Tiptoe through the window By the window, that is where I’ll be Come tiptoe through the tulips with me
Oh, tiptoe from the garden By the garden of the willow tree And tiptoe through the tulips with me
Knee deep in flowers we’ll stray We’ll keep the showers away And if I kiss you in the garden, in the moonlight Will you pardon me? And tiptoe through the tulips with me
Maybe it’s flowers you stray will be the showers of life And when I kiss you in the garden in the moonlight Will you pardon me and tiptoe through the tulips with me?
2 Birthdays to celebrate, one being on leap day! While waiting for the ferry we enjoyed watching the seagulls.
To “walk off” the delicious birthday cakes, I wandered through Ross Bay cemetery and took the long way to Government House, to see if spring had woken up any of the flowers yet.
Back home, my granddaughter and I attempted to photograph some of the many, very fast birds in the backyard.
Monday morning, before driving to Swartz Bay, we went for another walk through the gardens of Government House.
It had been a lovely weekend, mostly sunny but cold.
On Thursday, October 12, Hari and I went for our traditional, yearly, fungi “hunt” in Golden Ears Provincial Park. This year offered an abundance of mushrooms. From miniscule ones to big, red saucers. The weather was beautiful, the air crisp and fresh.
On Monday, September 11, three of us drove from Nanaimo to Gold River, the purpose of the trip being a day on the vessel MV Uchuck lll.
Originally built in Oregon as an American Yard Minesweeper in 1942, the MV Uchuck III has been totally refitted to accommodate 100 passengers and up to 70 tons of freight. Stops are made along her route (as required) at camps and settlements in the area to deliver supplies and passengers. As well, sheltered inlets offer drop off points for kayakers, which are hoisted out over open water and then lowered with the kayaker inside ā referred to as a wet launch. Info: Get West Adventure Cruises.
We leisurely drove along Hwy 19A, following the coastline, passing through small towns. One of those, Fanny Bay, is famous for its oysters. The boats are all out on the water, and at low tide, oysters are to be found right on the beach. No unauthorized picking though. It is a business after all.
Fanny Bay is a small hamlet in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located on Baynes Sound on the east coast of Vancouver Island. In 2001, its population was listed as 815. It is best known for its fine oysters. The area is served by the Island Highway and Island Rail Corridor. Info: Wikipedia
For a picnic lunch we decided on Miracle Beach. All the picnic tables in the sun were wet from a previous rainfall, so we chose one in the covered area. It was a bit chilly there, but the view was gorgeous and so was Joanne’s packed lunch!
Located on the waterfront midway between Courtenay and Campbell River, this park provides easy access to both communities and a wealth of entertainment. On the beach, sandcastle building, sunning, swimming, exploring tide pools or just frolicking along the shore are all part of the Miracle Beach experience. And donāt miss the non-competitive annual sandcastle building day in June, where playful people of all ages create fantastic sculptures for all to enjoy. Nearby youāll find horseback riding, golf, fishing, and many other recreational activities. Info: BC Parks
Winding our way through Campbell River (needing the GPS to find a Petrol Canada gas station), the car’s thirst quenched, we got onto Hwy 28, where we stopped at the Elk Falls parking lot for our short hike to the Elk Falls suspension bridge. A lot of construction work is taking place there and as a result the wildlife is unsettled. Deer were jumping across the construction site, a bear ran into the shrubbery, getting quite close to us. At one point the bear stood on his hind legs. Was he trying to scare the people or did he just need to stretch, or have a different outlook?
We continued our 80+ km drive on Hwy 28 towards Gold River, our destination. Arriving there, we checked into our reserved accommodation, the Ridgeview Motor Inn. Not the best place we have ever stayed in, but there is just not much available, unfortunately. Dinner at the Ridge Roadhouse was good though. Joanne and I decided to take a little drive, to see where we had to be in the morning. Well, taking a wrong turn, possible even in this very small town, we soon found out where NOT to go. As it was getting dark we went back to the motel and got our directions there.
Next morning we were up and about early. A very basic self-serve breakfast was provided and we also got the chance to pack a simple lunch, not really knowing what to expect on board. It was a rainy morning, but it is what it is and that is BC! Take it or leave it, right? With our proper driving directions we arrived at the office of Get West Adventure Cruises, where the Uchuck was already being loaded. It was so interesting to see this whole process. The precision, the smoothness of it all. And right on time, 9:00 AM, we left dock, inside the hazy, rainy, Nootka Sound. It looked indubitable mysterious: the wispy clouds obscuring most of the mountains, the haze hanging over everything. It was breathtakingly beautiful to me! The ship has a cozy inside seating area, and the outside deck has a cover as well. Pretty soon we smelled fresh coffee and muffins, and lunch preparations were in the very capable hands of the cook. We made 4 stops on this route, 3 of them at fish farms. A fish farm is not really “my thing”, and I refuse to eat farmed fish, but it was interesting enough to see the different types of farms, the isolation of the workers there, the fish jumping in their restricted areas, trying to get the food pellets that are being projected by some kind of device. Birds were keeping a close eye on the flying food, hoping for an out of bounds (nets) catch. A huge sea lion cruised by several times, probably looking for some escaped fish. Meanwhile the goods delivery process was well on its way. Absolutely fascinating to watch. Another stop was at the Nootka Sound Resort. The water was like a mirror there, reflecting the resort as well as several houseboats in a magnificent way.
Early morning loadingUtter precisionfish farmunloadingOn board monitors showed our progressfish farmseal at fish farmApproaching the Nootka Sound ResortShift over and on his way home?
Around 5:00 PM we were back at the dock. The passengers all headed for their cars, but for the crew work was not finished yet. Items being loaded on at different places, including large garbage containers, had to be unloaded. And I am sure other things needed to be taken care of.
We had just gotten into the car and onto the road, when we spotted a bear. Of course we had to stop and take a picture (!). Back in Gold River, we went for a short walk to check some of the carvings, had dinner at the Ridge Roadhouse, played rummikub and had a good night’s rest after all that refreshing outside air.
Following breakfast next morning, we loaded the car and started our drive back to Nanaimo. Funny how different that same road appeared, starting from the opposite site. We searched for some interesting places for a quick look around and discovered the Big Den Rest Area at Upper Campbell Lake. It was only a very short (steep) hike down to the beach where we admired Nature’s art: tree trunks!
At the outskirts of Campbell River we spotted “Fogg Dukkers“, an eclectic coffee place. The sun was warm, the hodgepodge chairs inviting, the view beautiful, and the coffee good! We looked out over the Strait of Georgia to Quadra Island, where I spent some happy days with my brother, last year. I spotted the lighthouse we had walked to, and the beautiful Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge where we stayed.
View of Quadra IslandNot today š
Our next stop was the delightful little Qualicum Beach Museum, followed by a stroll around the old train station, before heading for Nanaimo, where we were going to spend another night at Joanne’s house.
Arbutus treeWaiting for a train that will never come…..
The next day Hari and I took the ferry back to the mainland, our heads chock full of beautiful memories.
A big thank you to the crew of the Uchuck lll for this awe-inspiring experience!
And thank you, Joanne, for sharing this experience with us.
My cousin Lily was visiting and we decided on an outing to the sunflower fields. Enjoy it with us. Feel the sun, enjoy the walk through the immense fields, look up to the big, happy heads of the giant sunflowers, see the dainty small ones, the white and red sunflowers, as well as the huge assortment of dahlias.
I didn’t mean to overwhelm you with this sun-soaked abundance of floral display, but I hope you enjoyed the stroll through the fields.
Finally the long awaited visit to Nederland, to celebrate my brother-in-law’s 80th birthday, became reality. My friend Joanne joined me on this vacation. March 28, Maple Ridge We checked in at Vancouver Airport, enjoyed relaxing at the Plaza Premium Lounge, … Continue reading →
Checking the weather forecast for Abbotsford in advance, we decided to visit the tulip fields on Tuesday. Great choice: gorgeous weather and millions of tulips in their prime.
A late afternoon arrival in Victoria after a quiet ferry ride, to enjoy my family there.
On Saturday we drove to Duncan, to the Pacific Northwest Raptors centre. It was an amazing experience to see so many majestic birds up close. The flying demonstration was very well presented. My granddaughters also got the chance to hold a bird of their choice on their -protected- arms. Some of the birds we saw: Peregrine falcon, Prairie falcon, American Kestrel, Laughing Kookaburra, Saker falcon, Spectacled owl, vulture. And not to forget a woodpecker….;-)
The weather was very cooperative as well. Altogether a beautiful day!
On Sunday one of my granddaughters and I strolled through Ross Bay Cemetery, enjoying the peace and quiet of this very old cemetery. Deer nibbled on the grass around the graves and the sun peeped through the leaves of the many old trees. A peaceful resting place for sure. We walked back via Dallas Road where the usually beautiful view was restricted by smoky skies caused by the many wild fires burning in BC, Washington State and Oregon. Back in our street deer were wandering from garden to garden (at my previous visit a peacock walked through the neighbourhood).
For the first time since March 2020 we were flying again. This time from Abbotsford, a delightfully small airport without crowds and entering the plane the “old-fashioned way”: via the tarmac and portable stairs. We flew “Swoop”, a budget airline and were happily surprised by the comfort and service. With a one hour stop-over in Edmonton we landed safely at Ottawa International Airport ahead of schedule. Our daughter and grandson picked us up and about half an hour later we arrived at their house in Gatineau.
July 19 was a good start for discovering house and garden as well as the neighborhood. The mighty Ottawa River is just minutes away. In the evening we checked out Pointe-Gatineau.
On Wednesday, the 20th we walked by our grandson’s school and he guided us to Rue Principale, the main street of Aylmer. We walked up to the marina and stopped on the way back at the British Pub for well deserved refreshments. In the evening we drove once more towards the marina, and checked out the beach and surroundings at Parc de CĆØdres. Gatineau is so colourful. Lots of murals and sidewalk paintings and not to forget the abundance of flowers.
Two more or less quiet days followed, filled with games and play, a visit to a waterpark and an evening walk through the neighbourhood.
Tuesday, July 26. We headed for the Gatineau Hills this afternoon and hiked to the Carbide Willson Ruins passing by beautiful Meech Lake. A gorgeous walk through the woods, although I do have to say that the trees in BC are much bigger…… We finished the day by having real Quebec poutine for dinner.
Today, the 27th, we paid a visit to Hull and had dinner at Bistro Coqlicorne. Place Laval was cheerfully decorated and of course covered with murals!
Today I went for a walk by myself, retracing our earlier steps to Rue Principale. All the benches along this road are pieces of art. A retake of some of the photographs was in order š
The 29th, the date of departure, had arrived, sadly enough. But we look back at many wonderful moments, at a fantastic, hospitable, fun packed stay. A last walk through the neigbourhood, sushi lunch and then off to the airport for our flight back to Abbotsford.
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