Wednesday afternoon at Gramma Camp

Wednesday morning, Jos was in charge while we went into the city for my follow-up [Cataracts Part VII]. After lunch we had a mission. It was to deliver some snake skeletons to RVCA staff to use as educational devices. We found those in our defunct air conditioner.
I included a dead cicada I'd found, 

as well as a porcupine jaw and tooth. These can be used in their Interpretation Centre.



Arrival

Sadly, the centres are closed, but Rebecca, the area supervisor and educator, told me where to leave them. I love how they have taken the old log homes and repurposed them.

Firstly, they wanted to see the lake.

It was peaceful, with the wind and the water.

I was puffing by the time I made it back to the top!

Isabelle wanted to take a photo of the mushroom.

There was an interpretive walk... I don't remember the book The Gruffalo, very much. The girls did. Iz took photos of all of the displays. They connected the story to the forest flora and fauna.

We went to the Foley Mountain lookout, still in Foley Mountain Park. You can see Westport from the lookout.

This is as far as I let the girls go.

There were 4 young people there. One was smoking. Seriously. Second hand smoke, the smell of it, reminds us how air borne illnesses travel.

I spotted a caterpillar hanging from a tree. Sadly, Gypsy Moth... I couldn't focus the 2nd photo, but you can see the eggs on the tree. I showed the girls.

After our hike, Grampa took us for ice cream. He was the only one with a mask, so we lined up with him, then waited at the exit door, while the woman in purple dropped the "F" bomb in conversation. Really, people...

We went down to Westport Harbour to eat our ice cream. From there, we went to the marina. The natural spring water was cold, and we rinsed our fingers there.

On the drive home, we started talking about telling people the same thing several times. My late mother used to tell me things 3 times. We'd ask, "How many times have I told you?"

JB says,  "Have I said this in my outside voice?"

Grampa told us the story about when they had to make puppets in school. He was 8 years old. His grandmother (he and his mother lived with his grandparents), made him a papier-mâché puppet. He held the puppet and sang a song for his performance: "♩♪♫ Hang down your head, Tom Dooley..." He regaled us with a few verses. We giggled. It's a pretty gruesome song for an 8-year-old!

Someone asked how long ago that would have been. He figured out it was 63 years ago. I've never been told that story! 

Lunch at Westport's The Cove

What with hubby's food intolerances, we are learning to check menus on-line, or to plan ahead. W

Jesse and I on Foley Mountain.
The restaurant is just behind his head
to the right!

e talked to the folks at the Cove, and made a reservation, explaining the issues. Seamus and his peeps went out of their way.

On the menu it clearly states, "be prepared, for we make our meals from scratch and this takes extra time." You simply CANNOT be in a hurry here. I heard a trio complaining, but the place was simply packed, with line-ups and waiting lists at the door. Our clever server spotted a couple sneaking in through the side entrance, skipping the line-up at the front desk. She kindly pointed out that there was a waiting list. Bless her heart.
 Whether you are there for the Blues nights, or music in the afternoons, it's all fun. We visit quite a bit.

As you look out over the water, you can see the trees and Foley Mountain. Beautiful, especially in the fall. There are people visiting the mountain, looking out over the water. It looked like someone meditating. (We made this trek with Jesse when he visited us one time: visited Foley Mountain.)

There were a pair of blue heron flying around the lake. Tough capturing photos, but you know what they look like!

It is so joyful being out in the warmth of the sun, as we know what the next few months will bring! Soak it up. Feel nature around you.

Jesse in Westport and at Foley Mountain

Jesse  loves the outdoors. Living, as he does, in B.C., he has the opportunity to view the mountains in the extreme. We took him to see our little Foley Mountain as a prelude to our lunch.

The lookout is much fun, the flora and fauna delightful all season. They have an interpretation centre, where I've donated some of the things I have found on our property; deer hoof, deer hide (road & wolf/coyote kill), a wing from a barred owl.

After our lunch, we did a tour of Westport. Everyone loves this Muskoka chair!

He doesn't get 'home' often, but I'm happy to see him when he does. Caitlin and I visited him in Chemainus  where he and his fiancé were performing in Singin' in the Rain at the Chemainus Festival. That was much fun, as Caitlin and I haven't traveled alone together ever!

Westport in the background

A busy man, my Jesse, he's here between gigs to visit family. And, yes, all three of my children are taller than I am! I perched on a rock, and still I be short!

Jesse and hubby

This is the sluice for the Walleye Fish Sanctuary
in the Westport Bay