A NICE TRIP UP THE MOUNTAIN IN THE SIDE BY SIDE.

My brother in law John invited me to go for a ride yesterday.   We took his side by side and went up some logging roads that took us up into the alpine zone and while we were hoping for a nice view over the ocean, fog rolled in so we couldn't see anything in that direction.  It was nice and quiet and as we gazed over the openings in the trees down below I was pleased to spot a black bear wandering along looking for treats to eat.  We were around 400 metres away from the bear but my 100-400 lens helped bring him closer.  

We are having light showers today but overnight and tomorrow are expected to be pretty wet.  Tuesday is forecast to be sunny so we're hoping so for our drive down to Campbell River.  We try to not drive in the rain as the motorhome is so large to clean when it gets dirty.  We've sure enjoyed our parking spot for the past month or so thanks to my late cousin's son Clay.  It has been nice and quiet tucked away out of sight all by ourselves yet not too far from town and family.

This first image was taken Friday looking out over Campbell Lake.  We had just found a geocache here.

A little alpine lake up where we ventured to in the side by side yesterday.

Lots of little puddles.

The bear as viewed with my lens at maximum.

Heavily cropped in the computer.

Do I hear voices?

Darn tourists!!!

Back to looking for berries.

Trailing black currants.

Trailing black currants.

Bunchberry.

Mountain ash and blueberries.

Fireweed.

Looking out toward the ocean.

Looking out toward the ocean.

WATERFALL TIME.

The other day I went looking for waterfalls since I haven't taken any waterfall photos since coming to the Island two and a half months ago.  I found two and they didn't disappoint me.  The first one was beyond O'Conner Lake on the logging road and the second was past Port Alice.  The first few are from early July that I hadn't edited earlier.  We are probably heading down Island early next week.

Western Sea Slater also known as Sea Louse down at the seashore.

Western Sea Slater also known as Sea Louse down at the seashore.

Western Sea Slater also known as Sea Louse down at the seashore.

Old Man's Beard in an old tree.

Along O'Conner Main logging road.

Along O'Conner Main logging road.

Along O'Conner Main logging road.

Honey bee and fireweed along the Port Alice Highway.

Alice Falls.

Alice Falls.

Alice Falls.

On my way home along the Port Alice Highway I spotted a little trail leading down from a wide spot to a lake so I checked it out.  This reflection reminds me of a watercolour painting.

WINDING DOWN OUR TIME AT PORT MCNEILL.

 We've enjoyed our stay up here but it is about time to move along to the next part of the journey.   We'll spend some more time on the lower Island before heading home to Oliver.  Some of today's photos are from a folder I hadn't edited back in June.  Every once in a while I get busy and miss finishing a day's photos.  

Broadleaf Maple in the sun with a shady background.

Wild Rose.

Wild Rose.

Llama or Alpaca.

Young Llama or Alpaca.

Dew drops on a fir branch.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee.

This past weekend was Orca Fest in Port McNeill.  We gathered with family and friends at cousin Donna's to watch the parade.

Nice location to watch a parade.

The Shriners came up from Campbell River to entertain us.

There were lots of activities for the kids down at the waterfront.

Port McNeill harbour.

The kids activities area.

SCALLOP CAVE, A GEOCACHING FIND.

 When John and I were out geocaching the other day, there was an earth cache that we went to.  Vancouver Island, especially the upper part, is riddled with extensive cave systems.  This one is a smaller system, I think.  There was the upper cave exit followed by a section open to the air of about forty feet then the entrance to the lower cave.  I don't know how long the lower cave is but it runs down to and under the logging road.  I poked my nose in around the first corner then looked around the second corner using my phone's  flash for lighting.  I didn't use the flashlight part as I just wanted to take photos.  It was mentioned that one could walk through the lower cave but a light and a backup light and good footwear would be required.  Maybe a backup to the backup would be a good idea as you wouldn't want to be without a light!  We had some rain showers here yesterday.  

The exit from the upper cave.

Looking into the upper cave.

Looking into the upper cave.

Looking into the upper cave.

The entrance to the lower cave.

Starting in the lower cave.

The second corner.  I was able to stand up fairly straight the whole time.

Looking around the second corner.

Looking around the second corner.

Looking back to the first corner and the way I had come in.