My goodness, the weeks are just flying by! It's Monday...then in a blink of an eye, it's Friday and a weekend again! We have had a real mix of sunny, then rainy days. We didn't do anything special on Monday (Sept. 21)...other than our morning walk and then picture editing/blog writing.
It was a beautiful day on Tuesday (Sept. 22) so we thought we'd pack a lunch and take the truck out on the nearby logging roads and scout out some new hunting areas for Steve, Rob and Jim. As usual, they plan on a hunting trip sometime this fall, just no dates finalized yet. Steve had researched an area nearby just off of the highway to Port Renfrew that would take us to Dimple Lake.
Just over 20% of Vancouver Island land base is privately managed forest land which runs from the Saanich Inlet to the Comox Valley. Unfortunately, most side roads off the main road to Port Renfrew are gated, with no public access. The gate to Dimple Lake was open however access is on weekends and by permission only. Other gated roads were open, however with it being a work day we were passing by lots of fully loaded logging trucks on the highway and didn't want to run into one on a narrow logging road. So that ended up being a bust. Since it was such a nice day, we took a drive out to their usual hunting area at McClure Lake.
The guys used to camp and hunt from here but during heavy rains the lake rises extremely fast and they have been flooded out a couple of times...
The lake continues a short ways around the corner...
Steve took a 1:15 minute video of the lake...
Steve then drove me to see some of their alternate spots near the lake where they have made their camp. The road into this site is starting to get overgrown by an invasive species of Scotch Broom...
Not the most level of sites but they make it work. Lots of sunshine here when it shines but is susceptible to high fall/winter winds...
This last site was new to them last season as the previous site was occupied. Rob and Steve set up camp to the right on the grassy area. During the heavy rains their camp turned to mud, even inside their shelter. Jim had set up on the road where the truck is parked...it dead ends. No mud there but it wasn't until a day or two after they had their camp set up that they noticed the trees to the left were badly undercut by the erosion on the sandy bank. It's well protected from the wind but gets very little sunshine in November...
As we headed back to the house we commented on how the leaves are really changing colour at these higher elevations....
Late that afternoon, we received a text from a neighbour...a bear had been seen in the subdivision. We're in a gated community with only 9 homes and this is the first house at the gate. Be careful out there!
Wednesday morning (Sept. 23) I left Steve at home and headed down to Victoria. My former co-worker, Lynn, had contacted me a few weeks ago to see if I would happen to be around since she was organizing a lunch with a bunch of former BC Assessment employees. Well, for a change, I was only an hour and a half away...so I'll be there! I was really looking forward to seeing not only my former Human Resources (HR) peeps that I used to work with but also other employees from other departments/offices. Unfortunately a number of folks had to cancel at the last minute so instead of about 18, there were only 11, and Lynn was the only other one from HR...but it was wonderful, nonetheless! I hadn't seen most of these folks since 2010!
Thursday morning (Sept. 24) we walked down to the Duck Pond Bridge and back...just shy of 4 kms/2.5 miles. After lunch, we decided to get down to the dock and take down the curtains and screens from the gazebo before the rain started. We managed to get them all down...with only one broken fingernail as it involved prying open tiny hooks to release them. It took awhile to get all six pillars that the curtains/screens had been clipped to on the gazebo off...but we managed to get everything down, folded and put away before the downpour started!
And boy did it rain! Overnight and all day Friday (Sept. 25). We drove into Duncan so that Steve could get a haircut...and I could pick up a few groceries. But the main reason for going was to try the Craig Street Brew Pub. Our time is winding down here and that was one spot we had been wanting to check out. Unfortunately, it is located downtown with only street parking available and on a Friday, finding a parking spot proved to be a huge challenge. After going around and around...and almost giving up...we found a spot a couple of blocks away. Of course, it was pouring out and neither one of us had our umbrellas! I'm glad we gave it a try...the beer was good, the food was okay but I still think the Red Arrow Brewery is my preference (especially for parking).
Saturday morning (Sept. 26) the fog lifted off the lake giving way to a sunny day. A nice change from all of the rain we just had.
With the water restrictions lifted, Steve was happy to finally wash the truck which he hasn't been able to do since last July. I took care of chores around here...a little laundry, and a little gardening in the planter boxes (i.e. pulling dead plants).
Sunday morning (Sept. 27) was a repeat of yesterday morning...starting with fog that soon burned off leaving beautiful blue sky. The mornings are definitely getting cooler though...only 4.5C/40F.
I know...I've said this before, but I just never get tired of this view!
Steve bailed the water out of his boat after all of the rain we've had...and we went to Jakes at the Lake for our Sunday afternoon beer, sitting on the deck.
Monday morning (Sept. 28) it was cloudy and cool with rain in the forecast again this afternoon. We did a shorter 2 km walk on the Trans Canada Trail. Fall colours are in full swing...
The forecasters were right...rain started in the afternoon and it continued Tuesday morning (Sept. 29) as we headed out on a trip to Nanaimo. The cleaning lady is coming today, so it's time to get out of her way!
A vehicle going in the opposite direction flashed their lights so we figured there was a speed trap around the upcoming corner...but nope, he had been warning oncoming traffic of a herd of elk on the side of the highway. Very cool...
Our first stop was at White Spot for lunch, followed by a quick stop at Costco...OMG, it was packed! Then we found NRC Hobby Shop where Steve took his RC plane in. He hadn't flown it since 2023/24 when we were in Quartzsite, AZ and had wanted to fly it here but unfortunately it wouldn't work. He ended up leaving it with them to diagnose the problem.
We were back to clear blue sky Wednesday morning (Sept. 30) along with a very calm lake, so Steve headed out fishing. This would be his last fishing trip here.
Look at that reflection!
While he was gone, I had a nice visit from neighbour, Pat, and then I headed out on a walk. I returned home at the same time as Steve...unfortunately his last fishing trip was unsuccessful. I went up to shower while he started unloading all of the paraphernalia from his boat in preparation for taking it out of the water tomorrow.
Well, the plan for Thursday morning (Oct. 1) was for me to drive the truck over to the boat launch and meet Steve so that we could load the boat onto the truck. But alas, the weather forecasters were wrong...the rain started in the morning instead of the afternoon. So with rain now in the forecast tomorrow as well, it looks like it will be Saturday before we're able to get the boat out.
The whole day ended up being cloudy with rain on and off...so we just chilled, watching a little TV and working on this blog update.
Rain again on Friday (Oct. 2)! Thank goodness the forecast for the weekend is better. We have to get the boat out of the water and loaded on the truck because we leave Monday for the mainland. Steve made an appointment with Load-It Industries to take it back next week to have the stern ropes adjusted. We made it in conjunction with other appointments in Vancouver. Bonus...we'll spend a few days with Chris, Angela and Isaac!
By the evening, the sky had started to clear and the lake was very calm...
We were back to some blue sky on Saturday (Oct. 3) but it took a while for the sun to break through the fog/cloud. We walked, as usual, in the morning...deciding on the Trans Canada Trail. The fall colours are beautiful by the trestle...
There were more signs of bears in the area...
After I had showered, it was time to get the boat out of the water. I drove the truck over to the boat launch where Steve was waiting...much faster for him to get over there than driving.
The afternoon was spent doing chores around here...we took the big umbrellas off the deck and stored them downstairs, I did some more pulling of plants from the deck planters, while Steve mowed the lawn and edged it with the weed whacker. By the time all of that was done, it was time to relax on the deck with a bevie.
After dinner, we resumed sitting on the deck...it was such a lovely evening! And it's October!
Sunday (Oct. 4) we woke to heavy fog over the lake...but the forecast is for another sunny day. And it was absolutely beautiful! Our friends, Jim and Nan, drove up from Cowichan Bay to meet us for lunch at Jakes on the Lake. Jim is Steve's hunting buddy that he's known since high school. After lunch they followed us to the house where we continued our visit. Always great to catch up with them!
Another beautiful sunset reflecting off the water...we've had very little wind the past week, a nice change from the wind we usually have.
Monday morning (Oct. 5) we were up early to have extra time for our usual coffee start. By 8:30, the truck was packed and we were on our way to the Duke Point Ferry Terminal.
The 2 hour ferry trip over to the mainland was uneventful...it can actually be rather boring as the ship does not go through the gulf islands the way the ferry to Swartz Bay does. Once off the ferry, we stopped for a quick lunch at the food court at a nearby mall...and arrived at Chris and Angela's at 2:00.
Unfortunately Chris is suffering through a very sore hip and leg...sciatica. The only real relieve he can get from it is laying down in bed, so that's where he spent most of his weekend. He has been prescribed muscle relaxants and has seen a chiropractor. Tomorrow he has another appointment and is also getting a massage. Hopefully he gets relief soon.
We had a wonderful greeting from Isaac and Angela when they got home...and then we all sat in the kitchen catching up while Angela got dinner started.
We borrowed Chris's car and went to Costco for a few things...and that was pretty much the extent of our day. Lots of visiting with Chris as he comes down from his office frequently, which is nice.
Wednesday morning (Oct. 7) Steve and I were out of the house just before 8:00 on our way out to Mission to Load-It Industries to have the stern ropes on the boat loader adjusted. The drive is roughly an hour each way...and the adjustment only took about 15 minutes, if that. This is the same boat loader that we had on our big truck "Buster" that we had modified onto our pickup...
We basically chilled the rest of the day and when Angela and Isaac got home, enjoyed visiting with them as well. Grampa and Isaac (with a bean bag on his head LOL)...
The main reason we came over was for our dermatology appointments on Thursday (Oct.8)...finally, after a three month wait for the appointment.
We were finished and on our way back to Chris's within an hour. Steve had a spot on his hand removed...hopefully another visit is not required.
The truck was all packed up and ready to go, so when we got back to Chris's we said goodbye and headed to the ferry. Thanks for the use of your car Chris!
We took the ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay this time so that we could swing by Rob and Angie's house and pick up our replacement credit cards since they were expiring this month. We managed a very short visit with Rob, who had just gotten home from work, and then continued on our way back to the lake.
Friday (Oct. 9) I woke up with a full blown cold. I obviously picked it up in my travels over the last couple of days...ferry, Costco or Super Store, as those were the only places that I had been. So that pretty well had me down and out for the next few days.
Well, I just couldn't keep my cold to myself...Steve came down with it on Monday (Oct. 12). I guess it was inevitable! We just hope we don't pass it onto Ray and Deb when we pick them up from the airport tomorrow afternoon.
Tuesday morning (Oct. 13) we left early to stop at ServiceBC in Duncan so Steve could renew his driver's license. We don't know where the renewal notice ended up as he didn't realize it had expired on his birthday last August! I waited in the car and just shy of an hour later, he returned and we continued down island. We were early so spent a couple of hours relaxing at Rob's until it was time to head to the airport to pick up Ray and Deb.
Their flights had been on-time...actually arriving a little early into Victoria. They now have the challenge of a 4 hour time difference to contend with. So by the time we collected their luggage and were out of the airport it was after 3:00...or 7:00 p.m. Halifax, Nova Scotia time, and they were hungry. We had only had a snack on our way down, so we went to the nearby Mary's Bleue Moon Cafe for an early dinner (or in their case, a late one) before heading back to the lake...
After battling rush hour, we finally made it through Victoria and back up to lake. They managed to make it until 8:00 before heading to bed...and we did the same so the TV wouldn't interrupt them.
Wednesday (Oct. 14) was a pretty chill day as Deb and Ray get used to the time difference. Of course, they were up very early...and Deb was busy in their bedroom unpacking suitcases. Deb and I went grocery shopping...she is cooking us a prime rib dinner tonight.
After a bite to eat for lunch, Ray and Steve went out for a walk and were surprised to see an Otter running down the road ahead of them. Deb and I sat out on the deck chatting. The guys joined us upon their return and that is where we spent the afternoon...of course, Ray's margaritas were offered and gladly accepted, LOL!
We watched a float plane taking off...
Thursday morning (Oct. 15) we finished packing the truck and car and were on the road at 10:00. Thanks so much for entrusting us with the care of your beautiful home, Ray and Deb! We thoroughly enjoyed our 2 months! I'm going to miss my favourite view from the deck!
About two and a half hours later, we were home and unpacking. That was quite the job! But we wanted to get it all done right away. There was still some unloading of the truck to do, but Steve will take care of that tomorrow.
After spending over an hour trying to get our ShawDirect satellite working after a 3 month break, we finally got it activated. I was finally directed to a human...yay! I then made a quick trip to pick up a couple of essentials at the grocery store for the morning and was happy to finally sit down after a very busy afternoon!
Friday morning (Oct. 16) we decided it was time to get back into our usual routine, and walk at the airpark. After that, I headed out grocery shopping while Steve tackled unloading the truck.
And that pretty well brings us up-to-date again! It's nice to be back home in Courtenay and into our usual routine!
