September 23rd: Motored about two miles through narrow, current-ridden Mosquito Pass to secluded Garrison Bay, where we anchored in about 14 feet of water at high tide. This is the site of the Royal Marine encampment during the "Pig War" (that is, almost a war) between the US and England in the years 1860-72. There was a disagreement over which country controlled this land. Hostilities heated up when an American soldier shot a pig that belonged to the English. Meanwhile, a few miles away, the Americans established a military outpost. Finally, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany was appointed as an outside arbitrator, and both sides agreed to abide by his decision regarding which country would control the island. The Kaiser ruled that the Americans were entitled to the land. The English immediately abandoned their outpost and left peaceably. Imagine that!! Wouldn't it be great if all potential wars could be settled this way?
The English Camp is now a historic park, with re-constructed barracks, blockhouse, and outbuildings that are open to the public. We dinghied to the park, explored the camp, and then hiked up 650' Young Hill, from which there were outstanding views of the bay, as well as surrounding waters, islands and mountains. It is pictured above.
These huge maple trees at English Camp are the largest on the west coast.
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