Another 3 weeks have gone by and life continues on. As is usual up here in the winter, we have had a lot of rain, along with some sun and cold temperatures...not much more in the way of snow (touch wood).
Thursday (Feb. 8) morning we woke to a chilly -2C/28F. By the time we were ready to head out for our walk, it had warmed up a bit. Today we thought we'd go out to Seal Bay Nature Park...it has been awhile since we have been there. We decided on the Coupland Loop Trail, also taking 2 side trails that go down to the water. Although it's hard to tell from the following picture, there are steep ravines...
This steep trail down to the ocean was named after 'Don Apps'...
The trail zig-zags down to the ocean shore...
Back to Coupland Trail, we continued until we came to the Ravine Trail. It also goes down to the ocean...
On our way home, we took a drive to Goose Spit...the tide is in...
The final stairs down to the beach...
After hiking back up the Eagle Trail, we continued on the Seal Loop along a steep ravine with a stream...
The rain arrived Saturday (Feb. 10)...and it poured all day! An inside day until it was time to meet Earl and Allison at the Saigon Noodle House for dinner...
After dinner, we went back to Earl and Allison's place for a few games of Rummikub...
And dessert...a gigantic homemade "Chocolate Chip Cookie"...yum!
A fun evening! We played numerous games...if memory serves me correctly, I think it was Allison who won the most.
Being a bird sanctuary, we often see lots of folks with their mega cameras taking pictures of the birds, but we were surprised to see these racoons sleeping up in a tree...
Friday (Feb. 9) and another chilly start. We decided to go back to Seal Bay Nature Park and hike another trail...the Seal Loop. Like the Coupland Loop, it is on the water side of the road that runs through the park.
The trail starts with a bridge over a small waterfall...
We took the Eagle Trail that goes down to the ocean...
Sunday (Feb. 11) was a repeat of yesterday...rain, rain, rain...all day!
But Monday (Feb. 12) we finally had blue sky and sunshine...ahhh...so nice! Our walk at the Airpark/Riverway paths was beautiful!
Since it was so beautiful outside, Steve puttered around taking care of some odds and ends. I managed to get extra steps in walking back and forth to the laundry room.
The next few days were filled with pretty routine stuff. We are going through another cold snap with fairly cold overnight temps but the days were beautiful with lots of blue sky and sunshine.
Here are a few pictures from our morning walks. Notice the ice along the distant shoreline...
Saturday (Feb. 17) morning we had a beautiful sunrise...
In an effort to get the truck sold, we have decided to take it over to the Earlybird RV Show at the Tradex Centre in Abbotsford. The show runs 4 days, Thursday, February 22 to Sunday, February 25. They do not have a special area for used RV's like they used to but we figured if we parked the truck with 'For Sale' signs on it near the entrance, it would provide some much needed exposure..."seeing it in person".
So today we went and got insurance on the truck and then Steve washed it...in preparation for leaving Monday. I spent time inside printing off info and pictures of the truck to take.
With the work done, late afternoon, we headed off to Ace Brewery. They have teamed up with a local coffee roastery and just released a Hazelnut Coffee Stout. What better thing to do on a Saturday afternoon than go check it out? It was good but filling...so one was definitely enough!
Instead of taking the Duke Point ferry from Nanaimo over to mainland, we are going down to Victoria, leaving the car there and taking the ferry from Swartz Bay. That way, if we are lucky enough to sell the truck, our car will be at Rob's which is only a short distance from the ferry.
So Monday (Feb. 19), we headed off late morning...Steve in the truck and me, following in the car. It was a beautiful drive down until we hit the Malahat mountain pass...and rain! So much for Steve's clean truck!
It was a holiday...Family Day...so Angie and the boys were home. Unfortunately Rob had to work...but when he got home, we all sat around the table with a beverage, catching up. Angie had a special dinner cooking for us...roast beef and Yorkshire pudding!
Tuesday (Feb. 20) morning, we saw Rob, Angie and the boys off to work/school and continued with our relaxing morning...the only thing we have today is a meeting with our financial advisor, but that wasn't until 11:30. We would liked to have gotten out for our favourite waterfront walk in Sidney but it was a rainy, nasty day.
Wednesday ( Feb. 21) morning, with our suitcases in the truck, we headed off to the ferry. Thanks for your hospitality Rob and Angie...always great to see you and the boys! We managed to catch the 11:00 a.m. sailing...tonight we are staying with Chris, Angela and Isaac in Coquitlam.
To our surprise, we ran into our nephew, Matt, on the ferry...he was on his way over to Vancouver for the Madonna concert. We had a great ferry ride visiting with him...
Angela and Issac got home at about 4:00...we had a nice visit while Angela made us a great dinner. My goodness...such wonderful dinners both last night and tonight! Delicious!
Brinkley is the new kid on the block...very nice units.
With the forecast for another windy, rainy day Sunday (Feb. 25), we decided to head home rather than spend another day at the RV Show. Besides, the overnight temperatures are forecast to dip below freezing overnight Sunday, and with the trailer back home not winterized, Steve wanted to get home. Our attempt at selling the truck here was a total waste of time and money! When you consider two ferry trips, fuel for both vehicles, three nights in a hotel, meals, daily show entrance and parking fees, we're in the hole big time.
Thursday (Feb. 22) morning we said goodbye to Chris, Angela and Isaac...thank you for your hospitality! The RV Show doesn't start until 10:00 but we wanted to get there early so we could get a parking spot in the lot close to the entrance. We found a perfect spot...I went to get a parking pass while Steve put up the For Sale signs. When I came back to the truck, there was a security fellow talking to Steve...apparently we are not allowed to put up "For Sale" signs in the truck...and we can't park there...WTH!! He pointed to an area at the other end of the lot. Well, that sucks...who would have thought we can't park the truck in a parking lot with a "For Sale" sign in it? Certainly took us by surprise!
The only thing we can say about the spot we parked the truck in, is that it is alongside the road that goes to the Tradex. We had a red helium balloon attached to the truck so that may have drawn some attention...?
We went into the show...I had already purchased multi-day passes for us on-line. So we basically spent 3 long days wandering inside the Tradex where the RV Show was taking place and going out to sit in the truck occasionally. Saturday the place was packed...and it would have been perfect exposure for the truck...unfortunately it was cold, windy, raining, and just a plain nasty day!
There were a few positives though. We met our nephew Matt on the ferry, and at the show we met our niece Karli and her husband Colin from Peachland, Dan who was a neighbour when we summered at Tunkwa Provincial Park, Ken from the Cowichan Valley ATV Club, and former neighbours, Ralph, Linda, and Al when we stayed at Peace Arch RV Campground in Surrey.
We managed to catch the 9 a.m. ferry back to Swartz Bay, stopped at Rob's to pick up the car (and other stuff we had left there) and headed back up island, arriving home in Courtenay around 3:00.
Steve took this picture while we were on the ferry...a freighter with a rainbow coming from it's bridge...
The last four days since we got back have been pretty low key....cold temperatures and a lot of rain! We managed to get out for a hike at Nymph Falls Tuesday (Feb. 27) but it was cold!
Sometime during the night, it turned to rain...and it poured and poured all day Wednesday (Feb. 28).
Thursday (Feb. 29) started off with lots of sunshine so we managed our walk but by late morning, it was back to being a cloudy day...with the rain starting late afternoon.
And that brings us up-to-date again!
Too bad you didn't sell Buster in Aldergrove, but maybe someone will mention it to someone else.
ReplyDeleteYes, it did not go at all like we were hoping.
DeleteHave you tried advertising Buster on an Auto-Trader type venue. Around here they have the Monthly Magazine as well as On-Line.
ReplyDeleteWishing you the best. Stay Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
Yes it’s on there thanks.
DeleteYou certainly have a lot of great hiking out there, both forest and shoreline. Awesome that you were able to get together with both kids and families. Those gaming stations the boys have would be the envy of many!
ReplyDeleteLots of areas to keep us busy weather permitting. Always fun times getting together with the kids.
Delete