One of the activities that makes hiking along the North Channel beneficial is blueberry picking. 2017 had a very wet spring and produced a bumper crop of blueberries. 2016 was a dry year and the blueberries were scarce; so scarce that we did not pick any, leaving them for the critters. The wild blueberries grow very close to the ground and some years bending over to pick berries results in only a berry or two. As can be seen in the image above, a bush on a small island near Long Point Cove, the 2017 crop produced many berries per squat or bend.
The hike across that small island resulted in lots of berries, limited only by the number of containers that were carried - lush, moist, and large berries.
Blueberries are high in antioxidants, a healthy addition to one's diet. Wild blueberries all seem to have much more flavor than the cultivated, store-bought variety. This year's crop had even more flavor.
With Jill's great baking skills, pies, muffins, tarts all make for eating healthy most enjoyable. Yum!
One spot where blueberry bushes are plentiful and filled with berries is the area around Thomas Bay. The hiking there is challenging and beautiful, over the pink granite rocks and through open woods. Just after the crew returned to the boat from a hike and blueberry adventure, another blueberry picker was spotted onshore. There is competition for this tasty morsel.
