Looking Back on 2025 and Ahead to 2026

The year of 2025 had many adventures and events. I am thankful that I was able to experience them and hope others were able to enjoy their own life events. "Personal growth" would be the term I would use for this year with many things achieved on my own or through my own efforts. I would also use the same term for the introspection done when I made a few boneheaded decisions.

    There were four pleasant trips to my wife's parents place in the Okanagan Valley including the Christmas Holidays. Also had a long weekend camping on Hornby Island which is also a relaxing experience. The huge trip this year was going to Europe for 66 days, seeing Spain and Italy. Mostly short trips within BC in 2026 and possible a long one. Stay tuned.

    A total of 55 fiction books were read in 2026. Standouts include: Abrams, Peter - A Perfect Crime; Balogh, Mary - One Night For Love; Child, Lee - The Enemy & The Killing Floor; Ellroy, James - Black Dahlia; Faulkner, William - As I Lay Dying; Greene, Graham - The Power and the Glory & The Third Man; Henderson, Zenna - The Anything Box; Knebel, Fletcher and Baily, Charles W. - 7 Days in May; O'Brian, Patrick - Post Captain & HMS Surprise; Paterson, Katherine - Bridge to Terabithia; Quinn, Julia - It's In His Kiss, On the Way to the Wedding, and Happily Ever After; Reid, Iain - I'm Thinking of Ending Things; Rice, Anne - Interview with a Vampire & The Vampire Lestat; Sacher, Louis - Holes; Stark, Richard (Donald Westlake) - Nobody Runs Forever, Ask the Parrot, Dirty Money; Wells, Martha - Murderbot 0.5, 1-4, 4.5, 5-7.

    Five graphic Novels were read: Cooke, Darwyn - Richard Stark's The Outfit and The Score; Miyazaki, Hiyao - Nausicaa books 2 through 4.

    For non-fiction, 16 magazines were read (Archeology and National Grographic) and six books: Astronauts Guide to Life by Chris Hadfield; Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont; Sacred Origins of Profane Things by Charles Panati; Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari; The Definitive Edition of Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl; Walking on Alligators by Susan Shaughnessy

    With podcasts, 208 were listened to. They are great when traveling or cleaning the house/yard: American History Hit: 29; Ancients: 68; Betwixt the Sheets: 10; Debaters: 9; Frountburner (30 min): 1; Gone Medieval: 41; History Hit: 1; Ideas: 49

    Three music specials were watched: Europakonzert: From Berlin with the Berliner Philharmoniker with Krill Petrenko and another concert by the same folks in Barcelona inside the Sagrada Familia; Simon and Garfunkel: Concert in Central Park.

    Two live Early Music Society (EMSI) concerts were attended: (Brilliantly Baroque by Tafelmusik and Yule by Trio Medieval

    Films in a theatre watched numbered four and movies seen in a home were twenty-four. Standouts include (T=Theatre): A Christmas Story, Brazil: Director's Cut, Chef, Edge of the Knife; T Fantastic Four: First Steps; Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga; Ladybird; Little Women (2019); Pride & Prejudice A&E Episodes 1-5; T Superman; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; The Lunchbox; The Warriors: Director's Cut; White Noise (2022)

    Animated films seen numbered nine. Standouts include: Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke; Spirited Away; Superman Vs The Elite; Whispers of the Heart

    For animated TV, 149 hours were watched. Standouts include: Batman Caped Crusader (10); Batman Beyond (33); Creature Commandos (3); Invincible S2 (5); Rick and Morty (10); Star Wars: Clone Wars S1 (20) S2 (20) S3 (1); What If (S1: 9; S2: 9)

    For competitive TV, 179 hours were watched. I appreciate the British shows most of all for its humour and "feel good" atmosphere. The one I enjoyed the most were: Great Pottery Throw Down (8); Junior Bakeoff (40); Top Chef Canada (8). I do need to get out my models to assemble and paint while seeing these as I can imagine the extra models I can paint with 179 hours!

    Of the 12 documentaries watched, the ones of most interest were: American Experience's Forgotten Hero: Walter White & the NAACP; Blue Box; Chasing the Moon (three episodes of 2hrs ea); Fight to the Finish; Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny; Satan Wants You; The US and the Holocaust (2hrs each and only one of three episodes watched so far)

    With 130.5 hours of non-fiction TV watched, there were many that were particularly enjoyed. Those are: *Apocalypse War of Worlds (5); *Art That Made Us (2); *Being Beethoven (3); Daily Show (3); Exploring India's Treasures with Bettany Hughes (2); Fake or Fortune (9); Finding Your Roots (9); House Special (30 min, 5); Icons Unearthed (Batman) (6); Icons Unearthed (Harry Potter) (5); Icons Unearthed (Marvel) (6); Icons Unearthed (Spider Man) (5); Icons Unearthed (Star Wars) (6); Nova (11); Secrets of the Brain (2); Secrets of the Dead (6); *Shakespeare: Rise of a Genius (3)

    Fiction TV watched, at 249.5 hours, is always a little more bloated than I want. I need to be more severe on stopping to watch a show that is slightly better than "meh" or lower. Standouts of what I saw were: All Creatures Great and Small (7); Cloak and Dagger S2 (7); *Daredevil S3 (13); *Expanse S5 (10) & S6 (6); Jessica Jones S3 (13); Leverage: Redemption (10); Punisher S2 (13); Resident Alien (10); Secret Agent AKA Danger Man S1 (30 min; 33) S2 (1hr; 1); *She-Hulk (9); *Shogun (10); Wandavision (30-45 min, 9); *We Are Lady Parts (30 min, 2); Wolf Hall (6)

    So that is 2025 in a snapshot. Here is to a pleasant and non-stressful 2026! Happy New Year everyone!

Camping on Hornby over Labour Day Weekend

Yet another great camping session over the long weekend! After a Thursday night sleep in Parksville, and a great supper at Cedar's Restaurant, we had a flawless journey by two small ferries to Hornby. It might have been because we took them in the morning, but over this trip we did notice less folks visiting this island than normal. With a visit to the Co-Op mercantile area, and a tasty Greek pizza lunch at Hornby Island Bakery and Pizza, we made one more stop at a roadside stand that makes great pastries (peach almond scone was chosen) before checking into our outdoor accommodations.

    Once set up at our camp site, and putting up our new tent, we relaxed and walked around. This place is always comfortable zen for us.

    A change to our tradition of first night camping meal was steak and vegetables! Eating it on the shore, with accompanying slowly setting sun, was a perfect first day.

    A nicely lazy start to our Saturday was followed by a visit to the free store, where I got some books and a Great Courses set on writing, then the Farmer's Market, and a noodle and salad bowl lunch at Forage Farm and Kitchen. Also visited the new-to-me Beltane Books caravan. They had a storefront until 2019, then sold at the Co-Op corners on tables, and now have this charming structure.

    Wanting to stretch our legs we drove to Halliwell park and walked the circuit. The wind helped cool our skin and, as always, the scenery cooled our minds into a relaxing state. 

After leaving, and encountering a Campbells soup can left by a giant, we stopped at the Sea Breeze for a drink and appy, picked up a lemon square from the roadside stand and enjoyed our normally traditional supper of Annies cheesy pasta and sparkling wine. After the dessert, we observed the spectacle of a heron hunting for its meal by the seaside. 

    Sunday morning mimicked our Saturday until we took a two hour hike through Mount Geoffrey park. It had been several years since we visited and the trail systems have been improved and expanded. We encountered more bicyclists than hikers and combined there were fewer than expected. It made the walk through nature a zen-like experience. 

    Since our Friday pizza was so good, we had reserved a larger pizza yesterday for today's supper! For dessert we had a chocolate zucchini cake and a sunset by the shore. 

Shortly before bed, lightning flashes and distant thunder were heard and just when my wife got into the tent for the night a rain of heavy raindrops started. It wasn't a deluge and ended after a bit, but I awoke at 3am from another burst. My wakefulness did not last long and I descended into slumber again.

    Monday we had our regular oatmeal, read for a bit, and back up our stuff. Since our tarp and tent were still a little wet we roughly packed them so we could dry them out once home. With a quick visit to Coombs - for the book, comic, and Dutch stores - we set off for Victoria, with one stop for a late lunch burger, at McDonalds.

    Another enjoyable weekend with beneficial rest and a healthy filling of our nature batteries. 

Hornby Breakfast and Helliwell Park

When camping, our breakfasts are either steel cut oatmeal or scrambled veggies and scrambled eggs. We need the energy for our hike.

We often go to Helliwell park on Hornby Island. It has a five kilometer trail through woods and the shoreline that is always interesting.

Hornby Second night Supper and Sunsets

 Another tradition for camping is second night Delmonico cut steak. Lots of vegetables and grilled mushrooms are a bonus.

Because of the changing weather conditions and wind direction watching sunsets reward the viewer.

Even a slight change in the viewing angle gives a new feeling.

As always even if you change your view the sun is a little dimmer and a little bit lower.

The trees and foreground begin to look like paper shadow puppets figures. They loose their definition and clairity.

With a last peek above the mountains on the horizon the day turns quickly to night. Time to rest.

Hornby Shoreline

Another great thing about the Hornby Island Heron Rocks campsite is the shoreline. It changes with the tides and brings a little something different each year. It calls out to the curious.

The water slowly shapes the softer rocks making cliffs, holes, and smooths the surface.

What washes up on the shore also peaks interest whether large logs or small creatures and plants.

Looking back from where you came from often gives a new perspective.

Eventually the tide begins to rise letting you know that your time on the rocks has to end and you must return to shore.

Before you go, it is always good to see the path you have walked and get perspective before ending the day of exploration.

Hornby Campsite

Hornby Island, in particular the campsite we like to go to (Heron Rocks), is a special place for my wife and I. It allows us to recharge our internal batteries with the calm serenity of the nature around us.

The shelters are pre-made, just bring a tarp. Plenty of space for our camping items.

It also has a great view of the water when inside relaxing or cooking.

Our traditional first night meal is Kraft Dinner, spinach, tomatoes, extra cheese, and sparking wine.

The sunset was particularly nice to see with the mountains of Vancouver Island as a backdrop.

The orange glow it gives is unique and changing. Very special to experience together.

It shows how some things change as some things are constant.

Heron Rocks is indeed a special place.