The week continued with very warm temperatures (high 20's C/70's F) but for the most part, there has been a breeze so sitting out in the shade hasn't been too bad...but the trailer has been closed up with the blinds down on the sun-side and the A/C running.
Tuesday (July 29) morning was my first real "power-walk" with Steve and although glad when we got back to the car, I managed well. Both Tuesday and Wednesday (July 30) we walked on trails that were in the shade...Mallard Trail and Nymph Falls Regional Park.
Thursday morning (July 31) we packed our suitcases and headed off to Lake Cowichan to visit Ray and Deb for the weekend...well, we had planned on only 3 nights but we quickly got talked into 5!
This beauty was parked beside us at a restaurant in Parksville where we stopped for a quick bite on our way down island...
We arrived at Ray and Deb's at 2:00 and after big hugs, we carried our things inside and quickly changed into our swimsuits. Margarita? Ray asks....well of course! And down to the dock we go!
Deb and I...
After a couple of hours on the dock, we went back up to the house as Deb had to finish up dinner prep...we kept her company. (Deb's photo)
Deb had her Traeger on smoking racks of beef and pork ribs...paired with her homemade pork and beans, a delicious dinner, as usual!
Friday (August 1), although still sunny, it was the start of a few cooler days...a real change from the last couple of weeks! We had a pretty chill morning, sitting outside on their front "patio" (driveway) where Deb has created a beautiful garden full of colourful flowers.
We headed to Jakes at the Lake for lunch and were a little early, so wandered down to check out the tubers on the river...
Totally full (Deb and I both brought half of our lunch home), we went back to the lake and relaxed. Since it was quite windy, we found ourselves on the back lawn that was quite protected.
Fun watching all the goings-on on the lake...it's a busy long weekend (BC Day), so the RCMP are out in their police boats checking boaters....
A neighbour of Ray and Deb's arriving home by helicopter...A short 26 second video...
We had a great day Saturday (August 2)...the plan is to go on a tour of a few wineries. Ray had made reservations at Unsworth Vineyards for lunch at 11:00 followed by wine tasting. But before that, we are doing a little sightseeing, starting with the Kinsol Trestle...
The trestle is about 1 km from the public parking lot along a wide, flat, crushed gravel trail (railway grade)...
Steve and Ray first walked down to the lower viewpoint of the trestle...
View of the Koksilah River below. Water levels everywhere are low this time of year...
More story-boards at the other end...
We arrived at the Unsworth Vineyards about 15 minutes before opening. A Bachelorette group was already there waiting for the doors to open...
Ray had made reservations for lunch before our wine tasting...
We were originally seated below where that fellow is seated but found it a little windy so asked to be moved to the inside patio...
Our meals were delicious!
We found out that the Cowichan Valley Wine Festival had just started for the month of August, so Deb bought 2 tickets...one for herself and one for me to use today and then use for more company they are having later in the month. Thanks Deb and Ray!
The wine was delicious...the Allegro was my favourite!
Ray and Deb's photo. Look at all those award winning bottles...
The outside patio was packed when we first arrived...
Stainless steel, oak barrels and terracotta fermenting vessels...
Beautiful grounds!
Ray doesn't drink and Steve is more of a beer drinker so our next stop was at the Red Arrow Brewery in Duncan...
Steve is happy to finally go to a brewery! (Ray's photo)
Steve and I had their Midnight Umber Ale...excellent!
Now that Steve had a beer our final stop for the day was at the Zanatta Winery. It's much older and not of the same scale as the much larger and newer wineries...
The only shady spot we could find...Cheers!
It was far too hot to sit out there...
A stone picnic table...
And that concluded our tour today...3 wineries, 1 brewery, a couple of trestles and a lakeside park. Time to go back to the lake and enjoy a little dock time sitting in the shade.
This is the larger RCMP patrol boat...
Everyone here seems to be into wakeboarding. I think we only saw a couple of water skiers the whole time we were here...
Lots of houseboats pass back and forth from the marina...
Sunday morning (August 3) we had more sightseeing. Our first stop was at Skutz Falls on Cowichan River. It has been quite awhile since we were last here...
A 25 second video showing the fish ladders...
Not far away we checked out the 66 Mile Trestle...
We stopped at nearby Marie Canyon...
Then checked out the Stoltz Pool Campground at the Cowichan River Provincial Park...(Ray's photo)
Cowichan River views along Riverbottom Road...
Next on Ray's list was the suspension bridge at Bright Angel Regional Park in Duncan, on the Koksilah River...
Steve was surprised and very impressed that I walked across...a first for me! It was a narrow suspension bridge so I could hold onto both sides, go slow and as long as no one else was on it, I managed but I'm glad it wasn't any longer!
Look at me go, holding onto both side as I go. This is a very bouncy bridge, even if you're the only one on it! (Ray's photo)
There are hiking trails too...
A moss covered gnarly tree...
Deb and I headed back while the guys were still exploring...
We returned to the Red Arrow Brewery for beer and shared a small pizza so we wouldn't be too full for the dinner Deb had planned..(Deb's photo)
As we arrived back in Lake Cowichan and parked, Steve and Ray walked back to the bridge to get some photos of the tubers and bridge jumpers...
Short 23 second video of a young fellow jumping off the bridge into the river...
It's a very slow float down the river...
Back at Ray and Deb's we tried sitting down on the dock but it was pretty breezy so we went back up to the deck...
We've always wanted to rent a houseboat but they are so expensive. Gotta get a group together on this!
There's a large uncontrolled wildfire up island near Cameron Lake that's been burning for a few days and some of the smoke has made it this way...
Pork Roast on the rotisserie...looks and smells awesome!
Another delicious dinner!
Monday morning (August 4) we headed to Cowichan Bay...a place we have driven through many times but other than stopping for lunch with friends years ago, we have never stopped to wander around.
Fishermen's Wharf...
A few cute houseboats...
Steve and Ray walked down to have a look at this old boat and spoke with the owner. It was originally a Dept. of Fisheries Patrol Boat built in Victoria in 1960...
The public washrooms were closed so we had to go to the Cowichan Bay Pub to use their facilities. 😂
...before continuing to explore the shops along street...
The entry to Mud Room Clayworks...lots of beautiful pottery created by a very talented woman but it was closed (it was open later)...
Approaching the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre. We'll explore that after lunch...
Captain Deb...
Nicely restored!
Deb and Ray's neighbour's daughter, Tara, has opened Sandsmark Gallery along with 7 other artists and it happened to be open. Tara is a very talented artist and Ray and Deb have a number of her pieces in their home. We knew that Roy and June (Ray and Deb's neighbours) had lived in North Saanich and that their older daughter, Melissa, had gone to school with our son Rob, but what we didn't know was their younger daughter, Tara, had also gone to school with our other son Chris! What a small world!
Cool Corvette parked along the street...of course Steve and Ray had to stop and talk to the owner...
The proud owner...there's 500 horses under that hood!
We had been hoping for lunch at the Vine Restaurant but unfortunately it was closed, so we walked back to the Cowichan Bay Pub for lunch...and sat out on the deck at the same table we had been at earlier for our beverages. Steve and I shared Seafood Chowder and 1-piece Halibut and chips...delicious! Now it was time to walk back down to the other end of town for a tour of the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre...
The hallway was so narrow Steve took this 48 second video...
Fishing vessels...
We continued outside along the pier past more boathouses where there were several other display buildings...
Onto the next display building...
Taking in the views before exploring the last building display...
Such a variety of outboard motors and engines...
The bright blue motor is human powered by spinning the handle!
Looking back from the end of the pier...
A 1:06 minute video...
Our final stop was at Udder Guys Ice Cream...a good end to a wonderful tour of Cowichan Bay!
Back at Ray and Deb's, we chilled on the deck enjoying the lakeview! Steve has been meaning to take a picture of this beautiful metal art that Ray had made several years ago. Ray's dad used to work for CN Rail (Canadian National). This depicts a CN train at the McBride, BC Train Station, with the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, Mount Robson in the background, which is actually not located there...
Tuesday morning (August 5) we were packed up and ready to go by 8:45. What a wonderful 5 days with Ray and Deb! Thank you so much for all of your hospitality! We had a blast and are really looking forward to returning in early September when you have so graciously invited our son, Rob and his family as well.
Our drive home was uneventful, arriving just after 11:00. As normal, we immediately unpacked our suitcases and with everything put away, had lunch and then chilled for the rest of the day.
