Our first impression of the island was Swallow Tail, the lighthouse at North Head . Set high on a rocky cliff, this red and white structure guards the bay as it welcomes the incoming ferry. The moist salt air and lush greenery have an almost medicinal effect as you inhale the freshness of life. The peaceful island community is composed of fishermen, scientists and artists who all choose to reside here for their own reasons. The ocean, visible from any standpoint, is speckled with fishing weirs that dip in and out of the living waves.
Hiking trails are in abundance , some alongside the ocean and others that climb the hills inland.
We chose one of each. The campground at Anchorage Provincial Park has a trail that we followed through the woods down onto a barren stretch of beach. The warm still fog gave a feeling of mystique, almost like being in a sauna, as we climbed along the volcanic rocks. The birds were lazily swooping along the water or skipping on the sand, totally oblivious to these two solitary human beings. Here we discovered a helicopter landing pad where we laid out a blanket and prepared ourselves an impromptu picnic.