John and Aileen sometimes on the road

Sunday, August 17, 2025

BACK HOME IN OLIVER.

We caught the ferry from Vancouver Island on Tuesday then stayed the night in Hope. We had a nice drive the rest of the way home on Wednesday. Aileen had a doctor's appointment on Thursday so we made the drive up to Salmon Arm for that. On Friday we finished emptying the motorhome and parked it in the compound.

I've been keeping busy with scanning some photos Cousin Clay lent me. Cousin Neil is to visit us on September 3 and will take the photos back to Clay so I need to be finished with them.

We drove over to Keremeos this morning and bought a box of peaches and a bag of pickling cukes. We also got two large zucchini for making relish so we'll be busy here for a few days.

Richard and Georgia took me for a walk up Christmas Hill in Victoria where I spotted the Red Squirrel.

While aboard the ferry we saw this other ferry with Mt. Baker in the background.

We caught up to and passed this sailboat.

One of the newer smaller ferries in the fleet.

Just as we were entering Active Pass, another ferry was entering the other end. If you look closely on the little island between the two lights, you will see some seals lounging.

Closer view of the seals.

Closer yet looking back after we passed the seals.

The other ferry exiting the opening we just came through.

As we exit Active Pass, our destination on the Vancouver side comes into view.

While in Salmon Arm, I took a walk around McGuire Lake. The nice fountain was broken and not working but there were several large mats of pink water lilies as well as white ones.

We took the old Fairview Road over the mountains from Oliver to Cawston and this was our view as we approached the bottom.

Orchards and vineyards in Cawston.

I spotted this unique RV in Oliver on Friday.

Monday, August 11, 2025

OCEANSIDE CLOSEUPS AND MORE.

Most of today's images were taken at the ocean's edge near our son's home.

This squirrel was on the fence beside the motorhome.

A sailboat with the Oak Bay Islands in the background.

A Woodland Skipper butterfly on the ground.

These are salt crystals where the tide has gone out and the water evaporated.

Gutweed also known as Sea Kelp.

Bull Kelp and a Seaside Fly.

Rockweed.

Gutweed also known as Sea Kelp.

Anemones.

Jellyfish.

Crab claw.

Crabs and more.

Another day and another sailboat passing the Oak Bay Islands.

A seagull and some leftover salmon.

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

TEN MILE POINT.

Our son and family live in the Ten Mile Point area of Victoria and there are several beach accesses and lots of urban deer. Today's images are from this area.

This afternoon we visited friends Ian and Wendy who we knew in Salmon Arm. It was nice to catch up with them. We last saw them in January when they stopped in to our house in Oliver.

I have booked our ferry ride off the Island for next Tuesday and we will make it home on Wednesday.

Richard's Cardoon plant which looks like a giant thistle. Took this photo from the ground.

I took this one from up on the deck looking down.

Whale watchers went by while we were watching the ocean.

This guy interrupted his dining to pose.

A billionaire from Las Vegas own this support vessel called the Hodor which transports his toys such as a side by side, jet skis and sometimes a helicopter travelling along with the main vessel, the Lonian.

This is the Lonian, a 285 foot yacht. It and the Hodor are moored in Oak Bay and visible from Ten Mile Point.

I spotted this Red-breasted Nuthatch from the motorhome yesterday so I went out to play with him.

Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Sunday, August 3, 2025

DOWN BY THE OCEAN'S EDGE.

I found these photos on my phone taken while we were in the Parksville then Duncan areas. Other than some cropping there is no editing done to these photos.

Arbutus/Madrona Point near Parksville.

Maple Bay near Duncan.

Birds Eye Cove near Duncan.

Genoa Bay near Duncan.