Another chilly West Coast Sunday morning, another reason to pull over at Royal Bay Beach.
You know that kind of sunrise that makes you forget you’re holding a coffee, because your fingers are too busy freezing off while you fumble for the drone controller? Yeah — one of those mornings.
The sky was glowing bright orange, the tankers were parked offshore like they’d reserved front-row seats, and Victoria was just starting to wake up. Couldn’t resist taking the Air 3S out for a few shots — mostly just to justify why I was up this early on a Sunday.
And sure enough, the universe has a sense of humor — same guy, same truck, same parking spot as the last time I came down here. At this point, we might as well start a Royal Bay Beach sunrise club. Great guy, knows all the local history, and somehow always beats me to the beach.
It’s always nice running into locals like that — just two people watching the light hit the water, pretending it’s not freezing, and pretending this isn’t slowly becoming a habit.
Beautiful morning, beautiful shots, great conversation. If every early-morning flight turned out like this, I’d stop pretending I hate getting up early.
Vancouver Island Drones — still grounded (but never for long).
Related Stories
Why I Fly at Sunrise — A West Coast Morning Ritual
How early light, calm air, and quiet spaces shape safer, more intentional flights.
Teaching Kids to Fly Drones — Fun First, Safety Always
A simple, practical look at introducing young pilots to safe micro-drone flying.
Victoria — Why Everything Starts With a Conversation
How clear expectations and honest communication make local flying smoother for everyone.