Showing posts with label trip to british columbia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trip to british columbia. Show all posts

Thursday, 4 July 2013

Post #10 Chemainus town photos –saying farewell on a quiet Monday night, trip home



I repost the photo of this large mural, by Paul Ygartua in Chemainus, B.C. It is striking, amazing, and demonstrates the character of the Salish people who have fought the elements, harnessed the land with respect, challenged wind and rain, and carved out an amazing culture, on British Columbia's Vancouver Island.

After making it from Ottawa to Vancouver, to Nanaimo, driving to our hotel in Chemainus.
After visiting Duncan, an initial tour around the town, and a wonderful theatre experience, we had an early dinner Saturday night. Sunday, we toured, and Monday we went to Salt Spring Island.
Post #4 Next, we went to Duncan: Totem Poles
The town has many sculptures, as well as murals. The tourist centre and the play structure are fun for young and old.


The Young

The old! 
The sign says, "We passed many Indian villages
on our way down the coast. The Indian people and their art
touched me deeply" ~Emily Carr 
Lots exploited its resources,
like H.R. MacMillan (1885-1967)!
Quirky pieces!

Talented carvers
Then there is the topiary!
Topiary!
More topiary, gardens under construction

Chemainus Harbour Ferry

We took a brief trip to Fuller Lake, just west of Chemainus.
Fuller Lake
It was joyful to celebrate all that is Canada, just a week before Canada Day, July 1st, by traveling to this unique part of our nation. Tuesday morning we popped onto the Nanaimo Jazz flight over to Vancouver and caught a flight to Ottawa and home. A good place to be!

The airport was a busy spot, with many doing the work required to keep it running smoothly.
Here is where the good jobs are: welding, a marketable trade profession.
 


It was a fabulous mother/daughter trip and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I could never travel with my mother, she had several health issues. This was such a treat.
Here we are: a selfie with Caitlin's camera!

 We flew back over flood-ravaged Alberta.

I managed a bad photo of Lake Superior, with Isle Royale, across the lap of the woman beside me who slept. Flying standby, Caitlin and I didn't sit together!

Also, we spotted Perth and the Rideau from the air.
Perth



There were souvenir 'Close Eyes' for all. Dorah was pleased that I brought her home a bag that matched my Native-created t-shirt. 
Dorah

Not only is she on the dining room table...
but she is bagged.

Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Post #7 We drove around Salt Spring Island!

What a view this must be!
What a wonderful time I had on this island. Caitlin is an experienced traveler and it was fun sharing mother/daughter time. Normally, the kids go camping and I visited them last year. But I have not been camping. Ever! My parents scrimped and saved in order to buy land in Muskoka in 1960 ($2000!) and we cottaged in Bala, Muskoka for 50 years.

This is the quirkiest, most interesting island. Lots of fun, interesting people and quite a few artisans selling goods and providing services.
Rising up out of the water, with huge mountains, and multi-million dollar homes, it is quite the spot to be.
Check out the stairway!


We visited the town, did some shopping, then had an indulgent lunch beside the marina. Planes would come and go, as well as the odd boat! It was a cool, cloudy day, with a bit of humidity. The heater on the patio was wonderful!
We shopped will we dropped, finding souvenirs and 'Close Eyes' for our respective families.
Beautiful shrubs, lovely streets

"Death before decaf!"
I loved his beard!
He was doing Soduku.

We climbed the hill to explore some of the shops.
They have a brochure for all of the artisan workshops
in the town.

Don't you love this outfit?!

Bird houses from weathered wood.
Long walk, long pier!
We took a long walk down a pier so that Caitlin could put her fingers in the Pacific Ocean. Her next trip, to Rhode Island, she will do the same on the Atlantic Ocean. She is a wonderful traveler. I have led a much more sheltered life, and we were a great team. We visit each other lots, but seldom travel together. The exception was a week at Bondi Village resort last year.
Off we went, after we shopped and had dropped!

She did it!

The sand, with rocks peeking up

Fernwood Road Cafe
Driftwood signage
Lush gardens!
These buildings were part of a spa
We drove the perimeter of the island

They weren't kidding, either!

Beautiful homes

Farms nestled in and about.
It must be easy to eat locavore!

The next part of our trip, more farms, and BIG gates. There are many who bike on the island. The ferry signage forbids cleats on the ship!

Can you see the house?!
What a view
Typical BC: moss, huge trees, lots of fern
Yes, gates

They seemed disinclined to ride single file!

There were many trucks, and hills. (16% grade)

Vesuvious Cafe - last stop before the ferry