Gibson’s landing, B.C. 7.01

Windy and cloudy.
We strolled the shops at Gibson’s landing and ate Halibut fish and chips at “Mollie’s place”, where they shot the TV series “The beachcombers.”

Mr. T. drove through a free car wash at a paper mill. The water came crashing down,“W-H-O-O-S-H! and suddenly we couldn’t see a thing, but we made it out alive.

Tokeloshe

Nanaimo, B.C. 27.7.01

Nainaimo, the second largest town after Victoria on the island, has everything: “Tim Horten’s”, “Chapters”,” Wall Mart”, Costco” etc. There are many Aquaplanes.

We went there to have our films developed, do shopping and check our Email free at the library. The supermarket is called “Overwaitea foods”. I kid you not and will leave it to you to wonder why. It was large and nice. There you can fill small tubs from bulk containers with peanut butter, relish, jam, etc put it on a scale, enter the bin number and it prints a label for the tub. This is very handy when you are on holiday and don’t want large containers. I think it is also neat if you want to try out a product you don’t know.

It was cool; we strolled through some nice shops and the harbor where there was a flea market on. There were also many Aquaplanes and lovely Yachts. It started to rain.

Tokeloshe

Skookumchuck, B.C. 30.7.01

We hiked 4 ks to the Skookumchuck narrows close to Egmont, through a lovely forest. It took 1 ½ hours as we took so many photographs.
Unfortunately many trees were chopped down and just left there years ago and now have moss and other trees growing from them. There were also large ferns.

“As tidal waters are forced through the narrow, shallow channel between Jervis and Sechelt inlets, the difference in water levels can exceed two meters, causing currents of more than 30 km per hour. The word Skookum is the Sechelt natives’ term for strong, chuck means water.”
We were just in time to see Kayaks play in the waves. Beautiful brightly colored starfish cling to the rocks here.
We ate Cinnamon buns on our way out.

Tokeloshe

Sechelt, B.C, 7.2001

We stayed a few days in Sechelt, at “Porpoise bay”, where we had a beautiful view of the Inlet, with seawater, from our cottage. There were geese, on the water ( and crossing the road, the traffic stops for them.), noisy seagulls, Aquaplanes, eagles, boats, a mountain and sunsets.
We had a hot tub in the evenings. The Sunshine coast has many coves and islands with houses clinging to them.

Tokeloshe

Coombs, B.C. 28.7.2001

The weather was still rainy. We snooped around the shops in Q beach and then went to Coombs. There are many houses with moss growing on the roofs and people even put sod on and let the grass grow on their roofs. At Coombs there were interesting little Western like shops, connected with a boardwalk and selling Stained glass, woodwork, pottery etc. The largest is a restaurant and Emporium, with goats living and grazing on the roof.

Tokeloshe

Cathedral Grove, B.C. 23.7.2001

The largest trees on the island are in Cathedral grove. It is beautiful; there are boardwalks, so that one doesn’t damage the forest. The oldest tree was already 300 years old when Columbus landed. It is 76 m high; many trees have fallen down when a big wind came trough a few years’ back and they were uprooted. If you walk along these, you can see how tall the trees are. Most are Douglas firs, but there are also large ferns and moss. It reminded us of Knysna.

Tokeloshe

Victoria & Duncan, 25.7.2001

On our way to Victoria, we stopped at Duncan: “City of Totems”. They also have lovely murals. The wall at the back is rough and airbrushed. The weather was lovely.

Victoria has lovely old brick buildings, Red Double Decker busses, horse drawn carriages, pedestrians, tourists, Jay walkers, flower baskets, Totem poles, a Chinatown, etc. You can see snow covered mountains from the beach (no waves). You can take a ferry from here to Seattle for $60 p.p.

On our way home we had tea at “Whipple street junction”, a little antique town, with a boardwalk connecting the Quaint Western looking shops.

Tokeloshe

Pacific Rim, B.C. 24.7.01

We drove west across the island to see what the West Coast looks like. Although not far it took the better part of a day as the roads are so winding. Port Alberni is on the Alberni inlet, where you can take a Private ferry to the sea. Ucluetlet and Tofino had little waves. There are houses on little islands and more Aquaplanes. Ferries and Aquaplanes are a way of life here.

Tokeloshe

Vancouver Island, July 2001

We stayed for a week at the “Riverside Resort on the “Little Qualicum River” in Qualicum beach. There are no waves and geese swim on the sea. We did beach combing, saw lots of colorful starfish, lazy crabs, shells and picked up stacks of pansies (Sea dollars) The weather was a lovely 23 degrees. On the island you can get lovely (Halibut) Fish and chips and tea in pots. The town has won an award for it’s beautiful public gardens. Flower baskets line the main streets.

We hiked around the Qualicum Falls and Qualicum River and took many photos. There is a lovely campground and it looks lovely to swim in the cold pools on a hot day.

Tokeloshe

Trip to Vancouver, B.C. 21.7.01

We left at about 7 am from Calgary with the Cherokee. We traveled on the Trans Canada Highway, via Kamloops (BC), Salmon arm and the lovely Schuswap lake. It is the biggest lake I have seen so far; it has beaches, houseboats and many resorts. Most of the trip, we drove through the Rockies, there are many Avalanche tunnels on the road.

We arrived in Vancouver that evening. It was still light and we won and hour as we were now in Atlantic time (Calgary is on Mountain Time.) It took us about 10 hours and we used 1 ¼ tank of gas, about $55.

We took a ferry from Horseshoe bay to Nanaimo (Vancouver Island). We drove through tollgates, where you can pay by “Visa”, “American Express” or cash, on to “The Queen of Oak Bay”. The ferries have Washrooms, lifts, restaurants, a gift shop, video arcade games etc. The ferries have a few decks and carry RV’s, busses, trucks, bicycles, motorbikes, etc. as well. We parked in 9 lanes; you must remember where you parked. The B.C ferries that shuttle all day can carry 362 vehicles, 1,466 passengers and reach a speed of 19 knots. Horseshoe bay is lovely with houses clinging to the cliffs. The ferries are so spacious I wished I could travel to SA on them, no rocking, and just a soft drone. There are no waves. We saw other ferries, they are beautiful and big. The trip takes 1 hour and 35 minutes.

Tokeloshe

Ferry, B.C. 7.2001

We left Vancouver Island for the Sunshine coast, mainland. The trip took 1 hour and 15 minutes. The ferry was called The Queen of Burnaby. We saw two whales playing in the water on the trip. It was cool.
We had a look at the “Floating breakwater” by the paper mills at Powell River. Ten large shipwrecks that keep the logs in place.

We took another ferry “The Queen of Twawassen” which took 50 minutes. It is beautiful; we see many islands and a waterfall.

Tokeloshe

Stampedin' 2001

Giddy up folks it’s that time of year again!

What I love about this time of year. Are the folks in their getup. I saw a lady sellin’ cherries (very eexpensive) along the road, cowboy hat, cowboy boots, buckle, the works, and there she was dancin' all alone, high kicken’ in 28 degrees sun.

Last Friday we rode a trail down to the Stampede parade, it was hot enough to wither a fence post. It was so dry, the bushes followed the dogs around, if ya git my meanin’. I felt like a tee totaller in the last chance saloon. The yungin went with. Lately were getting along like two six guns on the same belt. I was grinnin’ like a jackass eatin’ cactus. I saw an elderly lady, all geared up in Red and white, from head to toe, boots, hat, yo name it. Enjoin’ herself. Those horses were actin like they were tryin’ to chin the moon. One mean Bronco, he had a nose yuh could store a small dog in. He arched he’s back like a mule in a hailstorm; he was travellin’ faster than bad news at a church social.

The latest were large floats, imagine Maisie’s parade, “Honey I blew up the kids” and the Michelin man all in one, they were higher than the Plus 15’s (the bridges between the buildings) and the traffic lights, as they were anchored, they had to be lowered and tilted each time, they neared them, but this didn’t seem to be an inconvenience rather part of the fun.

This Friday we headed to the show grounds after work and gym. On the train it was a hot as Satin’s oven. I felt like stashin’ my hat in my backpack. The yungin went with. What I love about this time of year, is that you can get on a train, with a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, kerchief, bolo, etc. and nobody gives you a second look, you have to be mighty well dressed ta catch some ones eye.

At the grounds it was as noisy as a calf corral. It felt as close to Durban’s marine parade in December in the 70’s. We saw a hoss an filly wearin' long black leather coats, they weren’t hot, they were in “The Matrix”. We moseyed down and had some eexpensive Coca-Cola and Elephant ears. We saw some mighty fine lookin’ jewelry made from Pinecones, apparently the cones are cut in half, sanded down and polished. What makes them look like agates, is that each is different in pattern and color.

We came out of a buildin’; the weather had turned nasty. It was as black as midnight during a new moon. The wind came past like a freight train. My hat helped as much as a bucket under a bull. Mr. T. was getting’ mighty tired, he was winden down faster than a two-dollar watch. So we said: “See ya ‘round” and headed home. By now it was pourin’ buckets, like Noah’s flood.

On Sunday the old man and the yungun, went down the river in the patched up canoe. I dropped them off at Ghost Lake and they went to Cochran. The yungun rowed while Paw cast a line, missin’ the yungun each time by inches.
Maw stayed home ironin’ them breeches.

Y'all come back now ya hear!
Yee- Hawww!

Tokeloshe

Cycling

On Monday, another warm and sunny day, we cycled around Glenmore reservoir (a dam) . There is a lovely pavement going right round and we saw many friendly cyclists, pedestrians, roller blader’s, etc. Some we met on the loop, going the other way, also going all the way around. It took us about 2 hours, with a few rests in between and walking uphill. On the dam were sailboats, parks, wetlands and golf courses surround it. We did about 17, 5 km. and finished up at “Starbucks”

Oh Canada!

Sunday was a lovely sunny day. We went on the canoe from Bow Ness Park, North of Calgary (where we went ice-skating in winter) through town to the Zoo. This is the first trip Mr.T. did with the Kayak. I had promised myself last year to wear a flag on Canada day, but didn’t as we were on the canoe, but I should have, people were waving and chatting to us from other canoes and the banks. From Bowness, there are some beautiful houses on the banks. We saw lots of geese, (with babies in tow) and Seagulls. Nearing the city skyline, which I have never seen from this point, with sunny skies, going past Princess Island, where there was a big party, with music and lots of friendly people, most with little flags in their hats, painted on their faces and even wearing large flags as capes.

In town there were many cyclist, roller bladers, strollers and even a few wheelchairs on the paths along the Bow. We got out at the Zoo, as there is a weir, after about 2 hours and even though we had worn lotion we had burnt.

Canada Day

Verlede naweek was‘n lang-naweek, Sondag was Canada Day en meeste mense het Maandag afgekry. Sondag was ‘n pragtige dag. Onshet met die kanoe die Bow rivier af gevaar, van Bow ness park in die noorde van Calgary, tot by die dieretuin. Daar is ‘n “weir”.

Naby Bowness is pragtige huise op die oewer, orals langs die rivier het mense gedraf, fiets gery, gestap en ge- “Roller-blade”. Die stad lyk heel anders van die rivier af. Daar was heelwat kanoes, selfs mense met “tubes”. Ons het baie Seemeeue, ganse en baie vriendelike mense gesien. By Princess eiland was ‘n partyjie, mense het vlaggies in hulle hoede gehad, geverf op hulle gesigte en somige het selfs ‘n groot vlag soos ‘n “cape” gedra. Ons het gesonbrand, ten spyte daarvan dat ons sonbrand-room aangehad het.