Friday, May 26 to Thursday, June 1, 2023 (Puntledge RV Campground, Courtenay, BC)

Friday (May 26) morning we had an appointment at Courtenay Mazda to take the car in for its service. Initially we thought we'd take the truck out for a run, and Steve would just pick me up at the dealership, but not knowing the availability of parking for Buster, decided to just wait while the service was being done. At least that way we would have a couple of hours to get out walking...although we really didn't know any good walking areas near the dealership. But we did know there was a Home Depot a couple of blocks away, so after dropping the car off, we headed down there. We got our exercise by walking every isle in Home Depot! Too funny...but it was actually interesting because every other time we've gone in there, it is to buy something specific. We've never just looked at everything. 

About an hour and a half later, we were back at Courtenay Mazda taking advantage of the free coffee and water in their waiting area. The car was ready about a half hour later.

After a stop at Canadian Tire for a couple of things, we were back home. The rest of the afternoon was spent hunkered down inside with the AC running...it was another very warm day!

For dinner tonight, we decided to have steak, prawns and Caesar salad...opening the bottle of red wine that Rob and Angie gave us for our anniversary last Monday...

Saturday (May 27) morning Steve dropped the truck off at an empty lot along the Island Highway...to get a little extra exposure for selling. Just so happens there was another custom medium duty truck parked there for sale.

I picked him up in the car and we decided to get out for a walk at the Airpark. It was such a beautiful morning!

Back home, I did a couple loads of laundry and then at about 2:30 we walked up to the Gladstone Brewery (first time walking...took us 12 minutes). The road in front of the brewery is closed off for the Pacific Regional Firefit Championships being held today and tomorrow. 

The FireFit Championships is a competition based on fire fighting tasks commonly performed in emergency situations. There are many different levels of Competitors, from the seasoned 10 year veteran to the first time rookies. The FireFit Event is very demanding. Training prior to competition is imperative.

We arrived just as today's competitions were finishing up, but Steve managed to get a couple of shots of the final competition...

Dragging a 175 lb. dummy victim to the finish line...

The building behind is the Gladstone Brewery.

So we got a table at Gladstone Brewery which was getting pretty packed...I grabbed the first empty picnic table while Steve stood in line to get our beer. He met a young couple in front of him looking for a table so offered to share ours. Cassie and Kyle, asked if they could join us as Steve was still in line. She was very friendly and chatty, Kyle somewhat quieter, but they sure seemed to know a lot of people and had friends come and go from our table.

We were only planning on having one beer but then the band Shotgun Kelly started and they were fabulous playing hit after hit! So...okay...one more, LOL! These ladies danced to just about every song...

As I said, the band was sooooo good! Here is a short 0:54 second video of them playing Elle King's Ex's and Oh's....

Reluctantly, we left while the band was taking a break...looking forward to seeing them again!

The course is empty now...but will be back in full force tomorrow late morning... 

It was another hot day so there were a few people cooling off in the river next to our campground...

And this young fellow was jumping off the bridge...

Seems he...along with a number of other "jumpers" we've seen over the last few weeks can't read the sign on the bridge...LOL!

Anyway, the young fellow jumped a number of times and Steve took a short 0:14 second video...

Sunday (May 28) morning we walked back up to watch the Fire Fit Competitions...arriving just before it started at 11:00. 

Instead of pictures again today, Steve put together a 1:47 minute video...

We watched the competitions until they took a break, then went into the Gladstone Brewery for lunch and a beer, and then walked back home. It was about 1:30...two and a half hours standing was plenty!

Steve took this picture of the Native Sons Hall kitty corner from Gladstone Brewery...

The historic Native Sons Hall is the largest free span log building in Canada. Built in 1928 as Courtenay’s original Recreation Centre, it has hosted numerous weddings, dances, concerts, and community events.

Later that afternoon, we joined our neighbours, Gerald and Maureen, for happy hour. We enjoyed a good hour or so getting to know one another a little better. They are from Newfoundland...Gerald is retired and Maureen is a Travelling Nurse. She is currently working a contract at the new Ocean Front Village, a seniors’ lifestyle community that provides independent and assisted living housing, hospitality and personal support services.

We also learned that one of Maureen's passions is painting...and oh my goodness, she is a very accomplished painter! Certainly can't blame Gerry for being so proud of her and the work she has done! He brought out her portfolio and showed us some of her work...absolutely amazing! This is a painting of a fisherman they met while cleaning his catch...

Ray and Deb, our friends from Lake Cowichan, are camping about a half hour north of us at Salmon Point RV Resort and Marina, so Monday (May 29) morning they joined us for coffee and cupcakes. Their daughter, Kristi, and her family were also camping with them, so Jason and Amelia joined us too. Unfortunately, Kristi had to go back to work, leaving them for the last few days of their camping trip.

While visiting us, Deb "twisted our arm" inviting us up to Salmon Point for dinner...apparently she had a massive amount of ribs to barbeque up and needed help eating them...oh darn! LOL!

We arrived at Salmon Point RV Resort at about 4:00 and sat out enjoying a beautiful, calm afternoon. They have a lovely site on the oceanfront but like so many RV Resorts (especially with views like this), the sites are almost awning to awning. Your sitting area is basically in front of your rig.

Amelia playing in the gravel...

Quadra Island in the distance just off of the City of Campbell River on the left...

Dinner time!

An excellent meal, as usual, Deb! And a lovely visit on a spectacular evening!

Tuesday (May 30) was a little cooler and with quite a breeze blowing. We walked the Courtenay Riverway trail and Airpark in the morning and then after lunch decided to take a drive out to the Village of Cumberland to check it out.

We parked the car and got out to take a walk around. Our first stop was down a short side street to No. 6 Mine Heritage Park...

Back in the day Cumberland was a coal mining town...

We walked back up to the main street and continued. This is the Cumberland Museum. We toured it last time we were here in 2019. If you are interested in seeing our tour of the Museum, as well as more of Cumberland, click here.

A pub and eateries...

Now that's a big Chess set!

We walked down one side of the street and back up the other to the car. We were surprised at how many businesses were closed...lots of signs saying closed Monday's and Tuesday's, and today was Tuesday.

We decided to continue on the short distance to Comox Lake...

Interesting...

I'm sure this is a very busy day-use area in the summer time!

There is also a campground here...

On our way home we decided to take Royston Road...all the way back to the coast. We turned right taking Marine Drive to the very end where there was a small parking area and got out to take a look.

The City of Comox and Goose Spit in the distance...

We drove back north on Marine Drive, stopping at the picnic area and Royston Community Barbecue...

(Click on photo to enlarge)\

The Royston Shipwrecks...At least 14 twice-retired ships were sunk to make a lovely rusting breakwater in Comox Harbour. Not much left of any of them now...

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Well, that was a lovely afternoon tour around our local area!

Wednesday (May 31) morning I was greeted by our resident doe and fawn as I looked out of the window beside my chair...

We have been dropping the truck off at an empty lot on the corner of a busy intersection along the Island Highway...trying to get more exposure. This morning the quads are ready after their service at the dealer just across the street (not the highway) and since their parking area to load them back into the truck is so tight and busy, we rode them over to where Buster was parked. 

Before loading them, Steve took pictures in preparation for putting them up for sale...and in they go...

After lunch we went for a walk around the Courtenay Airpark. We watched this floatplane motor up the Courtenay River...

There were dark clouds coming in from the west and as we were well into the walk, it started sprinkling, gradually getting heavier as we neared the car...good timing!

Our morning walk Thursday (June 1), took us to a new trail. When we park to take the Courtenay Riverway trail, we always turn north, walking the paved trail...today we went south taking a gravel trail and the Millard Creek Nature Walk. It is a beautiful trail through lush vegetation...look at the size of that Rhododendron! 

A walking bridge over Millard Creek...

(Click on photo to enlarge)

At the end of the trail is Millard Road...and Millard Lookout...

We thought that was the end of the trail, but across Millard Road, we saw that a trail continues...it is Phase 1 of the South Courtenay Riverway Trail Extension. We walked to the the end of it where there was a sign saying that the eventual goal of the project (Phase 2) is to connect the existing Riverway Trail all the way to the Royston Seaside Trail.

We turned around and headed back. It's interesting because the property owners have the trail going through their properties...on the beach side.

A sitting area below the tree...

Some beautiful homes...

Back across the foot bridge...

Millard Creek...

It's a beautiful trail and nice and cool on a hot day...

That afternoon I had a few things I needed to pick up before we leave tomorrow morning for Rob and Angie's...leaving Steve cleaning the quads in the back of the truck. Just after I got home, I was at the trunk of the car, and Steve was on the other side of the truck...when someone yelled "bear!" In the site in front of us was a Black Bear! He was about 25 yards away...I didn't have my phone with me but Steve managed to get this picture as the bear took one look at us and headed on down the road. We were warned when we arrived here last April that there was a resident bear that goes back and forth to the river and has never been a problem...

We are really looking forward to this weekend! Our oldest son, Rob, is turning 40 on Saturday and our family is getting together to help him celebrate. Chris, Angela and Isaac are taking the ferry over tomorrow evening and we are heading down in the morning. Just a small, intimate gathering of immediate family is all he wanted...can hardly wait!