but still shows some great view non-waterfront lots (4 and 5 acre parcels under $100,000). A large 14-acre parcel non-waterfront is offered for $169,000. There were small cabins for as low as $59,000 and older houses with a 200-foot dock are asking $279,000. I also really like the quality subdivision at West Bay. The developer has installed 4 sheltered communal docks to provide year round sheltered moorage for all the owners. These docks together with an internal system of communal trails and jeep standard roads provide access to each of the 48 waterfront lots - 2.5 acres to 8 acres in size. Lot prices vary, but some 4 - 6 acre parcel waterfront lots are as low as $169,000 (there is one at $110,000, but you need to be a mountain goat- the land rises straight up from the ocean). Some are spectacular, situated by a marine park, 6 acres or more in the $225,000 range. Oh, and yes a builder lives on the island. Lots are designed to feature a guest cottage as well as a 'manor house'. One such west coast beauty, already built, sports some 4,800 sq. ft. on 6 acres and is offered at a $1,050,000. Amazingly, within an hour of Vancouver's inner harbour lies this undiscovered paradise. The many secluded coves shield your boat, and old logging trails wind through the centre of the island to destinations such as Mount Artaban, Gambier Lake or to the shores on the far side of the island.

If you are dreaming about a getaway, invest in a boatride (from Horseshoe Bay a private watertaxi takes you to anywhere on Gambier for $14, from Langdale it is even cheaper) and take a look.

The skies are blue, the mountains are snowcapped, and the boating is fabulous. For the diver in you Howe Sound is populated by virtually every form of West Coast invertabrae. Nudibrach of many varieties can observed moving about in super slow motion. Octopus can be seen as well as urchins, crabs and sponges.

Best of all there are no cars . Oh, you want golfing? Well, play at a Vancouver course in the morning and in the afternoon still have time to catch a salmon (rock cod, ling cod, greenling, flounder, halibut, crab). Paradise in your own back yard. If you are in Plumpers Cove in the early part of July look for the Net-E-Scape (or soon to be renamed FeatureWeb-Net) and I will treat you to a cup of coffee.

jurock.com

About the Writer
Ozzie Jurock is the president of Jurock Publishing Ltd., Editor of Real Estate Insider Publication and Author of Forget About Location Location Location

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