What...This isn't an Island?

July 5, 2010

I'm feeling right at home here in Powell River.  From the mundane....washing dishes, running errands (I drive the Suzuki because Althea and Brian are recovering), recycling, picking and eating cherries, sitting on the deck watching the ocean and all that passes through, and did I mention....eating?  Althea has cooked all the meals so far.  She can't drive but she can certainly cook.

This city feels like an island to me.  Guess one of the reasons is it takes 2 ferries to get here.  Powell River is so easy to get around in.  I don't even need my GPS  It is long and it seems as if most of the houses, businesses, schools, and restaurants are right by the ocean.  It's small, only about 22,000 people.  Brian and Althea know all of them....most all of them.  Some of the people here never leave the island.....I mean the "bush"...I mean the town.  It takes some effort as the ferries are sometimes busy and don't always run.  

The ocean just yards from us is not loud and not a surfer's beach.  Powell River is on the "inside passage" and is a naturally protected waterway from Seattle to Skagway in southeastern Alaska.  It winds through Canadian waters and is protected from the open Pacific by 300-mile-long Vancouver Island and by hundreds of smaller islands to the north.  My sister and I cruised the inside passage from Alaska about 4 years ago and it took us past some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.  Desolate shoreline and towering glacial peaks.

At one time, Powell River is said to have been close to 20,000 First Nations people for many thousands of years.  Prior to European settlement the region was the year round home of the Silammon First Nation.  In the early 1900's, logging arrived to the area.  A few years later it was the center of the newsprint world.

This region, known as the Sunshine Coast, is blessed with not only the Pacific ocean, but with many crystal clear lakes, inlets, rainforests, salmon rivers, idyllic islands and friendly people who take a special pride in their community.  It is considered a Pearl on the Sunshine Coast.... and I am so happy to be here; not as a tourist, but as a quasi member of this community..


Brian and an old friend.

All Roads Lead to a Ferry or Two

June 29, 2010

My long-time travel plans to B.C. are here...now. I am not disappointed. Of course, I just arrived but had the time of my life getting here as you can read in previous postings.

A few years ago I traveled briefly 4 provinces of Canada in my RV and I knew then I would come back to get in-between-the-lines of Canada. I will stay for a few months.

My home base while here is with my Baja neighbors, Althea and Brian and they have a 5 STAR Driveway (actually it's a ramp specifically for RV's) for me to park Phoebe McGee. Electricity, Water, TV,  wi-fi, Pacific Ocean as my front yard, a Suzuki, laundry room, bath tub, food fit for any gypsy and .... they love my dog.


I took this picture on the way to Powell River on the ferry..

Brian and Althea's home...and yes, those are cherry trees and they are almost ready.  I've already gotten a few good ones.

See that long (line) in the ocean?  It was all logs and Althea said the logs go deep into the ocean.  It was being pulled by such a small tug.

My 5 Star drive-way.

Now you know where I am.  Tomorrow I will see more of this area and I can't wait!

Yes, I'm lovin this place called "The Sunshine Coast"!

Old Friends~New Friends

June 22, 2010

By the time I arrived in Belfair, Washington (Tiger Lake) at Don and Joyce's, I wasn't feeling well.  Within a few days I got better...thanks to my doc from Santa Cruz who phoned in an Rx for me and my friends' taking good care of me.  We ate at 2 Margaritas with some of Don and Joyce's friends (now mine)  had some good food.  Margaritas were pretty good, too.

The next day we went to Park at Puget Sound Navy Museum in Bremerton with an old friend of Joyce's (Maxine).  She is definitely the "real Maxine".  Such a character.  In her 90's and sharp as a tack.

Maxine and Joyce

Don and TaZzi

Don doesn't stop working til it's time for Happy Hour which we held every night.  Since I was sick my happiness was found in a ginger ale.





Relaxing on the patio, TaZzi is always happy on Don's lap.














Tiger Lake is quite beautiful as you can see and they have their property up for sale.  They live in the Baja in the winter for about 6 months and they will stay in the Bremerton area but want to downsize.  Their home in Baja is exquisite..

Now onto catch a ferry to BC.

Don and Joyce's front yard

 
  

Fire Hydrants and Cowboys???

June 21, 2010


Even though I've been up this way before, each time I take a different route.  I am so overcome with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.....from Santa Cruz to Oregon.  Eugene is where I am now and this is new territory for me.  I had a short and sweet visit with a friend.who has just moved here to a lovely 'sustainable' home  What a lovely way to live.  And yes, I am going to get solar for Phoebe McGee, soon.


It is Summer Solstice 2010 and I have a little extra time today.  It has been the best weather day I've had since I left Santa Cruz.  Happy summer everyone.


As usual, I have been making up my mind as I go.  It keeps me almost worry-free and very present.  My first major stop was in Klamuth Falls.  Who knew the town doesn't exactly have waterfalls!  It seems if you really look, there is a trail along the river, called the Link River Nature Trail and there is a small amount of water that falls. We didn't go but we did love the town.

You don't have to drive far to see the beauty of Klamuth Falls.  The above pictures were all taken at a rest area.

All the mountains are snow covered and I would have been happier if someone else had been driving so I could take more pictures.  .

Back in the 1800's, Klamuth Falls was called Linkville and the Trolly's in the town reflect that historical name.

Every town has a farmer's market and Klamuth Falls is no exception.

Since I didn't take a long hike, go rafting or go on a jet boat ride, we were pretty much done after a few hours.  We didn't have far to drive to get to one of my favorite places.  Crater Lake.  The pictures say it all and not much can be said about the lake's mysterious and sacred shattered remnant of a volcano called, Mount Mazama.  I took so many pictures, I couldn't figure out which ones to post.  How did I do?  Since adjectives don't work for this lake, I will briefly write about its history

Crater Lake is 5 miles wide and, as you can see, some of it is ringed  by cliffs 2,000 feet high.  The volcano erupted and collapsed into itself 7,700 years ago.  Other later eruptions formed an  island and other volcanic features are now hidden under the lake filled with rain and melted snow. It is the deepest lake in the United States and one of the deepest in the world.  It is 1,943 feet deep.

Mount Mazama began to grow half a million years ago  Humans have lived around the mountain for more than 10,000 years and probably witnessed its cataclysmic eruption.  Crater Lake has long played a significant role in the cultures of local American Indian tribes.  Prospectors, in search of gold in 1853 found the lake, and word spread of its beauty, people began visiting from all over the world.  It became a national park on May 22, 1902.

For more than a century, scientists have investigated the lake with sonar, submarines, and scientific instruments.  The lake that formed in the volcanoes shattered remnants is one of the purest and most pristine in the world.  I didn't make this up, I got most of the information from a brochure.  More pictures of the lake and the area in the national park are below.

                                                                                            The Lodge

We were planning on staying overnight but when I found out there could be snow, I decided to high-tail it out.  It was only in the low 40's during the day.  So we drove.  When I say we, I mean my TaZzi and me.  My only partner!

Almost didn't make it to Crater Lake as we had a bit of a jolt driving up the beautiful little road '97'.  Here is what stopped us!   (pictures snapped through my dirty windshield)

  

  

    

Thanks cowboy!  





We stumbled into a great place to do a sleep-over.  In the very small town of Westfir (an hour south of Eugene) exists Casey's Riverside RV Park.  All the RV's park within yards of the Willamette River.  The river is a major tributary of the Columbia River and is 187 miles long (302 km).  The water is very cold as it comes down from the mountains and the splashing valley torrents create a vibrant flow.  Historically, it was known as a wild river and to me it still looks a bit wild.

Today will be a driving day.  On to Washington ...right after breakfast at another spectacularly beautiful park  The serve a complimentary continental breakfast.  It is called Eugene Premier RV .  Resort.  I've been lucky to stay at Good Sam Membership Parks and I'm a member so I get a bit of a discount.

Did I ever mention that....I love my life so much, I sometimes feel embarrassed?  This park delivers a newspaper to your door.  Gotta go get my bagel and juice now and wake TaZzi up to take her to the doggie park.

It's The Little Things...part 2

June 10, 2010

On the way home from Palm Springs, Deanie and I went through my old stomping grounds.  She had not spent time in Westwood Village, Beverly Hills, or Santa Monica, and had not been to Rodeo Drive  So we went!  I showed her a few places where I lived in the early 70's.  It was fun for me, too.  We didn't go shopping, .but did take a few pictures.  .

The picture below has special memories for me and my daughter, Angela.  We lived within a couple minutes from the Santa Monica Pier.  It was quite exciting in those days.  Many movies are/were made on that pier and we met many of the celebrities .....from Wilt Chamberlin to James Garner to Paul Newman to Robert Redford....and many more.

We also stopped in beautiful Santa Barbara on the way home and stayed at at a fabulous RV Resort.  I had stayed there before and wanted my sis to experience it.  She loved it. 

It was on a Friday and it was cold but......we were just in time for the Friday Night BBQ.....it was scrumptious!  Cod, Shrimp, sweet potato fries, cole slaw.  It's not far from Santa Cruz so another time when we have ... time, we will go back and spend a few days. 

Last year my niece gave us tickets to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Since they were getting ready to expire, we decided we'd force ourselves to go.  She had also given us tickets to the DeYong Museum for the King Tut Exhibit and we were so excited to go.  It was the last day it would be in San Francisco.  Well, my sis ended up in the hospital for a few days so we didn't make that.  With trepidation, we took off to Monterey.  We always have fun and MBA was no exception.  Took a few pictures.  The Hot Pink Flamingo Exhibit is the newest one so I hadn't seen it.  To the right is a leafy sea dragon.

We had lunch/dinner in the facilities dining room and the food was just what I wanted.  Crab Cakes with a fabulous sauce, salad....with the back drop of the beautiful Pacific Ocean.  A fine day indeed.  I tried to get artistic with the wine, glasses, and binoculars and that was before I'd had a sip.

Deanie                                                                                          Patty

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial weekend some friends had a b-b-q at their home with about 15-16 people.  Guess it's always about the food  That was good ... so was the company.  Old people know how to do it!  Bob and Lynn always have great parties and Bob knows who rules.

Old peoole like to sing the oldies and we did a lot of that as Jan played the piano!

Some of the food.........

Half Moon Bay

For the last week I've been in Half Moon Bay at my nieces just hanging out, scanning old photos, catching up with my writing, and lots of dog time.  Next week I'm on the road again to Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.  Will see lots of friends along the way and am looking forward to it. 

My niece and her Buddy.....The Gypsy and her TaZzi

and that's what it's about.....the little things.......next time you hear from me, I'll be in Canada.