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Moon Dance Cabin Rental on Oyster Bay
At the end of a long private lane, nestled at the waterfront of Oyster Bay we found the classic west coast cabin complete with wrap around porch and rustic charm – Moon Dance Cabin. Our romantic getaway had begun…..and oh how the moon does dance on the calm waters of this secluded bay!
The pleasant 50 minute drive from the Langdale ferry to Moon Dance Cabin took us through the towns of Gibsons and Sechelt. Both communities offer many interesting shops, restaurants, accommodation and a variety of excursion choices. We were anxious to get to Moon Dance Cabin so we decided we’d return later.
Past Sechelt, Hwy. 101 becomes a winding paved highway of spectacular views and amazing rock cliffs spotted with arbutus trees that shed their bark as well as a rainbow range of mosses. Along the way we saw lots of signs for local artist studios, and if thetruth be told, we spent so much time in local artist studios including two just down the road from Moon Dance Cabin, that we never did make it back to Sechelt!
The Moon Dance rental property is heavily treed and lush with native plants and ferns. The cabin itself is found at the end of a landscaped trail and rockery that winds down to the waterfront. As one guest wrote in the Guest Book “Tranquil, pretty, lovely spot” and it certainly is!
The cabin is clad in random width rough cedar siding inspired by the hand hewn planks of the native longhouses that once proudly stood at the entrance to Oyster Bay. The first thing that struck me as we entered was the rich hardwood bamboo floors and the walls covered in art. My partner was very taken with the woodstove and the impressive cedar trim throughout the cabin. However, we were stopped in our tracks when we reached the loft bedroom. There, tucked in an alcove with views of the water, cliff and rockeries was a very inviting soaker tub for two!
Moon Dance Cabin sits at the edge of Oyster Bay which is the eastern most portion of the dozens of bays and coves that make up Pender Harbour – “the Venice of the Sunshine Coast BC”.
Before roads were built the area was dotted with communities with names like Madeira Park, Garden Bay, Irvines Landing and Kliendale to name a few. For centuries the only form of transportation was by boat or walking the many connecting trails that still exist to this day along the shores and into the interior. The wildlife sightings by guests at the cabin include deer, ermine, raccoon, bear, elk, chipmunks, squirrels, lynx and the bird species are just too numerous to name!
We were amused to learn that guests who arrived after a snowfall and were obliged to park out on the road had this experience as they walked down the lane, “I have to say that when we first arrived at night we were starting to wonder what we had gotten ourselves into . . . walking down to the cabin in total darkness feeling like we could bump into some form of wildlife . . . . ok, yes, we had a flashlight, still we had a good laugh about it afterwards. Then the landscape lights came on and it was all good. Actually the next morning we thought we saw old bear tracks . . . it was great!”
While kayaking we discovered the two producing salmon streams that flow into Oyster Bay, one right next to Moon Dance Cabin. As the tide ebbs out of the bay with the cycle of the moon, the streams follow their ancient paths through the tidal basin chasing the tides edge. With the changing tides, so changes the scene from the porch! As ravens and eagles move in to feed and squabble on the exposed basin, seagulls and Canada Geese, to name a few, give them a wide birth.
As the tide floods back, it brings large schools of fingerlings, delicate jelly fish, crabs and the occasional seal. The salmon waiting to move up stream to spawning grounds spread out from the stream beds and explore the bay once again, doing their best to avoid becoming the next meal forsome bear or eagle!
The moon and the tides – the ultimate Moon Dance!
We thought when we first saw the name that Moon Dance was inspired by a Van Morrison song, but we learn from our hosts Kathleen Barlow and Brent Mooney that his lifelong nickname is Moon, and you guessed it – they love to dance! May I add that it’s always “a marvelous night for a moon dance” on Oyster Bay.
Although Brent and Kathleen just finished building the cabin in the spring of 2005 the Guest Book is already loaded with great guest comments. Another that caught my attention was from a young couple who said “The most perfect setting for us to get engaged!! You have created the most lovely, romantic retreat. We can’t wait to come back…thank you!!
Just 10 minutes from this private seclusion we explored the village of Madeira Park. Here we found an IGA Market Place, pharmacy, butcher, video rentals, wine and liquor store, bank and post office, as well as a range of gift and coffee shops and a local art gallery were we were furnished with information on local artist studios. We also enjoyed the lunches and dinners we had while we were there. The area offers a nice variety of restaurants, pubs and bistros, many found at marinas on the waters edge.
Our last evening at Moon Dance we strolled down to the waterfront and sat on the big flat rock at the waters edge and talked and laughed as we watched the tide slowly rise. We haven’t had such a relaxed conversation in months, it was great! We decided to cancel our dinner reservations and have a salad and BBQ and enjoy a candlelight meal on the porch as the sun set on the slopes of Mt. Daniel across the bay. After dinner we listened to music and relaxed in front of the fire, but not for long because we soon moved on to what has become a new routine for us – enjoying a bath together.
While we soaked in the tub for two located romantically in the loft bedroom, the candle light danced on the cathedral ceilings and we savored every moment of our last night at Moon Dance Cabin.
Just like previous guests, we can’t wait to come back!
Susan and Tony Ciccozzi
Guests
Moon Dance Cabin Website: www.moondancecabin.com
E-mail: info@moondancecabin.com
Kathleen Barlow / Brent Mooney
Voice: 604.980.7443
