The next 2 weeks were fairly busy with family and friend visits...needless to say it was a very fast couple of weeks!
We are in a bit of a heat wave right now, so on Sunday morning (July 13) after a few chores, we hunkered down inside the trailer with the A/C on. Steve's sister and her husband (Nadine and Mike) are house-sitting in Comox for a couple of weeks, so they popped over at around 2:00 and we took them to see Nymph Falls. OMG, we've never seen the park so busy! Of course...Sunday afternoon on a hot day and everyone was out enjoying the water.
We've never seen anyone walking on this log before...
A quick 6 second video...
We didn't hike any trails, instead just took the main trail down to see the falls and then back to the car. Our next stop was what we call our Sunday service at the Gladstone Brewery, to sit in the shade, enjoy a little live music and conversation...
The heat-wave continues, so our morning walks over the next few days have been in the shade as much as possible. Yes, I have started walking with Steve, doing a somewhat shorter trail (Millard Trail) that is about 2.8 kms/1.75 miles. Afterwards, the usual chores and odds and ends were taken care of...with most of our time being spent in air-conditioning.
Steve had a follow-up phone appointment with his urologist. Thankfully his MRI didn't show anything unusual other than an enlarged prostate, so PSA tests every 6 months was recommended.
Wednesday (July 16) we decided to walk a longer trail at Nymph Falls Regional Park. I don't know exactly how long it was because I paused my tracker when we sat on a bench to watch the falls and forgot to turn it back on....but I managed very well. I must admit, though, by late afternoon/evening I usually feel achy and tired. Just have to keep it up!
That afternoon, Mike and Nadine invited us over for dinner...Nadine and Steve's cousin and her husband (Bev and Rob) from Vancouver also happened to be visiting friends on the island and joined us. So nice to see them!
Bev, Rob, Mike, Nadine and Steve...
Thursday morning (July 17) we were ready shortly after 8:00...we are having a new residential refrigerator installed, which means, of course, that the old RV fridge must go. Courtenay RV Specialists were coming to take care of removing the old one, capping off the propane line and enlarging the space for the new one.
As we waited, we went for a walk around the campground. Work on the site of the new Clubhouse has finally begun!
Byron didn't arrive until almost 12:30 (we did get a couple of phone calls apologizing for his delay)...
Byron had his nephew (apprentice) come and assist with the removal of the old fridge...thank goodness, as it was a heavy sucker!
Ta da! Our new fridge...
Mike and Nadine had come over just in case we needed more help getting the new fridge in. Luckily we did not require Mike's help, but it was nice hanging out with them again.
Totally exhausted and hot, we all headed to Boston Pizza for dinner. Nadine ordered a "Fishbowl Bellini" ...it was huge!😲
Friday morning (July 18) Dave and Leslie, our friends from Leduc, Alberta, arrived for a visit. We met them, along with Earl and Allison, at the Early Bird Cafe for breakfast...
Dave and Leslie are going to be staying in our little trailer, so after breakfast Steve and Dave went to pick it up out of storage (Buster is no longer insured). With basically no food in our new refrigerator, Leslie and I headed off shopping.
Steve and Dave had the little trailer all set up in a site across from us by the time Les and I got back. After getting the groceries put away, we sat outside, had a bite to eat for lunch, and chatted for a bit...and then headed up to the Gladstone Brewery for a couple of cold ones...
Saturday morning (July 19) after breakfast we all jumped in Dave's truck and headed up to Mt. Washington and a hike at Paradise Meadows. It was such a beautiful day...perfect weather!
Next up was a drive further up the mountain to the Alpine Resort...
We had a beverage and each couple shared an order of chicken strips and fries...
We were hoping to watch people coming down on the Zipline but it only happened as we reached the parking lot...
Time to head back down the mountain...
After a brief stop at home, we took Dave and Leslie to the Ace Brewery...
Lots of stairs down to further viewing and the suspension bridge...
Steve, Dave, and Leslie below...
The suspension bridge from the lower viewing platform...
I didn't go down to the lower platform but did try walking a little ways out onto the suspension bridge...when there was no one else on it. It's about as far as I ever get! 😂
Views from the suspension bridge...
The water levels are low this time of year...
View from the far end of the suspension bridge above the falls...
Here comes Dave...
Another perfect day for a hike! Now it was lunchtime! We went to our favourite spot on the waterfront in Campbell River...The Riptide Marine Pub...
The marina was a beehive of activity with boats continually coming and going. Boating from Campbell River north between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland is probably some of the best boating in the world. Friends Ray and Ann of Love Your RV and Boat are currently spending their second summer on the water exploring fiords and islands north of here and have some spectacular scenery and wildlife videos of their travels...
Back home, we had a brief rest and then headed off to visit Earl and Allison. We sat in the shade on their front porch...and had a great visit. Next time we see them we will be helping them move into their new home!
Sunday morning (July 20) we were off to Campbell River and the Elk Falls Suspension Bridge. On the way, we stopped to check out Miracle Beach Provincial Park. We went to the big day-use area (there is also a campground). The park is very popular during the summer months.
A 30 second video...
We walked the trail down to Black Creek and the Estuary...(Dave's pic)
Next up was Elk Falls Provincial Park...there is also a campground but it is further back down the highway from the Suspension Bridge.
The John Hart Dam is just up from the falls...
We hiked down to the falls...this is from the first viewpoint...
A very short 10 second video of the falls...
Our last happy hour at our place...Dave and Leslie head down to Victoria tomorrow...
After waiting for a year to see an Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT) Specialist, my appointment was at 12:20 today in Nanaimo (about an hour and a half south of here). Obviously it wasn't an emergency. The doctor scoped my nose and throat (that was fun, LOL), and felt my neck for any masses. Nothing found, thank goodness! She said I have chronic throat irritation likely caused by allergies and/or silent reflux (I have been diagnosed with GERD in the past but really hadn't suffered from it lately...guess I was wrong). She will recommend to my GP that I take Nexium or Pepcid for a few months to see if that helps. She also suggested I take Reactine, Claritin, or similar since there seems to have been an increase in seasonal allergies lately. I was basically in and out in about 10 minutes.
Dave and Leslie are borrowing our trailer for their week's stay in Victoria, so Monday morning (July 21) after they were all packed up, we said goodbye. Such a great visit, and it was particularly nice showing them areas that they had never seen. Leslie will be flying home next Friday from Victoria so she doesn't miss her grandson's birthday. We'll see Dave next Sunday when he returns our trailer and spends the night with us.
Nice to see what our trailer will look like being towed by a pickup truck rather than the behemoth truck we currently have. This is their new 2025 Toyota Tundra…very nice!
On our way home, we stopped at one of our favourite spots in Qualicum Beach...The Shady Restaurant and Pub which overlooks the ocean...
A 28 second video...
On our way home, we heard on the radio that a wildfire had started near Comox Lake and Cumberland. We saw the smoke...
Tuesday morning (July 22) Steve took a 23 second video as we walked the Millard Trail...the tide is really out!
The rest of the day was pretty routine.Having had no luck selling the truck ourselves, we have decided to put it up for auction, using Iron Planet (a subsidiary of Richie Bros.) Part of the process involves having it inspected, so on Wednesday (July 23) an inspector from the Vancouver area arrived to do it. Ritchie Bros. has unreserved bid auctions which means you get what you get. Iron Planet has reserved bids and you set your price and negotiate with the bidder. We will probably take a massive hit on this as they take 15% of your sale price and the inspection and paperwork is another $700!
I also had my last physio appointment, managing to bend my knee to 125 degrees, which he seemed happy about. So that's it...I will continue doing my exercises and walking, lots of walking.
We decided to go to Nymph Falls for our morning walk on Thursday (July 24). I managed the longer trail again, but was ready to sit down on the bench near the falls to enjoy the scenery. I don't think we have ever seen a fisherman out in the middle of the river there...
Friday (July 25) and Saturday (July 26) were work days. With the forecast for cooler temps for a couple of days before returning hot again, Steve decided to finally get the trailer washed. There's some algae growth on the shaded side from last winters rains. The prevailing winds usually blow the road dust our way from the occasional dumbass speeders that refuse to follow the 10 kph speed limit here so nothing stays clean for long! (Steve😡) He started with the roof, four toppers and awning on Friday and finished up the rest of the trailer on Saturday...2 very long, tiring days but it looks great!
The backhoe is working in the distance...
And it's time...
Up and up, we go. Lots of benches along the way, most placed in memory of a loved one...
Dave arrived back with our trailer around 2:00. He was by himself as Leslie had flown home last Friday. After dumping and rinsing the tanks, we took it back to storage.
Sunday morning (July 27) we took a drive out to Seal Bay Regional Nature Park for a hike. We decided to take the Coupland Loop Trail. Part way along the trail, there is another trail, called Don Apps, that goes down to the beach. It is a steep trail that zig-zags down to the ocean...very cool!
A 39 second video Steve took...
Just having a little rest before we head back up...
Since it was Sunday, we had to make our usual Sunday services stop at the Gladstone Brewery where we enjoyed a couple of brews. It was quite busy...actually, Steve and I both commented on the number of kids that were there. Miss you Leslie!...
We were all up by 5:30 Monday (July 28)...Dave was anxious to get to the Duke Point Ferry Terminal (an hour and a half south of here) in hope of catching either the 9:00 or 10:15 sailing over to the mainland.
After a cup of coffee, we said goodbye to Dave…and he was off! So good seeing you...and a wonderful few days when you both were here!
He texted us to let us know that he had been the very last vehicle to get on the 9:00 ferry sailing! Yay! Have a safe trip home!
Steve and I walked the Millard Trail...well, part of it. Neither one of us had much energy, so we decided to do a shorter walk. After that, we went to the storage facility to take care of a couple of things in the little trailer...open the refrigerator doors and cupboards. Steve had planned on emptying the hot water tank but forgot an adapter for his socket wrench that he needed...so we will have to pop by again tomorrow. No big deal, it's so much easier to access where we have it stored now.
And that sums up our last couple of weeks! Until next time....
Looks like such a special visit with family and special friends
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your truck
Great looking new fridge wow