OUR RETIREMENT IS SLOW AND QUIET – NOT!!!

We need a few days to rest up after the past while.  I met brother in law John in Campbell River Wednesday for what turned out to be a fourteen hour day.  We spent most of it geocaching.  Thursday, Aileen and I hauled three loads of firewood up to the woodshed then took friend Bev D for a birthday lunch, Friday saw Aileen and I take a drive over to the West Coast of Vancouver Island and the towns of Tofino and Ucluelet as well as the beautiful large open sand beaches of Long Beach. That was only an eleven hour day.    On Saturday, we met John and Anne in Campbell River for a thirteen and a half hour day.   Most of it was spent geocaching for the guys and a good sister visit for the girls who rode along in the back seat with the dogs for company.  This was probably our last visit with John and Anne before we leave the Island.  Yesterday, Charlie and I took our ATVs and joined a small group on a ride above Port Alberni.  It was a gorgeous day but all the smoke in the air pretty much destroyed the photography.  We did find a few geocaches though.

We will be moving up to Campbell River toward the end of this week for a few days.  Saturday will see us taking the boat ride from Gold River to Friendly Cove on the Uchuck on its last run of the season.   On Monday, I have an appointment to get the motor home serviced in Campbell River.  Things are starting to come together for making our departure south in just over five weeks.   I have been planning for what needs to be done at the last minute and making arrangements.

I spied this young couple taking these selfies at Long Beach so thought I'd use the SX50 at 1200mm to get in on the action.  If you look closely, you can see their camera set up on their backpack on the sand

We always admire this idyllic location just across from Tofino  

This was a pretty little walk in beach at the end of the Tonquin Trail in Tofino

As usual, the surfers were out in force at Long Beach

Gorgeous day at Long Beach

Larry Lake along the highway between Port Alberni and Long Beach

John and Anne's son Mike was passing through Campbell River Saturday evening and joined us for fish and chips.  I thought this was a pretty nice spot to enjoy our meal.  Back row John, Anne and Mike.  Aileen and I in front.

Looking down on Sproat Lake near Port Alberni on our ATV ride yesterday.  My sister Becky's family has a summer cabin about halfway along on the left.

We came on a rock slide blocking our road yesterday so we got busy and built a route over the debris.  That's me in the back wielding the pick.

And here's me making my way through.