Cherie Thiessen - Travel Writer

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Sunset watching in paradise

Anywhere the promise of a beautiful sunset presents itself there is a hush over the land and sea, people momentarily pause and life stills.

Sunsets are works of art. While you cannot create the art, you can select the frame.

Last summer I dedicated myself to the arduous task of choosing ten settings in which to indulge this favourite past time of boaters. Here is my modest list of super sunset sites.

When selecting these, I categorized them to give seafarers a choice: from energetic to easy, from private to party time, from cozy to convenient, from pampered to pristine.

1. Sunset for Beachcombers and Bird watchers - Montague Harbour, Galiano Island.

Almost everyone's number one favourite is probably the sunset viewed from the sandy beach at Montague Harbour, judging from the people who gather there nightly.  This has got to rank as one of the best and most convenient spots to see a sunset.  You can anchor or tie up at a mooring buoy at the marine park and take your dinghy to shore.  A short walk through the campsite or across the lagoon and you are there. A wide expanse of clamshell beach makes for inspired beachcombing while you await the sunset.

There are many shells and sea creatures to observe in the nearby rock pools and birds to study in the tidal marshes and forest. The belted kingfisher loves to take up watch on the dead trees, and bufflehead ducks enjoy wriggling snacks while waiting for the sunset.

Should you desire to be alone to watch the sun's departure, you can walk for a long way along the beach or upper forest trail to find a perfect private spot.  Wherever you decide on, you will have an unobstructed view down Trincomali Channel. We have rarely been disappointed in the sunset from this popular but magical location.        

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