Saltair, BC, Canada – 8/8/2014

 

 

AUGUST 8, 2014 (Friday)

 

Got up and left Pt. McNeill around 9:00 AM. We drove down the road a little bit and decided (last minute) to try Telegraph Cove again. We had gone there last year but didn’t see why everyone said to go visit it. On the drive we got excited because there were signs for no bear hunting. Kept hoping to see a bear in a safe zone – nothing. Was a beautiful drive though. We did see two elk and a small deer. Telegraph Cove is lovely but I think mostly for fishermen and campers. The area I wanted to go to was blocked off and the views were best seen by boat.

Forest primeval on the way to Telegraph Cove
Forest primeval on the way to Telegraph Cove
Elk!
Elk!

IMG_8357

IMG_8362

IMG_8363

Sharing the road with a big rig.
Sharing the road with a big rig.
Huge lumber operation here.  The air was thick with the smells of wood and bark.
Huge lumber operation here. The air was thick with the smells of wood and bark.

IMG_8373

I liked this sign.
I liked this sign.
The cove has so much lumber floating in it.
The cove has so much lumber floating in it.
Edie loved the cloud snagged by the mountain.
Edie loved the cloud snagged by the mountain.
On the way out of the cove and the Elk had not moved much.
On the way out of the cove and the elk had not moved much.
Where they have cleared the forest, these beautiful fields of flowers celebrate in the sunlight left behind.
Where they have cleared the forest, these beautiful fields of flowers celebrate in the sunlight left behind.

We continued back to the main road and drove and drove down to Parksville.

Dang, big tree.
Dang, big tree.
Robert's lake.
Robert’s lake.
Pretty barn.
Pretty barn.
Great old truck.
Great old truck.

IMG_8432

Way off the beaten path, very expensive gas.
Way off the beaten path, very expensive gas.
New record for expensive.
New record for expensive.
Didn't see any but we were told that the pinks and Coho's were in the streams.
Didn’t see any but we were told that the pinks and coho’s were in the streams.

IMG_8448

We had heard it was beautiful, which it was. More touristy but still lovely. We had a light lunch at the local DQ. Really good. While we were eating a man came in with a large parrot on his shoulder. The parrot’s name was Nelson. He had him for 24 years (since Nelson was a baby). Parrots live to be 150 years old. Beautiful bird. While eating we asked the employee where a bakery was. We wanted to take something to Jan and Caron’s place for dinner. We were told about a little bakery approximately two miles away.

IMG_8449

I guess the movie stars of the 50's & 60's used to come here all the time.
I guess the movie stars of the 50’s & 60’s used to come here all the time.
Murals are big on the island.
Murals are big on the island.
Lunch.
Lunch.
Salads and small blizzards.
Salads and small blizzards.
In the DQ with a parrot.
In the DQ with a parrot.
Nelson is his name and the guy tells me they usually go through 3 people, they live so long.
Nelson is his name and the guy tells me they usually go through 3 people, they live so long.
Fun little water park.
Fun little water park.

IMG_8465

We drove to the bakery and got some cookies. They didn’t have a great selection of baked goodies (mostly breads), but the cookies were right out of their oven and looked wonderful. When we left the store and walked outside, we saw our biker friend, Kim, from Anchorage, going down the road. What fun to know she’s safe (no bears got her) and still traveling. Hope she has a great adventure.

The cookies were great.
The cookies were great.
The debit machines were so advanced in Canada, we are so behind in the US.
The debit machines were so advanced in Canada, we are so behind in the US.
KIM!!!
KIM!!!
Parksville corner.
Parksville corner.

IMG_8481

IMG_8482

Almost to Ladysmith and Edie took this picture.  When the light changed this person took off like he'd been caught at something.
Almost to Ladysmith and Edie took this picture. When the light changed this person took off like he’d been caught at something.

IMG_8509

IMG_8510

Nice old truck.
Nice old truck.

(We had been told Pamela Anderson was Canadian and from Parksville. Jan and Caron told us she was a local girl from Ladysmith. Too fun.)

We headed towards Jan and Caron’s home. We didn’t have their address but I told Michael if he could get us to the Saltair Pub, we could find it. He wasn’t so sure about it and wanted me to call Jan. I was sure we could find it. I was right (again). No problem. Got to their home around 4:00 PM. What a beautiful home they have. Jan was busily doing everything.

Found the pub.
Found the pub.
Found their house!
Found their house!
Our very comfortable room for the night.
Our very comfortable room for the night.
Pretty woman visiting as Jan charged on with preparations.
Pretty woman visiting as Jan charged on with preparations.

The original plan was to have dinner with the “dinner crew” we had met in Myrtle Beach – Peggy, Skinner, Gary, Jan and Caron. Jan and Caron decided to host their regular dinner crew so we could meet them all. So fun. We got to meet Carl, Renata, Doty, Adam, Roxanne, and Clive (who joined us later after dinner). We laughed so hard and so often that Michael and my cheeks hurt.  Adam was quite the joke teller.

Lovely property.
Lovely property.
Pretty woman got her nose stuck in a picture of Sangria.
Pretty woman got her nose stuck in a pitcher of Sangria.
Caron, home from work and glad it is Friday.
Caron, home from work and glad it is Friday.
Peggy with Edie.
Peggy with Edie.
Carl and Jan.
Carl and Jan.
Skinner and Renata.
Skinner and Renata.
Gary and Roxanne.
Gary and Roxanne.

Such good food (thank you Jan and Caron – excellent), good conversation, and good times. Jan and Caron made a Greek salad (yummy), bbq’d vegetables, hor d’oeuvre, and bbq lamb, chicken and pork. Doty and Adam brought some hor d’oeuvre, and someone else brought chips and dip. Everything was so good.

Edie, Gary, Renata, Jan and Roxanne.  The food was over the top wonderful.
Edie, Gary, Renata, Jan and Roxanne. The food was over the top wonderful.
Adam,
Adam, Doty and Skinner in the back.
Skinner, stays busy.  In South Carolina he was the fire builder and stoker.
Skinner, stays busy. In South Carolina he was the fire builder and stoker.

Everyone left by around midnight. Caron stayed up and cleaned. Michael and I went to bed in the most beautiful and comfortable bedroom (the green room) in Jan and Caron’s house. We slept really well.

That was our most wonderful day. Hope yours was great!