We had the car packed and were on the road by 10:00 Wednesday (Dec. 20) morning. We are heading down island...with a stop for 2 nights at Ray and Deb's in Lake Cowichan. They have been "down south" since late September and have flown home for the Christmas Season, leaving their motorhome in Mesa.
They absolutely love Christmas and their home is beautifully decorated. I had seen pictures before, but seeing it in person was jaw-dropping! Every time I looked around, I found something that I hadn't seen before...so much to take in! A lot of work for them, but they really enjoy it...
Ray loves Christmas Villages and has two set up...
Steve took a 33 second video of the other one...amazing!
Steve took this picture from the upper loft, looking down...
Deb had made a charcuterie board, along with a few appetizers for lunch...which was perfect because she has a turkey smoking on the Traeger for dinner tonight!
After munching and chatting for awhile, Ray, Steve and I went out for a walk in the campground next door to their community...nice to get a little exercise! Poor Deb has been battling a bad cold and although she is mostly over it, she is not yet "up to snuff", so she stayed behind.
Turkey is ready...just needs to rest for a bit...
...while I give Deb a hand getting the sides ready...
Time to sit down to a turkey dinner with all the trimmings...delicious!
Thursday (Dec. 21) we all piled into Ray and Deb's rental car and headed to Chemainus, a community about 30 minutes east of here on the coast. Founded as an unincorporated logging town in 1858, Chemainus is now famous for its 53 outdoor murals. This outdoor gallery has given birth to many businesses, including a theatre, antiques dealers, and eateries. The tourist industry stemming from the murals helped rejuvenate the town after its large sawmill closed in the early 1980s and was replaced by a smaller, more efficient, mill.
We wandered up and down the main street of this quaint little town, checking out various stores and of course, some of the many murals.
Chemainus Theatre on the far left...
Beautiful waterwheel...
Getting a new roof...
After about an hour and a half wandering around, we were back at the car. I don't think we have ever stopped in Chemainus and just wandered the streets...they've done a great job making it quite a tourist hotspot in summertime. We will have to return at some point as that was only 11 of the 53 murals!
Lunch was at the Sawmill Taphouse...
A good meal with great company!
That evening, Deb and Ray introduced us to a new game called 'Mille Bornes'. It took a little for Steve and I to get the hang of it but once we did, it was fun!
It has been a wonderful 2 days with Deb and Ray...but tomorrow it's time to continue down island to Rob and Angie's place where we will be celebrating Christmas. Chris, Angela and Isaac are coming over from Vancouver too. It will be the first time our whole family will be together for Christmas since 2016...before Isaac was born! So looking forward to it!
Thanks for your hospitality once again Ray and Deb...always great getting together! Enjoy the sunshine and save travels on your return to Mesa.
Well, here we are again...another two weeks have slipped by. For the most part, it has been pretty dreary and gloomy with fog and rain. The odd day with a small break of blue sky showing, but not a lot of sunshine. Our days continue to be pretty routine...getting out for walks as much as possible, along with the usual stuff here in the trailer. A lot of time has been spent inside keeping dry and warm...and watching TV, reading, knitting...
Although it was a pretty cold start to the day on Thursday (Dec. 7), it wasn't raining (or snowing!), so we decided to check out another trail. Barber's Hole is on the Puntledge River, about a kilometre further up the road from Nymph Falls.
As you can see from the map below, you can actually hike to Barber's Hole from Nymph Falls...I think we may try that next time. If you are really adventurous, you can hike all of the way to the Comox Lake Dam about 4 km one way from Barber's Hole!
Nice trails, but obviously not as well used as the Nymph Falls trails...
Viewing area near Barber's Hole which is just off to the right. That's an island in the river off to my right...
We believe this to be where swimmers jump off the rock bluffs at Barber's Hole...
This is the Diversion Dam...
A short 21 second video...
Nice bench...
At first we thought this was a lake but turns out its a calm section of the Puntledge River above the Diversion Dam. We walked a little further before turning around...
Almost back...
Another great hike...but we were ready to get back into the car to warm up!
Friday (Dec. 8) was the one nice day....blue sky and sunshine, but cold with temperatures below freezing. It was so frosty outside in the morning that it looked like it had snowed!
We waited until it had warmed up before we headed to the Airpark for our walk. Afterwards we went to check on our little trailer...to find it had no power. We don't think we left anything on in the trailer last time we were there but the batteries were dead. We had powered the slide room out and back in when we gave Earl the tour. Of course, there has been very little sunshine for the solar to do any charging.
It had been so cold, wet and gloomy Saturday (Dec. 9) that we never left the trailer, so on Sunday (Dec. 10), we had to get out and do something! We had intended on going for our normal walk but it was foggy with such a heavy mist that we decided to just go for a long drive.
We ended up at the Griffin Pub for lunch which is located near the end of the runway at CFB Comox. First time for me but apparently Steve was here 47 years ago in 1976 with his buddies just before their European trip...the pub has been here for a very long time!
Lots of air force photos, and badges and stickers from other air forces from around the world. The food was excellent!
Monday (Dec. 11) morning we went out to the trailer to get the batteries and take them over to Earl's. He has a workshop where he can charge them and keep them warm.
After a brief visit with them, we headed off to the Airpark for our walk.
Tuesday (Dec. 12) morning we went to check out some parks in Comox...just looking for different places for our walk. The couple we went to were fairly small parks with short hiking trails. Both parks are ones we had driven by often so it was nice to stop and check them out.
The first park was Lazo Marsh-North East Comox Wildlife Management Area...
Partial view of the huge marsh from the wildlife lookout...
Our second stop was as MacDonald Wood Park. After following one of the trails that led toward the water, we came across this boardwalk that went along the waterfront to the beach...
We are across the bay from Goose Spit where we took a video of the kite surfers a few weeks ago...
Very cool Christmas decorations on this pier. Snoopy trying to net the Grinch who has a rope tied to Santa's sleigh...
Looking in the opposite direction...
Of course Steve had to get a picture of this very cool twisted tree...
There was rain in the forecast for Wednesday (Dec. 13), but the day started with a beautiful sunrise. There have been some spectacular sunrises and sunsets lately mostly southeast of us according to all the photos sent into Global News...
We did manage to get out for our walk before the rain started, though. This C-130 Hercules was doing circuits near us...
I had been waiting for a consult with an Orthopedic Surgeon for my right knee and finally received an appointment date for this Friday. It is with the same surgeon who did the total knee replacement on my left knee 4 years ago in Victoria.
So Thursday (Dec. 14) morning we headed down to Victoria to stay the night at Rob and Angie's. We will be going back down for Christmas but to stay until December 28th would just be too long.
After a stop in Duncan for lunch and then in Sidney to run a couple of errands, we arrived at Rob's around 3:00. Rob and Bryce were home...apparently Bryce had taken a fall at school yesterday and hit his head pretty hard. The school wanted him to see a doctor...thankfully, he has had no ill effects other than a lump on the back of his head and is fine.
Rob's home brew is amazing! We sat around the kitchen table chatting and tasting his last couple of creations, an Irish Red Ale, and a dark with a bit of a coffee/chocolate flavour...delicious!
Angie and Conner arrived home and after a brief visit, Angie left for choir practice. Pizza and beer for dinner tonight! Conner and Bryce are in the other room eating theirs.
Friday (Dec. 15) morning we were up bright and early, leaving the house just before 7:00. We, along with Rob, are surprising the boys at their morning school assembly. Conner is receiving a special recognition from his teacher.
We met up with Rob, and since we were a little early we went for a short walk along the waterfront. A beautiful sunrise over the Oak Bay Marina in Victoria...
A 1.11 minute video of a couple of curious seals...
Glenlyon Norfolk Junior School (Pre-kindergarten up to Grade 5) is located on the waterfront in Oak Bay...such a beautiful setting! The campus for Grades 6-12 is located a few kms away.
We had hoped to be in the auditorium and surprise the boys when they came in with their classes, but that was foiled when Angie and the boys met us as we were walking towards the school...oh well.
After claiming our seats in the auditorium, we got a quick tour of the school. This is Bryce's classroom. What a view!
Certainly not like any of the views we've ever had when we went to school...
Angie, Rob, me and Steve...seated in the auditorium...
Conner's teacher talking about his achievements.Today is the last day of school before the Christmas break so no uniforms required...just wear Christmas colours if possible.
Pretty awesome recognition...
The ceremony was fairly short and we were out before 9:00. So glad to have been part of this special recognition...congratulations Conner!
My appointment at ReBalanceMD is in the Uptown Shopping Centre and wasn't until 10:35. We hadn't had breakfast, so after finding a parking spot, we went to Starbucks for coffee and a snack. This is looking down at the main square from the upper level. Santa's House for photos is in front of the huge Christmas tree...
This is the view from street level...on the far side of the big tree in the picture above. These igloo looking structures have a table and chairs inside so you can enjoy your snacks out of the weather...
My appointment was fairly quick...the outcome...I am on the surgical waitlist for a right knee replacement. The waitlist is one year...but that's okay. Unlike last time, I can still walk fairly well (thanks to Advil and Tylenol) but am worried about it's deterioration. I'm just happy to be on the waitlist! We'll be back down next Friday when I have an appointment to have a Cingal injection in my knee...a single-injection osteoarthritis knee pain relief treatment that combines the fast relief of a corticosteroid with the long-lasting relief of a viscosupplement.
With that done, we hit the road back up to Courtenay. Of course, we stopped at our favourite lunch spot in Qualicum Beach...The Shady Rest Restaurant and Pub. Love the views...even on a cloudy day! We saw a seal and a couple of sea lions swimming by...
We hadn't seen the deer for quite awhile but Saturday (Dec. 16) morning, this young spiked buck walked behind our trailer...
Earl gave us some of his old LED Christmas lights. Normally Steve sets up our coloured LED solar lights but we don't get enough sunlight in December to run them...
The next few days were foggy, misty and just plain gloomy! Not much happened...we got out when we could for our walks and I ran some errands. I also worked on this blog.
Got out for a power walk along Millard Creek Trail Tuesday (Dec. 18). The shoreline has thousands of geese and ducks and the clouds were almost at ground level in some areas...
We wanted to see some of the Christmas light displays, so although it was raining lightly, we decided to go our after dinner.
And then the Comox Heritage Airpark static display at CFB Comox. There was an entrance fee by donation of non-perishable food or cash...and then after the walk through, you can vote on your favourite. Each plane is decorated by a different unit and squadron...
Steve favourite was the one on the right...
The faces looking out the window of the DC-3 above
All were very well done, but I chose this one as my fav...
Unfortunately not all aircraft were lit up due to so many lights blowing the breakers no matter how many time the poor guy reset them.
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