Sunshine Coast Trip, B.C., Looking Back to May, 2010

Weds., May 19, 2010  Our plan is to travel a loop of the Sunshine Coast, so to start we flew out to Vancouver and took the ferry across to Victoria. 

It was pouring rain on the way over but we still seen lots.  The ferry travelled close to the islands so you could see what was on them.  Interesting, some people seemed to have a whole island to themselves.
We are staying at the Harbor Towers Hotel - great location and room.  We walked to Fisherman's Wharf for fish and chips.  Geo said he wanted to move into one of the houseboats there to live.  I reminded him that people like us would be constantly walking by your window wondering what they looked like inside, so you would have to live with your blinds down.  Would you also feel the dampness all winter, too?

Thursday, May 20, 2010   We walked to the downtown  for breakfast and then to the Royal BC Museum.  This would be a good place to take the grand kids to visit as it is very educational and kid friendly.  I found the totems outside very interesting and took lots of pictures of them.

My painting of these Totems

Totems, Victoria, B.C.

Long House & Totem, Victoria, B.C.

We find that we always enjoy just walking along the water down in this area as there is lots to see.

Victoria

We then decided to go to Chinatown as neither of us had been there.  It was interesting but not that big.

In Chinatown, Victoria

Later that day, we went to Cousin Larry's for supper.  Ardis was away, so Larry ordered Chinese food for supper.  We had a good visit with him and all their girls.

Friday, May 21, 2010  Left Victoria for Ladysmith here we stopped and had coffee with Alana and Smokey (friends of ours who have just moved to retire in B.C.).
That night we arrived in Parksville to meet our friends Gary and Shirley for supper at their golf course.  We had a good visit with them.  We are staying at the Pacific Shore Resort and Spa in Nanoose Bay.  The room is new condo style with a fireplace and deck, but the walls are paper thin.  I listened to a frog croaking in the pond outside our door till 2:00pm.

"Irises"

Water Color Painting By Lynn Myette



Gary and Shirley's beautiful irises

Gary's Bonsai

Gary and Shirley grow all kinds of flowers, plants, trees.  fruit and vegetables  in their back yard and we find ourselves extremely jealous.   It would be so nice to have a warmer climate to do this.  I enjoy looking at Gary's many bonsai trees and different projects they are doing.

Saturday, May 22, 2010 The guys are going golfing and I am touring around.  I love to go to the Old School House Art Gallery close by in Qualicum.  Shirley cooked us a delicious -BBQ chicken for supper.

Sunday, May 23, 2010 We travelled up island to Comox and Courtney where we are staying at the Kingfisher Resort and Spa.  It is a quiet relaxing resort right on the ocean.  Nice room with a great view.

Kingfisher Resort and Spa

Monday, May 24, 2010 We got up early to take the ferry from Comox across to Powell River.  Then we drove from Powell River down the coast  to Saltery Bay to get on the ferry to cross to Earl's Cove.  From here we drove down the winding coast highway to Sechelt. 

Tonight we are staying at the Four Winds Beach House and Spa.  It is a B&B that is right on the ocean - you couldn't get any closer to the water.  Nice and quiet, and a great location!   We drove back into Sechelt for a Greek supper at Daphne's - delicious.

Four Winds Beach House Spa, Sechelt, B.C.

More Inspiration to Paint

My Iris Painting

Tuesday, May 25, 2010   We were served homemade baked goods/pastries straight from the oven, fresh fruit and then breakfast.  So good!  The view and yard at this B&B are great.

Four Winds

The drive down island to Gibson's this morning is shorter and not as winding as yesterday.  We walked around the town down along the marina where the Beach Combers was filmed and seen Molly's Reach. 

Gibsons, B.C.

Gibsons. B.C.

Houseboat with Lots of trees/plants on it, Gibsons

Persephone, Gisons, B.C.

We walked around looking in a few art galleries and then went to the Ocean Breezes B&B where we will be staying.  We have a huge suite in this new house, with great views of the Strait of Georgia.  It has started to drizzle out and we are both feeling a little weary. 

Weds. May 26, 2010   Rain again!  We drove in the rain to take the last ferry from Gibson's to Horseshoe Bay, Vancouver where we will stay at the Old Sylvia Hotel on English Bay.  This is a really old hotel with lots of character and is right down on the water.  We find it has a good location for walking around and sight seeing. 

Sylvia Hotel, Vancouver, B.C.

Thursday, May 27, 2010  There are lots of good cheap breakfasts to be had on Denman Street.  We had eggs, bacon, potatoes and toast for $4.95 at the Japanese Grill and it was really good.  Now we are off to visit the big art gallery down town.  We arrive to find that two of the four flours are closed.  So we opt out and decide to go to the "Bill Reid Gallery" instead.  This turned out to be a good choice as we both found it very interesting.  It is a new gallery/ museum  and I would definitely recommend it.

Later, we met Cousin Ken and Louise, for supper downtown and then walked around the marina area with them. 

Downtown, Vancouver, B.C.

and then, back to English Bay for coffee with them and some great sunsets.

Sunset at English Bay, Vancouver, B.C.

It is always so nice to see all of them for a visit.  The guys are making up for all the years that they didn't see each other while growing up in different provinces, this was really to bad as they all get along really good and have lots in common.  So here's to many more visits and golf games!!

Friday, May 28, 2010  We are leaving this morning to fly back to Calgary.  We won't be going home but will just be making a connection flight to go to Grand Prairie.  Here we will be renting a car and driving an hour to Dawson Creek to visit sister Blanch for the week-end.  We had a good visit in Dawson Creek, too.