06-07 September - Taking a Hike

06 September: We woke on our own this morning. While chillaxing, and hearing the variety of birds around us, a decision was made to take a hike...at Helliwell Provincial Park.

    As usual, on a Sunday, parking was sparse yet not in excess. I'd say 15% less than a normal Sunday afternoon over Labour Day weekend.

    We walked clockwise on the trail and absorbed the majesty of the forest and cliffsides of the park. An excellent way to stretch our legs and relax.

    When done we travelled to Ford's Cove, near our campsite, to see what the new restaurant there was like. It was called, imaginatively, Ford's Cove Restaurant (they're still working on their website). Turns out the entire structure of the old convenience store and home were replaced with a two story new structure. The convenience store is on the lower level while the restaurant is above. The restaurant has a multitude of two story high windows with open views to the Striaght of Juana Fuca. The menu looked good and had city bistro prices. The convenience store has much wider isles with a greater selection of items including fresh vegetables. These things were noted for the future.

    Instead of eating at the restaurant we went back to our campsite. For lunch we heated up two cans of lentil & vegetable soup and added sun dried tomatoes and cheese. Delicious with a side of Guinness dark roast, purchased at the Co-Op.

    For the afternoon, we drove to the opposite side of Hornby to try a new trail route within Mount Geoffrey Escarpment Provincial Park. The first bit was EXTREME with a very steep climb up several stories of height. Our leg muscles got a good workout. 

    After that part of the hike, it was moderately straight forward, although the old Scout training in orienteering came in handy for determining what trail we were on and where we were in the park. This is why we carry a compass when travelling. Trees do not have a password to their natural wifi network. Our nature loving batteries received excellent recharging here under the forest canopy.

    Back at the camp, we had mac 'n cheese, with vegetables, and a nice dessert bought at a roadside stand we like. The sunsets tonight were particularly wonderful and quick changing. 10.1km walked and 37 flights climbed

07 September: We always try to leave our campsite by 930am because we want to be at the ferry line early. In our early years of camping on Hornby, for Labour day weekend, if we arrived after 10am there would be two sailing waits. After 11 and there would be four waits. After 1pm and...you're there for a while. In this case, after carefully wrapping our tent and common area tarp (because of a pitter patter of rain at night) we left the campground at 945am. Ouch.

    Yet, we need not have worried. Because of the reduction in "folks from away" staying on Hornby we had no sailing waits! Same as when we got to the Denman ferry to Vancouver Island! Huzzah!

    Our next destination was Coombs, always a fun stop and even at this Island hotspot I could detect a little lack of folks. I picked up a Patrick O'Brian book, in its extensive Cozy Corner book store, and examined the contents of their satellite comic book store. Meeting my wife in the market we finished off purchasing a few things, brought them to our car, then lined up for Cuckoos Trattoria and Pizzeria  to open at noon.

    I ordered their rustic ciabatta, as I normally do, with the tomato soup. I would have gone to Coombs Wooden Shoe Dutch Import store, for liquorice, but we had some at home. From there it was smooth driving back to Victoria while we listened to The Debaters podcasts. 3.3km walked and 3 flights climbed

05 September - All the Good Stuff!

A lazy morning was had and we started our day with rolled oats, berries, raisins, dried apples, maple syrup, and great views. Plus coffee, of course.

    Leaving at ~11am, we stopped at the Saturday Market. Vegetables were picked up for the next two days and artist booths admired. One of these days we'll get here early enough to get some cinnamon buns. They are always sold out, when we arrive, and the stall left empty with only cruel laughter left behind.

    A quick visit to the Free Store, because they were closing in 30 minutes, uncovered four classic books by Georgette Heyer. She's an author who, when she was 19, in 1921, wrote and published "The Black Moth" based on an idea from her ailing younger brother. It was set in the Georgian period. She also wrote "Regency Buck", the first Regency Romance, in 1935. I have since read "The Black Moth" and its quite good. She writes excellent dialogue that makes you smile. I'll read the other three in rotation with other books.

    Time for lunch at Hornby Island Bakery and Pizzeria. Its located near the Co-Op business hub and we've eaten here before. The artichoke, mushroom, spinach, and sundried pizza was delicious and hit the spot. Weirdly, not many were here and we briefly realized that had been true for many places since yesterday.

    Next we journeyed to three, of the six, alcohol producers on Hornby Island: Island Spirits Distillery, Hornby Heart Winery, and Middle Mountain Meadery. All three make different things in different ways. I also enjoy their different presentation styles and environments. It also provided a good opportunity to ask about the downturn in the numbers of tourists we've seen this trip. They didn't know why, but acknowledged they've had fewer visits than last year.

    The picture of the meadow is where Middle Mountain Meadery has many of their hives.

    Heading back to our campsite we relaxed, had supper, and enjoyed the night. More crib was played and took some night sky pictures, which few turned out. 4.8km and 8 flights climbed

03-04 September - Up Island Bound to Pitch a Tent

03: After giving our house sitters a tour, and finishing off some errands around the house, I drove to where my wife works. I ordered a mocha, with oat milk, in a coffee shop and sat down to work on my travel notes.

    Close to 5pm, I got the message. Picking up my wife's mug I procured a tall blonde latte, with oat milk. Soon she was ready to go. Next stop...Parksville!

    It took about two and a half hours to arrive at tonight's accommodations and, after a quick unpacking of essentials, we drove to Tigh-Na-Mara resort to have supper at Cedar's Lounge. Tonight's meal for me was the seafood linguine with jumbo prawns, bay scallops, sockeye salmon, white wine cream, roasted garlic, fire roasted peppers, cherry tomatoes, pickled shallots, and lemon. Delicious! My wife had the cedar plank sockeye salmon with mango salsa, white basmati, and seasonal vegetables. I snuck in a dessert of Peanut Butter Pie. Yum.

    After driving back we got ready for bed, read a bit, then drifted off to slumberland. 11.2km walked and 26 flights climbed.

04: Woke early-ish and drove back to Tigh-Na-Mara for breakfast. On the way, behind the motel, there was an army of bunnies! Dozens and dozens were chewing on the rogue clumps of grass without a care in the world. Nice to see. I wonder if there were wild bunnies or "rewilded" bunnies who were descendants of pets.

    Delicious breakfast consumed, we repacked the car. Before getting some groceries, we stopped at Coyote Coffee Roastery and Loaf Bakery, the latter was new to us. Both were great places to fuel up, and get snacks, for the next leg of our camping trip.

    Shopping done in Parksville, we drove the short distance North to Buckley Bay to take the ferry to Denman Island. While waiting for the ferry to come back from the Denman side, we bought some smoked salmon and smoked scallops at Fanny Bay Oysters Shop. After browsing next door, at Weinberg's Good Food, I saw a scary sight when I left the business...our ferry was here! I called out to Natalie and ran to the car. Fortunately, we got there before our lane got moving, but it was close. Whew! Pulse rates decreasing, I continued to read the Jack Reacher book I was currently on. 

    On the other side, we drove to Gravelly Bay ferry terminal. There were no sailing delays and we got on the next ferry to Hornby Island.

    We were too late to check out the Free Store, at the recycling/garbage place, and we were too early to check into the coop campground. Time to relax and eat, but there was a problem. Our favourite place, Vorizo Café, was not just closed but had fire damage. Reading the sheet of paper on the door there was a fire and they were waiting for the insurance to wheedle its way through bureaucracy. They were also soliciting funds to set themselves back up quicker. We got takeout lunch from the Coop instead. (It has since reopened). Fuelled up, we had fun visiting our favourite stores in the area and checking out the funny ads. We also admired a quilt that was being raffled off.

    Now we were off to our campground. After a conversation with one of the folks who manage the campground, who have done it for the last 25 years, we drove to our camp site. Once the car was unloaded, and driven to its parking spot, we set up camp and enjoyed the view. And what a view.

    The rest of the day was spent relaxing, walking around, having supper, and enjoying the colours of the sunset. That and a cunning game of Crib. 5.3km walked and 2 flights climbed.