The first few days of this week started off with lots of sunshine and blue sky. Unfortunately, as we approached the weekend, the forecast indicated some major rain coming in.
Sunday (Sept. 21) morning we decided to drive to Point Holmes and walk the waterfront trail. It's only about a km (.6 mile) each way but it was a beautiful morning.
Some interesting sights along the way...Where's Waldo?
After such a beautiful morning, we were surprised to see some rain in the afternoon...that was not in the forecast! So where I started off walking down to the laundry room, I ended up driving the short distance rather than getting soaked. Needless to say, we drove up to the Gladstone Brewery for our Sunday services after the laundry was done, rather than walk.
Monday (Sept. 22) morning's walk took us to Nymph Falls...Steve took a couple of pictures of unusual fungi growing on the tree stumps and ground...
The afternoon was spent taking care of chores around the trailer, as well as running some errands.
Tuesday (Sept. 23) morning after my Pilates class, we decided to hike to Browns River Falls. We have passed lines of parked cars to the trailhead many times but after reading the description, I wasn't really keen on having to navigate down to the falls using ropes.
But today Steve wanted to take a look...so off we went. There's no signage so we started off in an open area along the powerlines before we spotted a trail heading into the forest...
Okay...here's the start of the ropes. Pictures never convey how steep something really is!
Looking down as we continue on...
Almost there...
Steve stumbled on a rock here and took a tumble spraining a finger...ouch!
Looking back towards the trail we came down...
2:12 video at the Browns River Falls...
At the falls we found another trail and decided to take it back up the cliff...more rope work!
Upper body strength was needed to pull ourselves back up! (of course it doesn't look that steep in the pictures!)
Once up the steep "rope part," while I waited, Steve took a look at the trail that goes in the other direction. It wasn't shown on our All Trails app and continued on, so he turned around...
Wednesday (Sept. 24) Steve has a nasty bruise with lots of swelling from yesterdays hike. It was a week before he could remove his ring which normally slips off easily!
We were back at the Airpark/Riverway pathway for our morning walk. Quite boring compared to our hike yesterday, LOL! Steve captured a floatplane getting ready to take off.
Thursday (Sept. 25) morning we had a beautiful sunrise...
We are heading over to the mainland today for a doctor's appointment tomorrow (our family doctor is in Vancouver) and to visit Chris, Angela and Isaac. After getting the car all packed up, we hit the road at 10:30, arriving at the Duke Point Ferry Terminal in Nanaimo at noon...in time for the 12:45 sailing.
As we sail away we pass by a tug pulling a log boom...
We arrived at Chris and Angela's at around 3:30. After big hugs, we unloaded the car and got settled. Tonight there are parent/teacher meetings at the school so both Angela (she is a grade 4 teacher) and Chris (to meet with Isaac's grade 2 teacher) had to leave just after 5:30. We had an early dinner and then they were off, leaving Isaac with us to look after and put to bed. We played a couple of games of Rummikub...Isaac won both games (okay, Gramma had to help a bit with the second game)
It's Chris and Angela's 11th wedding anniversary tomorrow, so Chris bought her flowers today...awww...
Rain in the distance...
We were all hungry and a little early for our reservation but they weren't busy so we had no problem getting a table...
Steve, Chris and I had delicious Caesars with a shrimp, pickle and lime...
And Angela a Mimosa... 
After a delicious meal, we drove over to another side of the inlet to Old Orchard Park, where we parked and walked down to the beach...
Looking back across the inlet towards the pier and Boathouse Restaurant...
And then we took a trail that leads to one of Isaac's favourite spots...Old Mill Site Park...
There's a geocache at the end of the spit but with the tide still a little high we had some scrambling to do...
Chris and Isaac exploring the ruins...
Steve joined them and got a shot of the freighters. They are loading up with Sulphur...
The co-ordinates for a geocache is in the tree, but after spending considerable time searching we never did find it...
So it was time to head back...
We did manage to find a geocache that looked like a rock near the start of the trail...
Isaac found a Jellyfish on the beach...
Chris and Angela are having a date night out for their anniversary so Isaac, Grampa and I made individual pizzas for dinner. Isaac making his...he only likes cheese and pepperoni on it...
A game of Jenga with Grampa...
Chris, Angela and Isaac had a birthday brunch to attend, so while they were gone, Steve and I walked around Como Lake. It's a small lake with a trail that circles it...it is short but good to get out for some fresh air. It's a popular spot for fishing too...
Look at the size of those leaves!
A tree island...
That afternoon Angela and I went to the mall for a little shopping...or I guess I should say "looking". While we were gone, Chris and Steve took Isaac to his gymnastics class, a short distance from their house. Isaac is in red on the right...
We all arrived back home at the same time...then it was time for some relaxation...
Our doctor's appointment on Friday (Sept. 26) was at 10:30, so we gave ourselves an hour to battle the traffic from Coquitlam into Vancouver. We were finished our appointments at 11:30 which was perfect, giving us an hour to get out to the Cactus Club Cafe in Burnaby to meet Steve's cousins and their spouses for lunch.
On the right is Bev (cousin) with her husband, Rob, sitting across the table; beside Rob is Grant and Cheryl (cousin)...and of course, me and Steve across from them...
We spent a wonderful few hours catching up with them all...so good being able to connect. Another reason for meeting was to return the cold therapy ice machine Bev/Rob had lent me to use during both of my knee replacement surgeries. Thanks so very much, guys!
It was after 3:30 when we got back to Chris and Angela's place. I was surprised that we beat Angela and Isaac home but they arrived shortly after. Chris (who works from home) finished early and we all enjoyed a beverage before Chris and I started preparing dinner. They had a "Hello Fresh" meal to prepare tonight and if you have ever prepared them, it's nice to have 2 of you doing it...because there is a lot reading and in my view, easier to split the duties. It was a pork tenderloin with garlicy mashed potatoes, green beans and the most delicious garlic mushroom gravy...absolutely amazing! A lot of garlic so it's a good thing we were all eating it, LOL!
As I just mentioned, Saturday (Sept. 27) is Chris and Angela's anniversary, so we are taking them out for brunch at The Boathouse Restaurant in Port Moody. It's a beautiful location on the Burrard Inlet waterfront in Rocky Point Park.
We were early so we walked down the recreation pier...as you can see the clouds have arrived. Rain was originally in the forecast but thankfully it spared us today...
Looking back towards the restaurant...
Sunday (Sept. 28)...We had lots of rain overnight and the clouds/fog were partially obscuring the high-rises in Surrey. This is the view of the Fraser River from their living room. Too bad they have all those wires and poles to look at too...
Monday (Sept. 29) morning we said goodbye to Angela and Isaac when they left for school. We weren't in any hurry since our ferry back to the island wasn't until 12:45. After big hugs, we said goodbye to Chris at 11:30. Thanks so much to both you and Angela for all your hospitality!
Unfortunately, leaving at 11:30...was a mistake! We should have left no later than 11:15. When you have reservations for the ferry, there is a window of time that you must arrive at the terminal...not too early and not too late. Well, we arrived at the gate at 12:17...2 minutes late, that's 120 seconds...and they would not honour our reservation! Good grief...2 minutes! Sheesh! To top it off, it was "touch and go" whether we would make the 12:45 ferry since we were now put at the back of the line. The next ferry wasn't until 3:15. After some very anxious moments, especially when they stopped the line going onto the ferry at us, we finally boarded being one of the last few squeezed in. I'm glad our car is small!
The rest of the trip was uneventful...we docked at the Duke Point terminal at 2:50 (5 minutes late) and arrived home at about 4:30.
A big storm came in making Tuesday (Sept. 30), Wednesday (Oct. 1) and Thursday (Oct. 2) very wet windy days. A lot of rain but it was desperately needed! We did manage to get out for a walk on the Mallard Trail during a short break Tuesday morning. The leaves are beautiful this time of year...
The forecast for Friday (Oct. 3) was a mix of sun and clouds...it was mainly cloudy with some sun peeking out briefly in the afternoon. But we managed our 4 km/2.5 miles powerwalk along the river (Riverway/Airpark pathway).
And that's it for now!
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