Imagine driving to the very end of the longest highway in the world. Such an adventure! What kind of planning would that take? What would you need to bring? How long is the trip? Where does it go?
Well, Highway 101 is the longest continuous highway in the world. It ends in Porto Monte, Chile, South America, which would indeed take a lot of planning for a road trip.
However, the beginning of Highway 101 is actually much closer to home ? in historic Lund, BC, and very little planning is required to get there. Located on the northern tip of the Sunshine Coast only a few hours north of Vancouver, BC, Lund is a tiny fishing village overlooking a bustling deep water harbour.
Once a popular berry picking area for the Tla?Amin (Sliammon) First Nation people, Lund was settled in 1889 by two Swedish brothers. Establishing one of the first villages on the Sunshine Coast, the early residents built their homes from hand-hewn logs and erected a one-room school and small hotel with post office and liquor store.
Since then Lund has changed very little. The original hotel was rebuilt after a fire destroyed the original structure. Recently renovated, it now hosts a general store, restaurant and other shops along with the post office and liquor outlet.
Fishing followed logging as the primary industry and even today the commercial fishing boats tie up in a section of the public marina reserved especially for them. Prawning is the speciality here as the prawns are both abundant and sweet.
The harbour is protected by a breakwater; and the public marina berths a multitude of pleasure boats in the summer as they make their way to Desolation Sound. Amenities are conveniently close to the public wharf, within grocery-toting distance, however no stop in Lund is complete without a stroll to the bakery for a delicious sticky bun.
From the historic boardwalk visitors watch Thulin Creek power the waterwheel. In 2005, the community raised funds to restore the old boardwalk and waterwheel by selling engraved boardwalk planks and many of the names seen there are of original settlers and current residents. During the summer months, the waterwheel house hosts a Visitor Booth where information can be obtained about accommodations and local activities.
Just above the waterwheel is SunLund By-The-Sea, a secluded little campground, which has fully serviced RV sites, tent sites, cabins, and very clean laundry and shower facilities. Over thirty years old, this campground was once crowded with sport fishermen all summer. Recently purchased and upgraded, SunLund is now popular with hikers, kayakers, scuba divers, snorkelers, prawners, and other watersport enthusiasts. The resident managers, Ron and Ann, go out of their way to make your stay relaxing and enjoyable. Contact them: info@sunlund.ca or 604-483-9220.
The Copeland Island?s Provincial Marine Park rests just outside the north end of the Lund Harbour. A peaceful and calm area for kayaking and boating, the islands are abundant with sealife and an astounding variety of marine birds. Kayak rentals are available in Lund for both first-timers and experienced paddlers.
Savary Island?s tropical beaches offer sand and surf for miles and miles – without the cost of airfare to a tropical destination. And no passport required! The water taxi leaves frequently from Lund Harbour and their maps of the Island show the beaches, hiking trails, and other attractions.
Lund has a few hiking trails of its own, including the renowned Sunshine Coast Trail. One hundred and eighty kilometres long, this trail consists of several segments and can be accessed at many intervals. Hikers enjoy multi-day, overnight, or half-day hikes to hilltop or oceanside viewpoints. The terrain ranges from difficult to very easy so ask for a map.
And then there?s scuba diving. Lund is being discovered as an incredible dive area. Rated by Jacques Cousteau as one of the best sites in the world for its abundance of sealife, there are some easy shore dives, boat dives, wreck dives, and cliff dives. Charter boats and equipment rentals can be arranged through SunLund By-The-Sea.
Speaking of charter boats, the salmon and cod await your bait. As do the prawns. Not to mention the abundant oysters and clams on intertidal beaches. Mussels and scallops can be had too. Bring a boat or charter your own. Lubricate an oldtimer in the pub to find the location of the best fishing spots, then fire up the barbecue.
Or if you prefer to let someone else do the cooking, try one of the restaurants in the area. Fresh seafood is the fare and casual attire is the norm. So come as you are. Adventure in Lund (www.lundbc.ca) – where the end is really the beginning.
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