Kastle's Journey: May 2013

May 5th - May Day Weekend

Wow! Has the weather perked up. Here in Nanaimo yesterday we had temps of 23 degrees. Sitting at the campfire after dinner in short sleeves, kinda like the desert! We are still stuck here for 1 more week selling things, doctor appointments etc. Looking forward to moving on next Saturday. Ray took some pictures of Pipers Lagoon yesterday, a walk that we have taken quite often while we lived in Nanaimo. Very beautiful.

Going clockwise one is taken through the Gary Oak Micro climate

Pipers Lagoon to the left.

These trees are always so twisted.

Departure Bay Neighbourhood

Next up is Shack Island.

Then you swing around to the Georgia Strait, since renamed the Salish Sea after the Coast Salish Indigenous peoples who inhabited the area.

Then you are pointed back towards Departure Bay,

Departure Bay leaving for the Horseshoe Bay terminal in West Vancouver

As you can see it is a beautiful walk on a sunny day. Make sure you bring a coat though, as it is very exposed and usually windy. At times we've enjoyed a picnic dinner on a hot weeknight and sat on the beach to cool off when we lived and worked here.

May 7th - A tourist in our own town.

Yesterday and the day before, with such wonderful weather, we took a quick trip to the Englishman River to give the dog a swim. This was an area where Ray mountain biked before, with a track made in the woods. Surprisingly Freya did not mind walking across this bridge.

Englishman River Suspension Bridge

Looking down from the bridge.

The day before this, we walked through the rhododendron gardens Duck Pond and wildflower fields at Millstream Park. Just beautiful.

We had a beautiful walk, Freya too. Yesterday was the first day since Arizona that we started in shorts and finished in shorts for the whole day! Yeah feels like summer again.

May 10 - Nanaimo Harbour

Ray and I ate lunch with some good friends on Wednesday, John and Sue Krog. As usual the food was great and the conversation flowed steady. Thanks again guys.

Yesterday we visited Acme Foods for sushi and walked the sea wall. What a glorious day. It sure is nice not working ... weather great during the week and forecasted rain for the weekend so we were able to enjoy the sun all week.

Maffaeo-Sutton Park Wading Pool Frank Ney statue in background

Nanaimo's Famous Mayor (now deceased) Frank Ney dressed up for the Bathtub Race
Today it is off to Salmon Point, near Campbell River and meet up with some friends for the long-weekend.

Crabbing and fishing off this dock

Protection Island across the harbour

Protection and Newcastle Island ferry

May 12th - Salmon Point, Courtenay

We moved from the Living Forest in Nanaimo to Salmon Point on Friday afternoon and are here for a week and a half. We are right on the point overlooking the water. Friday night it was calm and warm so we had a lovely campfire. Last night was pretty blustery with winds up to about 80 km, but we were snug and cozy in the coach. Love the fireplace! We heard the sea lions first thing this morning, otherwise very peaceful. Tonight for Mother's Day, Ray is taking me to the Salmon Point Pub for dinner at this resort ... 8 campsites away.

Seals are waving

May 13th - Salmon Point RV Park

Here are some pictures of where we are.

These eagles visit every day and perch on the lighthouse a few campsites away from us.

May 17th - More Salmon Point RV Park

We have spent the week walking the "Pub to Pub trail", taking a tour into the backwoods of Campbell River and two trips to Nanaimo for Ray's appointments at Nanaimo General Hospital.

Pacific Playgrounds RV Resort and Marina

Into playing a game of "Where's Freya"?

We turned around when we got to the shores of the Oyster River.

May 18th - Campbell River

Here are some pictures of driving down Highway 28 towards Gold River.

BC Hydro have a recreation site just below the dam and a very fast river beside the site . Don't know how I feel about that!

Here is a pictures of upper Campbell Lake ... there still is quite a bit of snow on the mountain tops.

Yesterday afternoon I received a wonderful surprise ... Garrett and his dog Kira came for the weekend unexpectedly. Wahoo! It is sure nice to see him and my grandpuppy.

May 18th - Salmon Point with Garrett and Kira

I'm here, now what

OK then, off to the Saratoga Beach

May 20th - Bean Bag Tournament with the Port Alberni bunch

Had a great weekend with Garrett and Kira. We played (Garrett and I) in the annual bean bag tournament hosted by our Port Alberni friends, while Ray cheered everyone on. We've never camped with the group during the summer, only the shoulder season due to our love of Macktush. A great time was had by all. Dinner at the Driftwood Inn for a Chinese Smorg and a campfire with friends over finished off a wonderful day.

Before the May Long Weekend

During the May Long Weekend

Fisherman's Lodge.... home to great Chinese Food and massive plates

Bridge over the Oyster River, right beside the Lodge

Newly opened distillery for Scotch. The site was the UBC Experimental Farm.

We also ran into our old neighbours from Port Alberni, Denny Prior and Linda Kendall with their kids and grandchildren. Lovely visit catching up with how everyone is doing.

May 23rd - Weirs Beach Victoria

We are now tucked into our spot at Weirs Beach in Mechosin. It is cool to see all of the ship traffic going back and forth including the Coho Ferry to Port Angeles.

The dog is having a blast on the sandy beach ... what's a little sand in the coach! The sun has been out most of the time since we got here. Beautiful sunrise the last two mornings. Being on the southernmost point of Vancouver Island the weather has been spectacular..

There's a lagoon behind and beside the RV Park Many of the houses behind the lagoon have little bridges to get to the beach.

May 25th - Spring Baby Weirs Beach

We drove to Nanaimo from Victoria yesterday quite early for Ray's MRI appointment at NRGH. Just a little ways up the road we saw the first of this year's baby deer. It was so wobbly it must have been only 1 day old. This picture was taken on the move and the sun was shining at me so the picture is a little over exposed..

May 28th - The Boat is Sold

The boat was finally sold yesterday. Hurrah! I am sure Gary is happy to have his driveway back after hosting our truck and then the boat ... and something about the Porsche needing more space??? to not hit the side of the garage? After it left Gary and Janice's driveway we went out for dinner at Nori Sushi Restaurant right by Costco. They have the best sushi and freshest seafood that I have tasted.

Janice says "This deep fried tuna is excellent"

Owner and excellent sushi maker, hi!

It has been a pretty eventful week on the water in front of us. We saw a few orcas in the distance, the start of the Swiftsure Race on Saturday and a submarine.

Looking forward to a quiet week and the weather is supposed to improve yeah!

May 31st - Victoria and lunch at the Brew Pub

Ate a lovely lunch at Spinnakers Brew Pub and Restaurant in Victoria. We also went for a lovely walk along the waterfront watching all of the action. There is something constantly moving whether its boats, ferries, planes or wildlife like seals and birds.