North by Northwest

Hiking the Casques Isle Trail

Where has the summer gone?  It seems like we had just moved to our new home in Terrace Bay.  Now I look back and it has been 1 year now and ski season is just around the corner.

And a Blue Elephant

Since my last blog post, much has happened. (I don't have enough space to post all our adventures, so here it goes)
I will begin after we returned from our trip to Vancouver Island:

Great Big Sea @ Thunder Bay Bluesfest

June: After flying home from Vancouver, we collected our thoughts, washed our dirty laundry, repacked, loaded up the Jeep and drove south to visit our family and friends.

 A stopover in Mancelona, Michigan to visit our very good friends,
 Jim and Sherry for a few days, we arrive at the beginning...Southern Ontario. Deja Vu...911!  I think this was a bigger scare than the initial 911 call I had to make on our second day in our new home in Terrace Bay. It was 4 am (the magic hour it seems) and Bob could not breathe.  So, off to the hospital again.  Long story short.  The final diagnosis was confirmed.  A blood clot formed in the leg and travelled up to his lung.  Thankfully, it was a quick diagnosis and treatment from the Paramedic to cardiologist.  It could have been fatally worse.  The clot developed from the long travel to Vancouver, return flight, delays, and 15 hour drive from Terrace Bay to Hamilton....all within a compressed time frame.  (a deadly cocktail mix of events) A bump in the road so to speak and only 3 days in hospital taken from our "vacation" 
After the Doc let Bob loose, we carried on. "Nothings going to stop us now" (our wedding song) from Jefferson Starship.  We had a blast visiting with our family and friends.
We apologize to our friends that we did not visit. Promise....next trip back! That was the month of June.  It quickly flew by.




Epic Adventures

Back in Terrace Bay, for July, we made an attempt at gardening.  Our new neighbours, clearly realized we were "Southerners" smiled as we planted too early and the frost had nibbled on our tiny little plants as we replanted again at the end of June. This past summer has been on the cool side, even in North Western Ontario, as our garden suffered. So, we kayaked instead. A better choice indeed.

Reflections of Hays Lake

Lake Superior is such a strong and powerful body of water.  What looks calm and flat from the shore is an illusion.  Trust me on this one.  What seems to be a calm, sunny afternoon on shore, becomes an illusionist's trick as we paddle out to the point in open waters.



 Wolf Eyes

The rollers and winds makes the biggest roller coaster ride seem passive. After a few adrenalin surges, we found Hays Lake and Whitesand Lake, both interior and much more calm.  It still amazes me how much there is to experience, all within a few kilometres around us. 
The photos will express the serenity and beauty of the waters.

Lunch time At Hays Lake

 We floated as a couple of Bald Eagles soared above our boats.  Oh, and the blueberries!  A Sea of blue pearls!  And delicious.
 










August:  company's comin'....and a trip to Neys Provincial Park. It's chillin' time on the beach.  One of the most beautiful beaches in Canada. (our opinion only) at Neys Provincial Park. For a week our life revolves around the biggest freshwater lake in the world. So, during that week Sherry and I built a fort on the beach. Once completed, our luxury shelter now all equipped with seating for 6, paddle up bar and wind resistant dining area. It was a short week for sure.


The Gang in our new Fort

Jim and Sherry returned to Terrace Bay with us to spend a few extra days, hiking and foraging for Saskatoon Berries, Blue Berries, and anything that looks edible.  Jimmy will eat almost anything.  A worry for Sherry.

 

The girls

September: Good friends Maureen and Cheryl come for a week long menopause pyjama party!  WOW... heat, energy, laughter and poor Bob!

Mo and baking bread

Chef Cheryl and fresh baked bagels 

And then....  Back to Southern Ontario.  This time, ambulance free!  And about time.  Bob has a clean bill of health, 130% recovered and better than ever!  Thanks to Dr. Czolpinski for being there for both of us. 

A very special visit with our family as we celebrated 5 birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Bob & The kids, almost all of them!

All complete with a fully decorated tree! 

After our Christmas, Birthday celebration we headed off to the "Farm" to spend a few days .... a surprise birthday wine tour with our very special friends Roland and Carol.  Potato Beer, A Blue Elephant, Wind Farms and fond memories. 

Happy Birthday Bob & Cat (with Roland & Carol)

cheers

 

Where is the impaired parking?

Life is so special.

October: Regroup and training for ski season.   YES......YES..........It's onward and Westward. Back to British Columbia.  Panorama, here we come. The razor is tucked away, the hair is longer (Bob) and in a pony tail.... training has begun.
 This year, we will be house sitting for good friends in Windermere. Our season's passes are hot and ready to go.  We have been training at the gym, hiking and climbing Trestle Ridge ski hill, daily here in Terrace Bay. My very special friend, Louise is my inspiration to get out each and almost every day as we both work hard, turning flubber into muscles, building stamina, include a rant or two, and just having fun (sweat included)

so, in the meantime....we wait, watch for falling snowflakes, train our bodies and dream of another glorious season North by Northwest my friends.



Boredom is non existent if you are willing to play outside. 

Oh look! it's Dora the Knitting Explorer

totem pole outside the Parliament Buildings

Yes....On our way from Tofino to Victoria we were driving through (well almost) Duncan.  Jean one of my dear knitting friends (yes, a close knit bunch) warned me about "The Loom"  a spinners' and knitters' haven.  The tiny shoppe absolutely stuffed to the ceiling and every nook and cranny with all types of wool, yarn and everything in between.  Yep!  I was warned.  The car took an automatic left hand turn, directly into a parking spot reserved just for us.  Even Bob knew we were in trouble.  Here we met Dora.
Dora is Dutch by decent.  She began teaching knitting at the Loom 40 odd years ago.  She was offered a job at the shoppe.  Dora said she would work only 2 days a week.  That was over 30 years ago.  I think she has knit every sample and swatch in the shoppe.  A lovely lady.  Under complete control, I browsed around (I needed more time, but we have a destination to arrive at and before midnight)  I came across a merino/silk sliver.  (a batt of roving)  A very large one indeed. Now, I just need to find room in the suitcase.  (should have thought of that before I purchased it)  And, of course, Bob picked the colour.  He is partial to blue!

Fisgard Lighthouse

After our diversion, we headed towards Victoria where the sun was shining. Here we will spend 2 days wandering around the most southern end of the Island and the capital of British Columbia.
The drive was enough for the day.  We needed a nap as playing tourist is very tiring.  We tried to resist sleep even though the temptation to go out on such a bright and sunny day,  (Unusual for May), but we were succumbed by the fluffy pillows and warm blankets. A quiet evening for both of us.  And, besides, the hockey game was on TV.

Did you know:  Southern Vancouver Island has the mildest climate in Canada.

Victoria was named Canada's fittest city by Statistics Canada in 2006. 

Victoria is known as "The City of Gardens"

Victoria has the 2nd highest number of restaurants per capita in North America.  San Francisco is # 1.

The Empress Hotel serves 750,000 cups of tea each year.

It is home to the world's tallest free standing totem pole, in Beacon Hill Park.

Our first order of the day:  Parliament Buildings.  We caught the 11:00 am tour.  And of course, I am taking photos of the stained glass windows.  As I lag behind the tour, I have 2 guards eyeing me.  Better Catch up,  and no, I don't look like a sly rebel plotting against the government.

Our guide

Next morning: Fort Rodd Victoria,  A coastal artillery fort built in the 1890's as a first line of defence  for the Esquimalt Naval Base.

Fort Rodd

 Time to catch the 12 o'clock Ferry from Sidney to Vancouver proper.  Perfect time for a realaxing lunch and watch the boats in contrast to the ocean waters with the Rocky Mountains in the back drop as we sailed the Strait of Georgia. 

Ferry ride through the Strait of Georgia

With many attempts, I Tried to take  photos on board and outside.  The boat was swaying from side to side as gale force winds blew me backwards, along with other photographers trying to catch that perfect shot. It was Comical watching the hair stand on end as everyone on deck was clinging to the rails and walls.

Once in Vancouver, we quickly toured Chinatown (Canada's largest) Gas town, and Grandville Island.  A full day....
 Our last dinner of our trip was at the Boathouse in Richmond.  A surreal experience, much like a "Buck Rogers" episode.  We had jet planes above us taking off and landing every few minutes, float planes in the distance, highway overpasses on one side and boats of all sizes in the marina on the other as we sat outside at sunset viewing all the activity.
Bob and I have eaten salmon almost every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner on our trip, as it is so tasty and fresh.  Steelhead, sockeye, blackened, poach, benedict and sliders. Vancouver's official fish.    All delicious!

Tomorrow we fly... 11:00am from Vancouver to Toronto, to Thunder Bay.  We arrive the next morning in the wee hours of the day. 

And one more comment:  I did make the statement that B.C. was home of the Inukshuk.  I was incorrect:  It is  home of the Totem Pole.  The home of the Inukshuk is Inuvik (home of people)Northwest Territories. Thank you Pam! (once a teacher, always a teacher,  hugs from Bob and myself)
Great trip!  Thank you to all the people we met on our travels.  Canada is such a welcoming and friendly place to play, dance and live.

Just thinking....6 months to ski season!

Botannicals of the west coast

Our last breakfast at Harvey House. 

Of all the places we have stayed, Chris and Nicky have spoiled us, made us welcome and feel at home.  They built this house 7 years ago (all local contractors and materials)  It has become a beautiful home with all their hard work,  nestled within tall cedars, redwoods on Chestermann's Beach.  Again, Thank you!



Chestermann's Beach, Tofino

Thank you Nicky and Chris

 


Our last day in Tofino before we head south to Victoria.  The Island is bigger than we thought.  Six hours to our next destination.  Mind you, there are NO straight roads. 

Winding, climbing and descending through lush forests (I will call the forests "Land of the Ewok") Mysteriously thick with green.


Old Man's Beard

We spent our last full day visiting the Botanical Gardens in Tofino.  Mysterious.....Hidden creatures among the trees, wood carvings, chickens manicuring the organic herbs.

Gollum

We couldn't get enough of Cathedral Grove. So, back again. 

 

This time we hiked the south side.  Well worth the return trip.  Here we came upon the biggest Douglas fir in the park.  800 hundred years old, 9 meters in circumference and 76 meters high. (the Leaning tower of Pizza is 56 meters high) We are dwarfed by the majestic king of the forest.

Largest Douglas Fir

After lunch, we did the tourist trail around the town of Chemainus.  It is know for the beautiful murals painted on all the buildings throughout the town.  Funky and quaint at the same time.

The Japanese community of Chemainus consisted of 300 residents who settled in the valley from 1900 - 1942. Some were mill workers, fisherman and businessmen. 

Their homes were from Maple Street to Esplanade Street.  The Okada settlement was at the south end of the Bay.  In the summer of 1991 a reunion was held to welcome back the former residents; the Japanese Canadian Redress foundation and Communications Canada sponsored some of the murals.

The first recorded export of lumber from Chemainus was on September 25, 1863.  Hard labour was the order of the day as the Chinese bull gangs moved the timber on a 2 wheeled cart from the yard to the sailing vessel.
.

Chemainus is well worth a visit.  Small things come in great packages!

So, after a long travel day, we landed in Victoria.  Here we will stay a couple of days, as we are coming to the end of our travels to the West Coast of Canada.

An early nite.....we're getting tired.


Chemainus Harbour:  Logging Ship

In Tide, Out Tide and Low Tide

Low tide yesterday 10:40 a.m. 

Low tide 11:40 am

Lets go exploring!  It still boggles my mind which that such an astronomical amount of water can move every 12 hours or so. High tide today rose 11.52 feet. They creep up the sandy beach not by a couple of meters, a couple hundred of meters.





Bob having a closer look at the starfish

A sharp contract seeing the creatures of the sea in their own environments.  The colours of he ocean are not quite as spectacular as they are when they are submerged in a salty brine. 



all choked up!

Yes, salt.  I feel like a salt lick after a walk on the beach.  The exposed mounds of rock where clams, crabs, starfish and sea anemones make their home is exposed each and every day. Touch on and they cower, thinking a predator is after them.  Food for the birds, a palate of colour for our eyes to admire. 
They look so fragile out of water.  Just try to pry loose a clam or starfish.  We watched a seagull trying to pry loose his breakfast.  A lot of work to choke down a spiny starfish.  We were told sea gulls would swallow  starfish whole to scrape the oesophagus and digestive system clean.  We did witness this circus act. Have a look at his neck:  that is the leg of the starfish.

Colourful starfish clinging on the barnacles and rock

They look soft and slimy, but not so.  They are very hard, leathery, spiny creatures.  

 Ornaments of the sea...... will wait until the tide returns and come back to life.
As for the sea anemones; their bright colours seem faded in the salty air by comparison to their underwater brilliancy.


 

This is one way to get the surf board to the beach

As for the two legged creature on the beach, the surf is what brings them here.  The surfing capital of Canada.  Tofino.  We now see why.  We watched the surfers practise their techniques in the small waves.  We spoke with a delightful young couple, (who were snowboarders from Calgary) that moved to Tofino for the lifestyle.  Surfing.....mild climate and culture.  Here on the west coast the temperature doesn't drop much below 9 degrees Celsius.
By the way, surfing is much more difficult than snowboarding, we were told.  A similarity to skiing and snow boarding:  surfers need to find the centre of balance much like skiing. Surfers work against gravity and waves.  Skiers work with gravity and the snow.  Surfers don't need lifts to take them to the top.  Surfers have no lift tickets to buy!   Good point... 


 
But, they pray for  a day or two of snow. Vancouver Island is home to Mount Washington Ski Resort.  When it snows,.... it snows and locals trade in the surf boards for snow boards for a few days.



Transportation is inventive.  Surf board carriers for bicycles.  One observation is: No one wheres helmets.  When we asked why, we were told the locals won't have any part of it!  They protest helmets. Well, for those who know Bob and myself, we don't need to rant on how imperative it is to wear them.  Helmets save lives. 

Meanwhile, the surfers were out in the rain.  Don't bother hibernating.  Water is water that is.

 Cold warm, but always wet.
I like the idea of dry suits.  We are contemplating on investing in a couple of suits for kayaking.  Lake Superior is a cold lake at the best of time and would extend our season in the Northwest. We will make a visit to Grand River Kayaks and visit our friends Ed and Tanya for their expertise!

Looking Good!!!

We did manage to find sunshine later in the afternoon.  So did everyone else.  They all came out of the woodwork to basque in the golden rays.  The sun rarely comes out in May.  With sunshine comes tourists in droves.
 We are told the beaches are absolutely insane with people.  Even in the misty weather, it is beautiful and the beaches are ours to walk and explore.



Tonite...high tide, & time to go in tide

As for now,  another day on the beach enjoying Vancouver liquid sunshine.  We have one more day here in Tofino before we head off to Victoria. 

this could be dinner?

Tomorrow's another day
 





Aquariums and Ukee Dogs



Thanks Nicky & Chris

 Our anniversary began with breakfast served to our room.   "Breakfast in Bed"  This hasn't happened in years.







 Not since the girls brought me breakfast for Mother's Day.  Cheerios, toast and tea.... I think?

Sunflower Starfish

We drove to Ucluelet where we visited the Aquarium.  This facility is the only catch and release aquarium in the world.  As we entered the building we saw row upon row of tanks filled with mysterious creatures of the deep.  Majestic Colour!

Wow, I never would have expected to see such vibrant colours painted on these moving objects.  Sea cucumbers, sunflower starfish, hermit crabs, algae, octopus, and more.

Hermit Crabs

We had the opportunity to hold starfish, catch a crab in the open tanks. 

Did you know starfish can grow back their legs, if they have been broken or used as a snack for a hungry seagull?  They also tickle the hands when held.  Their tiny feet try to latch on to you skin. 




Sunflower starfish with baby

After the salty visit, our hands washed, and hungry, we visited Ukee Dogs.... they were expecting us. (the story behind this is:  Good friends in Thunder Bay, Al and Fran's best friend's daughter, Paige owns Ukee Dogs with her partner Zane) Al suggested we visit them for lunch.  So, here we are. 

Paige & Zane from Ukee Dogs

Not just your regular hot dog stand!  Fresh baked, organic, free run, vegetarian, raw, vegan, meat lover, healthy and not so healthy chow. (what a mouthful)

Paige suggested Smoked salmon sliders topped with grain fed naturally smoked bacon with a side of organic greens drizzled with Vancouver blueberry balsamic vinegarette.  Yummy in the Tummy.  Everything in the area is locally sourced and fresh.  Especially the fish. 

Ukee Dogs

Unique and unsual shoppes. The murals on the building, are beautiful. Much like the graffiti we found in Spain.  Art in its best form.

mural from Ukee Bike shoppe

Next:  Off to hike the "Wild Pacific Trail" or "Life on the Edge" in Ucluelet.  This trail skirts the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, where ancient rain forests meets the Pacific Ocean.

Amphitrite Point Lighthouse

Our hike overlooks Barkley Sound and Broken Islands in Pacific Rim National Park. 



We feel like we are in an episode of the Ewok's forest from Star Wars.

Look...it moved!

Walking under the mossy forest canopy in the misty rain listening to the stormy waves crashing against the rocks.  The Light House sounds the fog to alert sailors (if any are at sea)  The photographs don't even come close to the mythological landscape. 

the land of the Ewok

Trees looking like creatures with their branches winding out to encompass you when your  not looking!    You won't catch me in here after dark, as I was already looking over my shoulder through the misty rain, thinking something was behind me.



Since good food is a priority, and with the recommendation from our wonderful hosts at Harvey House B & B Nicky and Chris; we were told "Shelter" in Tofino was right up our alley.  Seated beside the open fire we enjoyed fabulous local brew, B.C. wine and romantic ambiance. 


Treated to artisan yeast free breads, grain fed chicken, lamb steak with warmed kale, our taste buds were treated to an exquisite evening.
Happy anniversary! a perfect day (even in the rain)
I feel spoiled on this trip............. Breakfast in bed....beaches on the ocean.....fabulous dinners....wine.....romance.....