Silva Bay, Gabriola Island

May 21, 2013
Today, we drove around the island.  A narrow paved road circles the island which is about 16 km in length and 7 km wide.  It is called the North Road on the north side and of course, the South Road on the south side.  Off of these main roads are many wandering dead-end streets, such as Whalebone and Berry Point.
Half  way around the island we stopped at Silva Bay for lunch and sat out on their patio overlooking the Silva Bay Marina.  It is a great casual pub-style restaurant.  They have the freshest calamari that we have had for a long time.  This along with the fresh Caesar salad and the view was well worth the drive.

Silva Bay, Gabriola Island

The tides are extreme right now.  The fishing report for the Sounder News says that "a low of .8 to a high of 15.8" and depths are variable from 65' to 180'.  The weather has been rainy.

Folklife Village, Gabriola Island, B.C.

Don't expect to find fast food restaurants or big box stores when you go to Gabriola.  The Island does have several good restaurants and an interesting town centre on North Road a few minutes uphill from the ferry terminal.
The province of British Columbia built a pavilion to represent the province's native and settler cultures to the world for Expo '86 held in Vancouver, B.C.  After Expo was finished, the pavilion was sold, dismantled and put on barges and stored.
A couple of years later, the Gabriola Island Trustees were presented with a plan and drawings to move and once again set up the village as a commercial center on Gabriola Island.  It took about two years to re-construct the village and today it's extensive post and beam structure is perfect for the Folklife Village Centre.  The grocery store, drug store, real estate office, library, the Old Crow Cafe, and several other smaller shops can be found here.

The Climate on Gabriola Island, B.C.

The climate on Gabriola Island is considered to be Mediterranean which is characterized by warm to hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters.
July average temperature is 17 degrees centigrade with only 1" precipitation.
Jan average temperature is 3.7 degrees centigrade and an average precipitation of 5".

Living on an Island

On May 16, 2013 we took possession of our home on Gabriola Island, B.C., and we will eventually be retiring here.

Gabriola Island is a twenty minute ferry ride from the city of Nanaimo across the North Umberland Channel. The island is one of the largest of the Southern Gulf Islands with a population of appr. 5,000 people.

Quinsam returning to Nanaimo

Gabriola Island is a haven for artists, retirees and to those who simply wish for a slower pace of life.  It truly is quiet and tranquil.  In fact, at times the sense of tranquility is inescapable here. " Island time" is a reality here.

Gabriola's name is thought to have been derived following the arrival of Jose Maria Narvaez on the island in 1791 when he christened it as Punta de Gaviola.  The earliest settlers on the island can be traced back to the late 1800's.  Many were blended families with European men and First Nations wives.  The heritage belongs to the Snu Neymuxw First Nations.   In the mid 70's and 1980's "hippie immigration" caused the population to rise  to around 2,000 people.

Today, as a broad generalization the people of Gabriola are typically self-sufficient, artistic, perhaps eccentric, retired or old hippies.  There are also many affluent families who own the oceanfront homes and vacation properties.  Most locals that we have met seem friendly and are very passionate about "their" island.

Discussion usually centres around water, the shortage of  water during summer droughts, collection of water and the amount of water used.  Garbage and recycling is taken seriously as all garbage has to be taken off of the island.  Sustainability and respect for the environment, along with recycling, are on the islander's mind at all times.  Gabriola is definitely a "Green Island".

Spring on Gabriola Island

The temperature is mild now and the light rain comes early in the morning.  It is nice to see the Rofous hummingbirds that are feeding at the feeder now.  They hummingbirds seem to appear out of nowhere in their high speed, zooming dive down to get their drink from the feeder.

We have noticed that the Western Tent caterpillars are taking over the Alder trees.  They fall out of the sky and land on you.  Hopefully the brown bats that we see flying at night will eat them.  At night when we walk I am afraid of the bats when they seem to swoop down at you.

Another not so nice thing are the big black slugs that are on the wet grass or under the leaves of plants.  They say there are 49 species of slugs in B.C.

Our First Days on Gabriola Island

May 14, 2013

Last on the ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo, B.C.

George and I took our truck and a rented 6x12ft. U-haul trailer packed with necessities and some furniture for our first stay at our new home on the Island of Gabriola. I must commend George on the amount of items that he packed into that small trailer with the help of Ant, our son-in-law.   Everything we needed except the spaghetti  strainer!

Gabriola Island has a tranquil, friendly vibe and you feel an immediate sense of relaxation as soon as you get off of the ferry.

Leaving Nanaimo, B.C.

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Claire and Ant, along with our two grand-kids, drove out in their car to help us unload and to have a short holiday.   Thank you for all your help!

Claire, Casey and Lexi at Descanso Bay

Tent Caterpillars on Gabriola Island

Tent caterpillars are dropping down out of the trees with a vengeance.  They are a native insect to this area and their natural targets seem to be the deciduous trees, such as our elders.  I have read that when they get dense like this they get a viral disease tat is specific to them and kills many of them.  The rest of the caterpillars hatch into moths, which lay many eggs.

During this heavy infestation they feed and defoliate the trees.  It is recommended that with the few trees in our yard that are affected, hand picking or cutting of the nests in the evening when the caterpillars have returned to their nest can help reduce damage.  Burn the nests, or put into bags for disposal.  If they are left alone they will naturally decline and continue their cycle.  I think we will let nature take it's place!

Our Reasons for Buying our Retirement Home on Gabriola Island

We purchased our retirement home on Gabriola Island because:
-it has easy access to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island with only a twenty minute ferry ride.
-it is in a semi-rural area on a somewhat modern island
-the island stills has old charm
-it is restful and there is a sense of peaceful tranquility here
-it is connected to the rest of the world and has high speed internet, TV, Telephones, etc.
-Self-sufficient community with friendly people
-it has a brand new medical centre with a helicopter ambulance pad and a pharmacy.
-there is sea plane that goes to Vancouver
-the island has it's own Fire Dept and RCMP Station
-there are food growers and a local market with local produce
-there is a supermarket food store, Restaurants, Coffee Shops, Library, Drug Store, Dental Clinic, Chiropractor, Physio, massage, vet clinic, Gas and Propane station, Credit Union,
-The island has a low crime rate
-there are plenty of hiking trails and shores to explore.
-No big industry or pollution on the island.  Clean air.
-The island has half the rainfall that Vancouver has.
-Property values are good still.

Gabriola Island

Accommodation on Gabriola Island, B.C.

Despite the fact that there are no hotels on the island, there are many B&B's and cottages rentals to choose from.
We stayed at the Hummingbird Lodge B&B when we first came to Gabriola Island to look at properties back in March.  The Hummingbird is a hand-built  5000 sq ft home made from the cedar and alder trees from that property.

Boyd Schlenker - Rest in Peace

Thank you to all of you that have offered us your prayers and support with the recent loss of our son, Boyd Schlenker, on August 16, 2012.  It has been much appreciated.

ROSEBUD THEATRE'S "My Name is Asher Lev"

We went to spend the week-end at Rosebud, Alberta.  The well known theatre company here is performing "My Name is Asher Lev" adapted from the book by Chaim Potok a famous Jewish American author and Rabbi.

The play follows Asher Lev a young Hasidic Jew who has an incredible passion for drawing and painting, but his conservative parents consider his creative gift to be a waste of time and foolish.  They try to stop him from persuing his art, but his passion is so strong and he is forced to choose between his faith, his art, his parents, his passion, his calling and his God.

Giovanni Mocibob does an excellent job in acting the part of the young artist as he tells the story of his early life, the choices he makes, the rift it causes between himself and his parents, and his Orthodox Jewish community.  This was an excellent performance.
 
Nathan Schmidt plays Ari Levi, the strict committed father.  He also plays Jacob Kahn, Asher's artistic mentor.   He easily accomplishes these changes of characters right before you on the stage and his acting is intense and real.   Again an excellent part.

Heather Pattengale plays Rivka, Asher's mother.  She also changes to act out the other female character roles in the play, too.  I actually didn't believe that she played the mother role and was the same person that played the other female roles - so she did a great job with the changes.  You could sense the pain that she was going thru as the mother.  Excellent job.

"My name is Asher Lev" contains quite a bit of Yiddish.  I found this to be interesting and also a chance to learn about a different culture and life.  When I get home I feel I must find this book and read it.

To sit there and watch these people struggle with the choices that they have to make is heart-wrenching at times.  But I also found this play to be inspiring, gripping and heart-felt. 

Once again, it was delightful to see this level of talent at Rosebud and I was most grateful that we had decided to spend our evening seeing this play.

Sandy Point Bridge, Alberta ...Spring 2012

Earlier in the spring, we took our fifth wheel trailer and made a loop in Alberta and Saskatchewan for a couple of weeks. 
I love this spot on Highway #41 on the way to Empress, AB.  The South Saskatchewan river valley with it's badland hills, river and turquoise bridge is very picturesque.

I decided to paint this scene for my neice to give away as a prize for their Barrel Racing Finals.

Sandy Point Bridge, South Saskatchewan River, Alberta
Oil Painting  10x19



After painting this from my memory, I would like to spend more time and go back and paint it plein air style in acrylic

Victoria in the Spring

Victoria, B.C.

Friday, March 30, 2012  We arrived in Victoria and are spending a long week-end here sight seeing and visiting family and friends.  The weather is kinda chilly and rainy, but the spring flowers are all out in full bloom.  We are staying at the Marriot Victoria Inner Harbour Hotel and it is handy to walk and see the downtown, Inner Harbour and Royal B.C. Museum areas. 
Tonight we went for a nice walk down along the harbor and then out for supper.

Sat., March 31, 2012  This morning we walked down to the harbor for breakfast and coffee.  Then we decided to walk up the hill to see the Craigdarroch Castle.  It was a nice walk and we enjoyed seeing the old Victorian style houses in this area.   We decided not to go into the castle when we found out that there were several stairs to climb and my knee does not do well on stairs.  So we enjoyed the view from outside.
This 4 1/2 story mansion was built in 1887 and owned by Robert Dunsmuir.  At the time of his death in 1889, Dunsmuir's estate was valued at $15-20 million USA.




Then we walked downhill a short ways to visit the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria which has the largest public collection of art in B.C.  The Spencer Mansion was first built in 1889.  The Mansion was donated and opened in 1951 as the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.  The outside of the Gallery is painted in colors to reflect the original Queen Anne style.

On permanent display is the work of B.C.'s historical artist Emily Carr in an exhibit called "On the Edge of Nowhere".  This exhibit includes a historical look at Carr's artistic career, featuring pieces in all media and styles.  The exibit shows the inspiration and influence from members of the Group of Seven, the First Nation Artists and European modern art.  The collection speaks of her personal experience, her spirituality and her connection to the West Coast landscape. 

The gallery is also home to a collection of Asian art, including the grand "Chinese Bell" cast in 1641 during the Ming Dynasty.  This bell hung in Beacon Hill Park until 1989 when it was taken to the Art Gallery to ensure the preservation of it.

An Asian Garden is located on the gallery grounds and includes the only authentic "Japanese Shinto Shrine" in North America.  It is situated among bamboo and Japanse Maples in the garden.

When we are in Victoria, I never miss the opportunity to go for a walk thru Thunderbird Park to see the totem poles.  It is a small park located next to the BC Royal Museum.  We have been here numerous times and I still love coming back here to take pictures.



Sunday, April 1, 2012
Today, we took a scenic drive along the West Coast Road, Hwy #14 to Sooke and then on up to Jordan River.  We didn't make it to Port Renfrew though.  The weather was on the rainy side but we both enjoyed the drive.  You need to take some exits off of the road and go down to the ocean to enjoy the views as most of the trip is thru dense forest up on the hillside.
Jordan River has become popular with the wind surfers and today we sat and had coffee watching a bunch of young women out there surfing.

 Tonight, we had a wonderful supper and visit with the cousins at their house in Victoria.  Thank-you for the great time. 

Monday, April 2, 2012
Today, we are driving up to Duncan, the "City of Totems" and home to the Cowichan Tribe of the Coast Salish Nation.  Duncan is located half-way between Victoria and Nanaimo.
The city had 80 totem poles which were erected in the late 1980's.  You can see 40 of them just by taking a short walk around the old town.  I love the color and the designs of the carvings.

We meet our friend Gary who lives in Parksville for lunch.  Great visit...
On our way back into Victoria we were early for our flight home so we pulled off of the highway and went down into the "Two Red Cedars" park.

 After a short walk and rest we continued onto the airport for our flight home...

Painting of Sassie

I decided to do a painting on canvas similar to the paint sketch I did in my book of my son's dog Sassie.

Painting / Sketches

Lately I have been drawing and painting in a "Canson Mix Media" book.  These are some painting/ sketches that I am working on in my book.

I am still trying to work on some animals and have got to like painting in this big Canson Mix Media book as the paper is excellent for acrylic paint and other medias.  The paper seems to hold up to nicely to the layering of paint.

It seems that I like to keep adding layers to the backgrounds.  The ravens above have several layers of acrylic and a partial layer of beeswax on them.  My plan is to put further layers of paint on them.

This girl was painted on a piece of scrapbook paper.  I liked the paper and decided to start drawing and painting on top of it. 

These paintings were done with acrylic paint and a 1 inch brush.  The background was stenciled on after.  This is my son's black lab "Sassie" who is getting up in age and would just sit there like this.