October first found us driving to London Airport to hop aboard a
Swoosh Airline flight to Vancouver. Smaller airports are great for
parking and checking in. Our four 1/2 hour trip took us to
Abbotsford airport where Patrick picked us up. We headed to a
fun diner for a catch-up and ketchup and later our capable
"chauffeur" dropped us at our hotel.
mighty Mount Baker can be seen everywhere
We bundled up for cold and rain and headed to Point Atkinson on
our first morning. At British Columbia's heart, are its giant trees and
abundant conifers. The most common species are Douglas Fir, Western
Red Cedar, Hemlock, White Spruce and Lodgepole Pine. The rugged
rock faces edging the pathway were softened with lush varieties of ferns
and moss. A few Arbutus trees near the ocean showed off their amazing
bark, enhanced and shiny from the rain. Views over the water were
shrouded in mist creating a veiled view of downtown Vancouver
looming in the distance.
an old apple tree invites a view of its scraggly branches
After our long hike we were ready for lunch and Patrick had the
perfect destination in mind. Most road trips near Vancouver
involve crossing one of many cable-stayed bridges and we did
so on our way to Vancouver's Granville Island.
some folks prefer floating homes
others rise high in condos
docks/warehouse area holds many shops and studios
a cement factory sits in the middle of the food and arts centre of town
we lunched on superbly fresh "vittles"
Day two was also overcast and cool. Wherever we were headed,
our drives provided views of nature's rivers, forests, flora and
agriculture, numerous end-of-season blueberry fields whose green
leaves blushed pink and burgundy; unique gates and homes of the
wealthy folks' set in scenic, private locations and First Nations
artworks which are intrinsic throughout the province. Sights on
our day trips were always framed by mountains, near or distant.
triangles
Plans for day two may appear testosterone-driven but fun was had by all.
A visit to Vancouver's 'Bass Pro' was not focused on retail shopping but
enjoying the outdoor-activity displays and exhibits of B.C.'s past and
present conquests in the wilds..
We explored a quiet bay after lunch whose low tide left layers of
black kelp tangled around rocks, shells and driftwood. The ferry
from Vancouver Island was docking nearby and a number of seabirds
flew overhead or floated on the calm waters.
We had our first experience at a shooting range where people go to hone
skills, to try out various guns and to have fun. Security to enter the building
and pay for a rental handgun or rifle and ammo is stricter than getting into
a departure lounge at the airport. The patrons were varied but the majority
were groups of friends looking for a different experience.
The staff were friendly and great at imparting knowledge and insuringthat guests understood the rules and could repeat back the safety measures.
After we were "schooled" in the safety room, we put on our ear protectors
and entered the range. An employee is always beside the shooters to oversee
the loading of the guns and set the targets.
Chris and Patrick both tried out a pistol and a rifle and enjoyedthe experience. I would have joined in but because of my arthritic
wrist pain, I declined. I used a rifle and machine gun on a day trip to
CFB Borden during my summer job in high school. I was 'Private
Tindale' at Moss Park Armoury in Toronto for two months, in training
for the Reserves. But that is another story......
Everyone I know loves Ravens. They are intelligent and friendly, massive
in size and exhibit beautiful form with their scruffy neck feathers.
Their amusing calls and quirky squawks, a preference to strut or hop
along the ground, soar majestically or perform acrobatic rolls and
somersaults give Ravens their ornithology fame. In British Columbia
Ravens are an Indigenous symbol for creation, truth, transformation and
complexity of nature.
calming mountain river rapids provided sound therapy
Chris sets up "Clive" the drone, for flight
We were lucky to have the weather change for our last days of
adventure. With the sun shining and temperatures warmer, we
geared up for a canoe trip on Pitt Lake. The tide was low as we
entered Grant Narrows. Three adults in a canoe had us running
aground on the sandy riverbed so it was necessary to walk along
a few stretches. The fresh weather allowed crisp views of the
mountain sides and focused sights of distant peaks. Small areas
were coloured with fall tinted leaves producing a patchwork quilt
effect. The water was so clear we could see fish, sunken trees and
soft green seaweed fashioned by the rushing current.
We stopped on a sandy spit for our shore lunch and as we relaxed,
the tide increased the water levels and made paddling easy for our
journey which ended at the rapids. The river current assisted our
paddle back to the lake and we had one short blast of power when
Patrick demanded "ramming speed" as we navigated our way to
shore across opposing currents. What a fabulous expedition!
Further upstream is the camp where Patrick takes
the canoe groups in summer. It was a great way to spend
five hours, especially exploring territory that is so familiar
to Patrick.
On the way home we stopped at some cranberry fields that
get flooded to harvest the beautiful red berries. A Bald
Eagle atop a power pole watched us intently. Visiting the
charming cobalt and crimson field was well timed as
Thanksgiving was only a few days away and cranberry sauce
is an integral part of that holiday celebration.
irrigation ditches run between the fields
harvesting machines
Friday was Road Trip Day travelling the Sea to Sky Highway
and stopping at LOOKOUT!s and exploring trails along the way.
another view of Brandywine
disc golf pole #3