VANCOUVER ISLAND IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR

Yes, we have left Vancouver Island and are now in Salmon Arm for six days.  Since we have brought the RZR with us, Aileen drove the car and followed me towing the trailer with the motor home.  We stopped Thursday night along the Brookmere Rd just off the freeway and had a nice spot along the Coldwater River.  It was nice and peaceful.  We walked up the road then along an old rail bed Thursday evening then in the opposite direction on the rail bed Friday morning.  It was raining when we drove to the ferry Thursday morning with a nasty forecast for the Island but we had all dry roads the rest of the way to Salmon Arm.

The RV rally at Seal Bay went well and we welcomed five new people who, I think, enjoyed the experience.  I led a group outing on Mt Washington around Paradise Meadows and up to Battle Ship Lake.  We went out for supper with a group one evening.  Aileen was in charge of meals for the rally and had a potluck Tuesday evening.  Thursday, she did ribs in the electric roaster, baked potatoes in the crockpot, beans in another and a couple of salads and two desserts.  Everything was totally gluten free and all the food for the seventeen of us was prepared in and beside the motorhome.  On the Friday night she made beef stew and dumplings, again totally gluten free for fourteen of us.  A couple of us guys did pancakes and sausages Wednesday morning and I did pancakes again Thursday since we had lots of mix left.  Saturday hitch up breakfast was done by another couple.  None of the breakfasts were gluten free so Aileen avoided those.

We stayed two more nights at Seal Bay after the rally ended then spent Monday night at Cousin Bill’s driveway (without Bill of course as he passed in the Spring).  His son Tony joined us for supper Monday evening and we had a good visit.  Tuesday morning saw us visit friends Bev M and Jean at a resort near Bill’s.  Wonderful ocean front cabin they had for five days!

Tuesday we drove back to Charlie and Sheila’s for one night.  We returned the cooking appliances Sheila had lent us.  John R and I went to Port Alberni Wednesday morning and renewed our ATV club membership.  After renewing the ATV insurance in Parksville, I spent some time preparing the RZR and the trailer for the drive to Salmon Arm.

Since we had some things we needed to do in Nanaimo, we spent Wednesday night in the Home Depot parking lot (Walmart no longer allows overnight parking) then it wasn’t far to get to the ferry Thursday morning.  We were on the road just before six.  After waiting for the ferry and the ride, it was 9:45 when we arrived on the mainland and were able to start our drive.  As is usual, the traffic was heavy through the Vancouver area and out into the Fraser Valley. 

Our six days here in Salmon Arm will go like a flash, I imagine, just like elsewhere.  There were several people we didn’t get to see during our time on the Island and we have some here that we hope to see.  Our apologies if we missed you and if anyone in Salmon Arm wants to see us, contact us soon.   We will be going to Penticton next and I will be going to Spokane Saturday for a week attending the PSA photo conference.  Aileen will get to stay and play with Bev and Karen in Penticton.

On our last evening in Duncan, we walked up a trail for this view across Cowichan Bay

Zooming in on the village

Lichen on a rock face along the road

Out walking in the park next to Seal Bay RV Park, we spotted lots of little frogs

Still were a few flowers in Paradise Meadows

Paradise Meadows

Paradise Meadows

Black Huckleberries at Battle Ship Lake

Battle Ship Lake

Paradise Meadows

Twisty Hemlock

Paradise Meadows

Paradise Meadows and Mt Washington ski area

Paradise Meadows

We got to watch some beavers in the park next to the RV Park

One evening we walked down to the ocean and I thought this looked neat in B&W

On the trail back from the beach

Crown-tipped Coral Mushroom

Campbell River Marina in colour and B&W

A tree against the wall of the theater in Campbell River

Rathtrevor Beach, Parksville, looking across to mainland BC

A dewy spider web at Charlie and Sheila's

It was dreary as we departed Vancouver Island on the ferry at 7:45 Thursday morning

Wasp nest alongside the rail bed we walked on Thursday evening

Coldwater River

Morning along the rail bed trail

American Dipper with his catch

American Dipper.  I got some great video of him going underwater after prey and will try to get it posted some time.