Phewww…the end of the A – Z Challenge, I feel like I just completed a marathon of sorts. Exhausted but very proud to have crossed the finish line! As I searched online references I enjoyed the opportunity to dig through lots of information and brush up on my Canadiana. It’s also been a lot of fun trying to find places in Canada to correspond with each letter of the alphabet…some letters were definitely more challenging than others!
I hope everyone who participated had a great time, I know I did, and… in a month or two I’m sure I’ll be looking forward to next years challenge !!
To the entire A-Z Challenge team, thank you for all your very hard work and what I’m certain were many, many hour of planning and execution! Fabulous job!
So, one last time, and without further ado, Z is for Zeballos, British Columbia.
I love Vancouver island and I am thrilled to be ending the A to Z Challenge in this stunning part of Canada!
Location and Geography: Zeballos is a village located on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. While legend suggests Spanish gold seekers may have explored the area in the late 16th century, Zeballos is now known for its ecotourism and sport fishing.
Zeballos is a deep-sea port surrounded by rugged mountains and forests, located on the Zeballos River delta, at the end of Zeballos Inlet. It is accessible from Highway 19, about a two and half hour drive north of Campbell River. Zeballos’ position relative to nearby Nootka Sound and Kyuquot Sound make it a popular “jump-off” point for tourists and anglers. Other areas of interest include Nootka Island, Fair Harbour, a 35 km (22 mi) trip by unpaved road from Zeballos, and Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park.
Population: 125 {2011 Census}
Founded: 1930’s and Incorporated in 1952
A dock in Zeballos, British Columbia {Photo attribution: Alexis Harrison (CC)}
“The discovery of gold in Zeballos in the 1920’s resulted in a massive influx of miners and adventurers. The historic buildings in the village are a living reminder of those frontier days.
The road to Zeballos turns west off Highway 19 just north of Woss. The 40 km gravel logging road is well-maintained and continues beyond Zeballos to Fair Harbour. Along the way watch for bears, deer and elk crossing the road and eagles soaring overhead.
The village is fast becoming a favourite destination for kayakers, sportsfishers and nature lovers who want to leave the crowds behind and experience the wild west coast of Vancouver Island. Comfortable accommodation and several cafes welcome visitors.” (http://www.zeballos.com/) (Photo attribution: http://www.zeballos.com/
Economy: Today, the majority of the town’s residents, along with the population of the two neighbouring Native reserves, Oculcje and Ehatis are employed in the timber industry.
Small businesses, specializing in ecotourism, sight-seeing, commercial fishing and oyster farming also contribute to economic growth in the area.
View of Zeballos Harbour {Photo attribution: Alexis Harrison (CC)}
Miscellaneous:
- Zeballos offers a multitude of outdoor adventures, such as hiking, wildlife viewing, caving, rock climbing, diving, kayaking and fishing.
- Camping is available in several wilderness locations such as Little Zeballos, Lake Zeballos, and Iron Mine.
- In Autumn, the Zeballos River draws bears and eagles as spawning salmon struggle upstream.
I have mixed feelings about the Challenge now being finished. On one hand I am happy to be “heading home”, as this is quite a daily commitment, but on the other hand, like many fun journeys, I am sorry to see it end. It was fun meeting everyone and I will continue to visit the participants, and maybe I will see many of you again during the Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2014…first I need to recover a bit from this month long trip!
Past visits on the A to Z Challenge 2013 – Road Trip:
- A is for Alma, New Brunswick
- B is for Banff, Alberta
- C is for Cornwall, Ontario
- D is for Dawson City, Yukon
- E is for Edmonton, Alberta
- Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2013 – Virtual Road Trip & Actual Road Trip!
- L is for London, Ontario {Resumption of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2013 – Road Trip!}
- M is for Montreal, Quebec
- N is for Nanaimo, BC (with recipe)
- O is for Ottawa, Ontario
- P is for Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia
- Q is for Quispamsis, New Brunswick
- R is for Regina, Saskatchewan
- S is for St. John’s, Newfoundland
- T is for Toronto, Ontario
- U is for Unable to omit Prince Edward Island
- V is for Victoria, British Columbia
- W is for Winnipeg, Manitoba
- X is for Xena, Saskatchewan
- Y is for Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Complete listing of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2013 participants.
CREDITS – Map source –http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Canada_British_Columbia_location_map_2.svg – Hanhil (CC) (altered to include place name) Additional information contained in this post was obtained from Wikipedia and Village of Zeballos
What a mystic and magical looking spot. What unspoiled beauty to be found in our vast country! Thanks for taking us along with you, on your Canadian road trip. I have enjoyed it immensely. It’s been a great challenge & I almost hate to see it end.
Kathy at Oak Lawn Images
I really regret not exploring the Island more. But I was always so fixated on being in Victoria. The farthest north I got was Chemainus! I loved your Canada blog posts and I hope you do more!!!
It’s funny that “mystic” was the word I was thinking about as well as Kathy, when I saw the pictures of Zeballos. You did very well to find a place that starts with “Z”. I have so enjoyed this trip, and as you said, it has a rather bitter-sweet ending. Glad to not have the pressure of writing daily posts, but will miss the “friends” I have discovered during this challenge. I will continue to check out the A-Z list and visit more people. Thanks for bringing me along on this beautiful road trip across our spectacular country!!
Well done you!
Really enjoyed your Canadian exploration posts – got to get over there! Congrats on the Challenge and thanks for the enlightenment – until next year!!