Thursday, August 17 to Wednesday, August 23, 2023 (Puntledge RV Park, Courtenay, BC)

Chris, Angela and Isaac won't get here until tonight, but we pretty well had everything ready yesterday. So today, it was just odds and ends...and other routine stuff. Luckily the hot spell has broken and cooler temperatures are coming in today. It will still be warm, though...with cooler night temps which will make sleeping in the tent nicer. 

They were taking the 3:15 p.m. ferry from the mainland (Vancouver) to Duke Point (Nanaimo) ...unfortunately, it was 45 minutes late leaving, and with the hour and a half drive up to Courtenay, it was 7:40 when they pulled in.

After big hugs, we got right to work setting up their tent before it got dark. I must say it has to be one of the most difficult tents to put together! But we did it and then got our double-high queen bed inflated and made up. Unfortunately, the air mattress they brought for Isaac didn't hold air, so Steve and Chris had to make a quick trip to Walmart for a new one. Here is Isaac testing out his new bed for the next 4 nights...

With the work done...we sat outside visiting until it was time to call it a night. This is Isaac being silly with grampa...apparently the blanket folds into the pouch (on his head) and makes a pillow...

Angela's aunt is in Campbell River, so Friday (Aug. 18) afternoon they were going to stop by for a visit. We all decided to go up there, go to Elk Falls...then out for lunch. After that, the kids can go visiting and we will go home. We took both cars...the guys with Chris and Angela with me. It was such a beautiful day! Steve took this shot of a whale made from driftwood as they drove along the waterfront near Campbell River...

Isaac is hilarious! There are benches along the walk down to the falls and on every bench he has to sit briefly and pose for a picture...

Elk Falls...

Other than posing for a picture on a bench, Isaac didn't want to be in any pictures...funny kid!

Looking back at the first set of stairs we came down...

We continued down more stairs to the viewing platform. After having a quick look at the falls we walked back up...Isaac was anxious to get over to the bridge! 

Steve, along with Chris and Isaac walked across the suspension bridge. Here they are returning...

View from the middle of the suspension bridge...

When there was no one on the bridge, I ventured out about a third of the way but as soon as someone from the other end got on, I immediately retreated! Can't handle the bouncing 😒

One final picture...

On our way to lunch, we stopped and went for a short walk on Thunderbird Spit. This is Chadwick the Cougar made from driftwood...

Lots of seagulls at the mouth of the Campbell River where it meets the ocean...

Watching as a float plane taxis for takeoff from the river estuary...it's quite windy...

Smoke from the wildfire in Strathcona Provincial Park...

And off it goes where it will disappear up and over Quadra Island...

We wanted to go to the Riptide Marine Pub, our favourite waterfront restaurant in Campbell River, but unfortunately Isaac could not go in (have to be 19 or over), so we went next door to Moxie's...still on the waterfront and they welcome kids. We enjoyed a delicious early birthday lunch for Steve...thanks so much, Chris and Angela! Unfortunately, no picture taken.

After lunch, we left Chris, Angela and Isaac to go visit Angela's aunt and we headed home. It gave me time to make lasagne for dinner.

After dinner, fun time at the playground!

Looking from the playground we had a smokey sunset from the wildfire at Strathcona Provincial Park...

Then we had a campfire!

That was a full day!

Saturday (August 19) was another busy day! We started off with a hike to Nymph Falls. Another bench for Isaac (too funny!)...

I think Isaac was trying not to be in the picture Grampa was taking, LOL...

Peek-a-boo Grampa!

Grampa joined Isaac for a picture on the bench as we walked back up to the parking lot...

We discovered that there is a geocache hidden not too far off the parking lot, so we went out in search of the "treasure"...and found it! Isaac was pretty happy...

Next was the beach! We decided on Goose Spit Park in Comox. We set up our chairs...

And then went hunting for shells...

Looking for baby crabs under the rocks...

Smoke from the wildfires burning in BC...both on the island and the interior has blanketed the area...

This is the other side of the Spit which makes for a great anchorage...

Next...Kye Bay! We stopped briefly...another photo op on a bench!

Tides out!

And finally lunch time...a rather late one as it was going on 3:00! We went to the Gladstone Brewery near our place. Isaac loved sitting at the picnic table...but he decided he didn't want to be in the picture.

After such a late lunch, we just had snacks for dinner (besides, we're going to have s'mores later!)

And I finally took a picture of their tent!

Isaac had a shower and got his pj's on... 

...and then it was S'mores time!

Chris did them over the BBQ instead of the propane firepit...our 'campfire-in-a-can' is quite sooty and we didn't want those toxins on our marshmallows!

Yum! Good job dad and mom!

Sunday (August 20) morning we started off with a walk down to the river. The number of salmon we saw absolutely blew us away! These are Pinks or Humpbacks.

A 1:04 minute video of the swirling schools of fish...

There's Isaac trying to escape the picture again...too funny!

Back from our walk, I made some bunwiches and packed a small cooler for a picnic at Comox Lake. Unfortunately, the smoke from the wildfires in BC hasn't left us yet...

It was a much cooler day...at least it started off that way...

Lunch at the lake...

After hanging out at the lake for awhile, we drove back into Cumberland, parked and went for a walk along the main street checking out the quaint shops. We also got a chance to try out the homemade ice cream from Love's Ice Cream. It's very popular and very delicious!

Our final stop was at Don and Rhonda's for a visit. It had been a long time since Chris had seen his uncle and aunt...and they had never met Isaac. Isaac wasn't too sure about Don to start with but soon warmed up...and they became fast friends!

Isaac trying out the hanging lounge chair...

Don and Isaac "striking the pose" LOL...

There's that view again...it certainly isn't as smokey here!

Back home, the folks across the road from us had left, so Steve set up the Core Crash game while Angela and I made a quick trip into town for a couple of groceries.

Angela and I joined them and we enjoyed a couple of games. Here is Isaac taking his turn (he got to stand much closer to the pegs 😊)...

Hot shot Angela was amazing at the game for a first timer, after nailing the '10' peg in the distance, three times in a row then the '11' to win! 

Dinner was tacos outside on the picnic table...

Monday (August 21) morning and time to pack up the tent and car. Chris made reservations on the 3:15 ferry back to the mainland...plenty of time to check out Coombs on the way. 

The cornerstone of Coombs is the famous Old Country Market with goats on the roof...

The Old Country Market started as a roadside stand providing fresh produce to travellers heading to the west coast of Vancouver Island. Over the years it has evolved and grown into a landmark of Coombs, with gifts, groceries, great food, and goats… on the roof!

The area around the market has expanded to include a variety shops, stores and restaurants. This is the Fairy Castle that kids love to climb in...

This is the area adjacent to the market...

Coombs Emporium...

We all ordered lunch from the fast food place inside the Emporium and sat outside at a picnic table. After lunch we walked over to the ice-cream shop for a treat. Next thing we knew it was time for Chris, Angela and Isaac to continue onto Duke Point and the ferry terminal. After big hugs, they said goodbye and were off. We had such a great visit with them! Thanks for coming over and spending time with us...and braving sleeping in a tent, Angela!

Steve and I wandered down the road a little way to see what there was...this beautiful mural is on the side of The Coombs Dutch Wooden Shoe Import Store...

Tuesday (Aug. 22)...and time to get back into our usual routine. We did our usual resistance exercises, a walk around the airpark...and then Steve edited pictures while I did a load of laundry. When he was done, I started working on blog updates while he headed out for a walk to find a trail that goes along the river on the other side of the bridge.

Steve here: I came back after quite a long hike, having checked out the many fishing areas with plans to try my luck fishing in the morning. No matter where you look there are salmon everywhere!

Mostly kids fishing the area where I videoed the large schools of fish the other day. One of them had snagged a fish which is easily done when there are so many fish...

Wednesday (Aug. 23) morning, as planned, I headed out just before 8:00 over the bridge to the other side of the river with my fishing gear, including my GoPro camera. It was frustrating for the first 15 minutes with so many fish swimming by and not a bite. Then I got my first fish on! Ten minutes later I got my second fish, but it broke my rod so I was done by 8:50. Still a great morning though! My trout nets are too small for these fish so I think it's time to get a larger one for salmon.

A 4:36 minute video...

Later on I decided to take my GoPro to where the Tsolum River meets with the Puntledge River to get some underwater video...1:36 minutes

After lunch we did a hike at Nymph Falls to see if the salmon were jumping up the fish ladders. We never saw a fish so I guess they aren't this far up the river yet. 

And that concludes a very busy couple of weeks!