Well, here we are again...another two weeks have slipped by. For the most part, it has been pretty dreary and gloomy with fog and rain. The odd day with a small break of blue sky showing, but not a lot of sunshine. Our days continue to be pretty routine...getting out for walks as much as possible, along with the usual stuff here in the trailer. A lot of time has been spent inside keeping dry and warm...and watching TV, reading, knitting...
Although it was a pretty cold start to the day on Thursday (Dec. 7), it wasn't raining (or snowing!), so we decided to check out another trail. Barber's Hole is on the Puntledge River, about a kilometre further up the road from Nymph Falls.
As you can see from the map below, you can actually hike to Barber's Hole from Nymph Falls...I think we may try that next time. If you are really adventurous, you can hike all of the way to the Comox Lake Dam about 4 km one way from Barber's Hole!
We believe this to be where swimmers jump off the rock bluffs at Barber's Hole...
This is the Diversion Dam...
A short 21 second video...
Nice bench...
At first we thought this was a lake but turns out its a calm section of the Puntledge River above the Diversion Dam. We walked a little further before turning around...
Almost back...
Lots of air force photos, and badges and stickers from other air forces from around the world. The food was excellent!
After a brief visit with them, we headed off to the Airpark for our walk.
Partial view of the huge marsh from the wildlife lookout...
We are across the bay from Goose Spit where we took a video of the kite surfers a few weeks ago...
Very cool Christmas decorations on this pier. Snoopy trying to net the Grinch who has a rope tied to Santa's sleigh...
Looking in the opposite direction...
Of course Steve had to get a picture of this very cool twisted tree...
We did manage to get out for our walk before the rain started, though. This C-130 Hercules was doing circuits near us...
We had hoped to be in the auditorium and surprise the boys when they came in with their classes, but that was foiled when Angie and the boys met us as we were walking towards the school...oh well.
Angie, Rob, me and Steve...seated in the auditorium...
Conner's teacher talking about his achievements.Today is the last day of school before the Christmas break so no uniforms required...just wear Christmas colours if possible.
Pretty awesome recognition...
This is the view from street level...on the far side of the big tree in the picture above. These igloo looking structures have a table and chairs inside so you can enjoy your snacks out of the weather...
Got out for a power walk along Millard Creek Trail Tuesday (Dec. 18). The shoreline has thousands of geese and ducks and the clouds were almost at ground level in some areas...
Checking out the display inside...
Steve favourite was the one on the right...
All were very well done, but I chose this one as my fav...
Our final stop was at Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community...
After getting parked we started walking the grounds...
Quite the staircase!
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Another great hike...but we were ready to get back into the car to warm up!
Friday (Dec. 8) was the one nice day....blue sky and sunshine, but cold with temperatures below freezing. It was so frosty outside in the morning that it looked like it had snowed!
We waited until it had warmed up before we headed to the Airpark for our walk. Afterwards we went to check on our little trailer...to find it had no power. We don't think we left anything on in the trailer last time we were there but the batteries were dead. We had powered the slide room out and back in when we gave Earl the tour. Of course, there has been very little sunshine for the solar to do any charging.
It had been so cold, wet and gloomy Saturday (Dec. 9) that we never left the trailer, so on Sunday (Dec. 10), we had to get out and do something! We had intended on going for our normal walk but it was foggy with such a heavy mist that we decided to just go for a long drive.
We ended up at the Griffin Pub for lunch which is located near the end of the runway at CFB Comox. First time for me but apparently Steve was here 47 years ago in 1976 with his buddies just before their European trip...the pub has been here for a very long time!
Monday (Dec. 11) morning we went out to the trailer to get the batteries and take them over to Earl's. He has a workshop where he can charge them and keep them warm.
Tuesday (Dec. 12) morning we went to check out some parks in Comox...just looking for different places for our walk. The couple we went to were fairly small parks with short hiking trails. Both parks are ones we had driven by often so it was nice to stop and check them out.
The first park was Lazo Marsh-North East Comox Wildlife Management Area...
Our second stop was as MacDonald Wood Park. After following one of the trails that led toward the water, we came across this boardwalk that went along the waterfront to the beach...
There was rain in the forecast for Wednesday (Dec. 13), but the day started with a beautiful sunrise. There have been some spectacular sunrises and sunsets lately mostly southeast of us according to all the photos sent into Global News...
I had been waiting for a consult with an Orthopedic Surgeon for my right knee and finally received an appointment date for this Friday. It is with the same surgeon who did the total knee replacement on my left knee 4 years ago in Victoria.
So Thursday (Dec. 14) morning we headed down to Victoria to stay the night at Rob and Angie's. We will be going back down for Christmas but to stay until December 28th would just be too long.
After a stop in Duncan for lunch and then in Sidney to run a couple of errands, we arrived at Rob's around 3:00. Rob and Bryce were home...apparently Bryce had taken a fall at school yesterday and hit his head pretty hard. The school wanted him to see a doctor...thankfully, he has had no ill effects other than a lump on the back of his head and is fine.
Rob's home brew is amazing! We sat around the kitchen table chatting and tasting his last couple of creations, an Irish Red Ale, and a dark with a bit of a coffee/chocolate flavour...delicious!
Angie and Conner arrived home and after a brief visit, Angie left for choir practice. Pizza and beer for dinner tonight! Conner and Bryce are in the other room eating theirs.
Friday (Dec. 15) morning we were up bright and early, leaving the house just before 7:00. We, along with Rob, are surprising the boys at their morning school assembly. Conner is receiving a special recognition from his teacher.
We met up with Rob, and since we were a little early we went for a short walk along the waterfront. A beautiful sunrise over the Oak Bay Marina in Victoria...
A 1.11 minute video of a couple of curious seals...
Glenlyon Norfolk Junior School (Pre-kindergarten up to Grade 5) is located on the waterfront in Oak Bay...such a beautiful setting! The campus for Grades 6-12 is located a few kms away.
After claiming our seats in the auditorium, we got a quick tour of the school. This is Bryce's classroom. What a view!
Certainly not like any of the views we've ever had when we went to school...
The ceremony was fairly short and we were out before 9:00. So glad to have been part of this special recognition...congratulations Conner!
My appointment at ReBalanceMD is in the Uptown Shopping Centre and wasn't until 10:35. We hadn't had breakfast, so after finding a parking spot, we went to Starbucks for coffee and a snack. This is looking down at the main square from the upper level. Santa's House for photos is in front of the huge Christmas tree...
My appointment was fairly quick...the outcome...I am on the surgical waitlist for a right knee replacement. The waitlist is one year...but that's okay. Unlike last time, I can still walk fairly well (thanks to Advil and Tylenol) but am worried about it's deterioration. I'm just happy to be on the waitlist! We'll be back down next Friday when I have an appointment to have a Cingal injection in my knee...a single-injection osteoarthritis knee pain relief treatment that combines the fast relief of a corticosteroid with the long-lasting relief of a viscosupplement.
With that done, we hit the road back up to Courtenay. Of course, we stopped at our favourite lunch spot in Qualicum Beach...The Shady Rest Restaurant and Pub. Love the views...even on a cloudy day! We saw a seal and a couple of sea lions swimming by...
We hadn't seen the deer for quite awhile but Saturday (Dec. 16) morning, this young spiked buck walked behind our trailer...
Earl gave us some of his old LED Christmas lights. Normally Steve sets up our coloured LED solar lights but we don't get enough sunlight in December to run them...
The next few days were foggy, misty and just plain gloomy! Not much happened...we got out when we could for our walks and I ran some errands. I also worked on this blog.
We wanted to see some of the Christmas light displays, so although it was raining lightly, we decided to go our after dinner.
We started at Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park...
And then the Comox Heritage Airpark static display at CFB Comox. There was an entrance fee by donation of non-perishable food or cash...and then after the walk through, you can vote on your favourite. Each plane is decorated by a different unit and squadron...
The faces looking out the window of the DC-3 above
Unfortunately not all aircraft were lit up due to so many lights blowing the breakers no matter how many time the poor guy reset them.
At the entrance to the main building...
A 15 second video of the Gingerbread House display...
Time to head home...
A great tour...even if it was a bit damp out!
As this is our last post before the end of the year we would like to wish family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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