Friday, March 1 to Thursday, March 21, 2024 (Puntledge RV Park, Courtenay, BC)

 Here we are again...time for another update. I must admit that it is hard writing a blog update when we're not travelling. We are in a "transition" year into a new mode of travel which will hopefully start by this summer...fingers-crossed! In the meantime, it's pretty much been the same, same around here. I'll give you a quick run-down on the highlights.

Friday (Mar. 1) was a cloudy, rainy day...so we didn't get out for our usual powerwalk. Instead, we got ready for company tonight...Earl and Allison are coming over for dinner and Rummikub...

Saturday (Mar. 2) it started snowing...no, not again! I didn't think it was really going to amount to much but then it started sticking to the ground. Finally, by late afternoon, a snowfall warning was issued...a little late, I'd say!

The snow continued into Sunday (Mar. 3)...

By the end of the weekend, this is what it looked like...

Monday (Mar. 4) morning the clouds were gone, giving way for bright beautiful blue sky...but it was chilly with the temperature -2C/28F. 

We bundled up and got out for our morning walk...don't think anyone will be using the Airpark runway today...

Tuesday (Mar. 5) and Wednesday (Mar. 6) were basically a repeat of Monday...beautiful blue sky but chilly. After our morning walks, our days were pretty routine...shopping, reading, knitting, etc., all inside, of course!

We did have a date night on Wednesday...drinks and dinner at the Gladstone Brewery before we walked across the street to the Sid Williams Theater to see an Eagles Tribute Band "Taking it to the Limit."

Crazy reflections on our faces from the sidewalls!

A short 21 second video...

A fun evening...the tribute band was great! Not only did they sound and play great, but there was lots of interaction with the audience with a little history of the Eagles and band members, as well as a little comedy too.

Thursday (Mar. 7) the rain started...and it rained almost steadily for 3 days. A wind warning was added on Saturday (Mar. 9)...rain and wind! Needless to say, we spent a lot of time inside, but we did get out for a drive after being shut-in for two days.

Goose Spit...yup, it's pretty windy out there! 

Same at Point Holmes...

That evening we decided to partake in the Flying Canoe Pub's Saturday night dinner special...$6.95 dinner and $5 sleeves of beer. The fellow behind us in black is wearing a Lutes Casino Bar & Grill 

T-shirt...one of our favourite stops in Yuma, AZ.

We saw the outcome of the crazy wind yesterday on our Sunday (Mar. 10) morning walk at the Airpark...

One of the resident Great Blue Herons...

Unfortunately, we had to turn around half way around the park as the rain got heavier and heavier.

Monday (Mar. 11) was basically a repeat of yesterday...but we did manage to get our whole walk in before the rain started...just as we got back to the car. More wind and rain all afternoon! At least it has melted all of the snow we had last weekend.

Tuesday (Mar. 12)...and finally, a nice day! The forecast is for much warmer temperatures coming in by the weekend, and no rain! 

We did our usual 3.5 km powerwalk in the morning and once home, Steve puttered around outside and then made a quick run to the hardware to pick up some weather-stripping for the trucks box doors. I did some cleaning inside and did a little baking.

With the work done, Steve got the chairs out of the shed so we could sit outside for the first time this year. So nice to be outside enjoying the sunshine!

We enjoyed more sunshine Wednesday (Mar. 13) and Thursday (Mar. 14). Steve managed to get a great picture of another Heron while we were on our walk...

He also captured a small plane landing in this 15 second video...

Thursday Steve washed the truck...it was pretty dirty after our trip over to Abbotsford last month. Hopefully it is the last time he has to wash it...he's looking forward to washing a pickup truck instead!

Friday (Mar. 15) morning after dropping off our recycling, we did our usual 3.5 km powerwalk at the airpark/riverway. It was another beautiful day with the stunning view of the Comox Glacier ...

Not a ripple on the water!

After lunch we went out to check on our little trailer that's in storage. All is fine with it, can hardly wait to get out camping in it!

Next, we headed out to Cumberland to check out a couple of historical sites. First off was Cumberland Chinatown.

Steve here: There were 19 sign boards along the trail but I've only posted the ones I felt were historically relevant...

                                                       

Unfortunately other then Jumbo's Cabin that's been moved from it's original site to the parking entrance there's no evidence that a community ever existed here. When my family lived in Courtenay in 1967 we saw a news cast on a Seattle station about people coming to the Cumberland Chinatown to dig for artifacts. So on the following weekend dad and mom loaded us kids into the car to go looking for artifacts. We found pieces of pottery, bottles, a complete ceramic spoon, opium bottles and more. I have no idea what ever happened to those items. We also saw the only remaining resident (Jumbo) standing outside his cabin.

   Looking back up at Jumbo's Cabin...                     

Next we drove a short distance down the road to No 1 Japanese Town which also connects to Cumberland Chinatown by a trail. Other then sign boards along the trail there is nothing left of the community...

We all know what happened in 1942...

Just like the USA, Canada relocated the Japanese to internment camps away from the coast...

The trail and bridge leading to Cumberland Chinatown...

A little flooded...

Mine tailings...

After darn near 13,000 steps (between this mornings walk and the historic sites), it was time to relax with a brew at the Cumberland Brewery. Their walls are adorned with growlers from breweries all around North America...

Saturday (Mar. 16) was the warmest day yet! It was so nice leaving the trailer door open while puttering around inside. Steve enjoyed being outside doing his own puttering around...washing the bikes and pumping up the tires.

When he was finished, he decided it was time for shorts and flip-flops! Although it was only 13C/55F, it felt much warmer sitting in the direct sunshine...beautiful day!

Sunday (Mar. 17) morning on our walk at the Courtenay Airpark/Riverwalk, we watched a float plane being put into the water...

Very cool...

After taxi-ing up river a ways, we watched him take off...

That afternoon, we headed out to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Deep Bay. We enjoyed a couple of hours catching up with Don and Rhonda in their beautiful home and then we went to the Fanny Bay Inn (FBI) for dinner. It's under new ownership with a new menu coming out in April...

Monday (Mar. 18) and another beautiful day! We only have another couple of days before clouds and rain return. So instead of a walk today, we went out on our bikes...

Later that afternoon, Steve picked up Earl and they took their drones out to Gartley Point...

A 1:17 minute video of the area...

Tuesday (Mar. 19)...and the last of our sunny days. It was going to be a beautiful day, though, for our friends from Victoria (well, Saanichton) to come up for a visit. Steve captured some cool looking clouds.

Rob and Nancy arrived just before 10:30 as I was sitting out in the sun knitting. The four of us sat outside chatting until it was time to head out for lunch at the Blackfin Pub in Comox. We had a great window table. Three of us had Prawn War Won Ton Soup and Rob had a burger...delicious!

After lunch, we took a walk down to the Fisherman's Wharf Boardwalk...

End of the line...

Never get tired of the view of the Comox Glacier...

We took a drive down to Goose Spit before heading back to the RV park...and then sat a little longer visiting until it was time for them to start the 3 1/2 drive back down island. Thanks so much, Rob and Nancy, for driving up for a visit and for picking up the tab for lunch! It was great seeing you!

Wednesday (Mar. 20) we were back to clouds, as predicted. After our usual walk at the Courtenay Airpark/Riverwalk, Steve took me to see Gartley Point where he and Earl had flown their drones the other day. He took a few more pictures of the area...

Geoduck Clam/Scallop Aquaculture pond left of the bridge...

Weir under the bridge...

Thursday (Mar. 21) we decided to go for a hike at Nymph Falls Nature Park...a great hike at just shy of 4kms/2.5 miles. It's a slightly longer walk than the Airpark/Riverway but has quite a bit of elevation changes compared to the Airpark. The rest of the day was pretty much a work day...laundry and putting the final touches on this blog.