Home from Home

Ahh, happy memories of 5 months ago on captivating Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada (my home away from home!)

One of many delightful and peaceful walking trails

Spotted these two squirrels (keeping social distance before that became the norm!) in nearby Qualicum Beach

Surf meets snow !

Joining in the fun at Skywatch Friday

Thank you Alan for continuing to manage this community blog

Although South Australia is faring well with no new cases of CV19 for some 3 weeks, and there is a gradual relaxation of some restrictions, we are still being encouraged to practise social distancing and good hygiene.  Complacency is our enemy.  Praying for good health and safety for my fellow bloggers around the world.  (Am very grateful for today's technology enabling us to keep "in touch".)

Grateful

This post is titled Grateful because I am just that, for all the travel my health, savings and house/pet-sitting opportunities have enabled me to enjoy these past several years.  Given the world's "challenge" with corona virus, the possibility of future trips hangs in the balance.

 Having recently returned from yet another wonderful 4 months on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, thought it was time to share some images from that experience and also get my blog up and running again. (I've missed interacting with you all!)

This trip spanned mid November 2019 to mid March 2020, arriving in Winter and happily leaving behind South Australia's insane 45C temperatures!  

Desolation Sound on mainland British Columbia

(a day trip by ferry across from Vancouver Island)

 Ferry from Powell River across to Vancouver Island

 This cute fellow was spotted by the pier in Sidney
(not far from Victoria, BC's capital city)

 This was typical terrain throughout many Provincial
Park trails I experienced across the mid-island region

and this was dawn captured from the delightful ocean-front property
in my care for 10 weeks (in Bowser)

With grateful thanks too, to the team operating

Our World Tuesday

Praying for your safety and well-being at this uncertain time in history

Island Winter

At the end of February this year, Vancouver Island was still experiencing snow.

(To someone coming from the driest State on the driest Continent, this continues to be a novelty and delight. However, I acknowledge snow - and its aftermath - does not hold the same appeal for those living in it !)

This was shot in the region of Forbidden Plateau.

And further south, in Bowser, where I had the pleasure of staying for 2 months,

this charming cafe was a regular drawcard. The ambience was relaxing, with great food, welcoming staff and the unique, lovely work of local artists decorating the walls. On Friday nights a couple of senior musicians would entertain with their voices and guitars - a fun experience!

Linking up with Our World Tuesday

Serenity

Just south of Bowser is this oceanside camp site on land

owned and operated by First Nations

                                          adjacent to an estuary

 I don't know if others have this same experience - of noticing specific

content in a scene after the shot was taken and in the course of 

reviewing on a PC?

In this case, that figure on the bottom right strip of land in the centre of the shot is another photographer, seated, with a huge telephoto lens on his camera.

It was a scene affording serenity

 At times that estuary held an attraction for swans

Is this one on Guard Duty? :-o)

Bowser walk

One of many enjoyable walks through the Lighthouse Regional Trail

in Bowser, mid coastal Vancouver Island - this one occurred at the end of November last

It was such a peaceful environment and, if one has a vivid imagination (as I undoubtedly have!), it might seem you were walking through a fairy tale.

. . . but then by mid-February 2019, this same region was transformed by snow

 Ice formed on the surface of the water

. . . and so another adventure winds up

Joining in the fun at Our World Tuesday

Soggy pot of gold!

A bolt of colour fell from Heaven at Bowser on Vancouver Island.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday (thank you Alan for hosting)

Happy weekend everyone

Daybreak

Daybreak at Bowser on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

 .... and an often present Bald Eagle

Most days - morning and afternoon - groups of sea lions would drift by on their way up to Comox Harbour and beyond, with flippers above water 

(almost waving, I kid myself, but read that their flippers absorb whatever warmth - in winter?! - is in the air and this helps to regulate their body temperature).

Some days I counted up to 30 sea lions, and their approaching

"voices" as they neared the front of the property regularly brought me running

A couple of times I braved sitting on this well-positioned bench seat

but as temperatures were often below 5C between Dec - Feb, it wasn't a regular choice !  On this day rain/fog/mist hid the wonderful view across to those magnificent Coastal Range Mountains on the BC mainland.

Wishing all a safe and happy weekend as I link in with

Skywatch Friday