Apples

First apples of the year from Harry Burton from his Appleluscious orchard Salt Spring Island at Moss Street market last Saturday.  http://www.appleluscious.com/index.html  

Harry is passionate about his apples and his apples show it.  I like to dehydrate lots in the fall so I have apples later in the year.  

Almost overnight

Finally, the winds abated last week and the water called to me to do an overnight paddle to Discovery Island.  Though it was just to be an overnight, it's a fair amount of work getting all the gear together.  Doesn't do to forget something.  Once I'm there there's no going back.  Then load the boat up at the launch and paddle the fully laden kayak the hour's paddle to the campground on the island.  It was pretty quiet when I got there.  I unloaded a few of the heaviest things and went off to fish.  Caught a nice little rock fish pretty quickly and paddled back to the campground, cleaned the fish and went for a walk to the lighthouse.  

This was a manned lighthouse for many years but, as was the case in most of these facilities around Canada under the reign of Stephen Harper, it was fully automated and operates (or not) without human presence. 

The house and buildings used by the lighthouse keepers has been left to return to the elements.  

When I got back to the campground, there was another kayak couple there talking to a guy.  I'd noticed this guy at the launch ramp - a bit  scruffy.  Couldn't put my finger on it but he just seemed out of place, bit of a fugitive look.  After he left, I talked to those folks for a while, trading kayaking stories.  They told me that the strange guy had asked them a lot of questions about camping there, how long could you stay? How about fires?  How often do the parks people check?  they told him no fires, one week stay, they check once in while.  Pretty soon he came back in a big zodiac and proceeded to unload an amazing amount of gear on to the beach.  Multiple big plastic totes, tents and shelters, a chain saw (chain saw?!) Looked like he was there for the long haul.  Made me a little uneasy camped next to him but I hoped he was quiet and figured it was probably ok.  By then it was time to start setting up camp so I began to erect my tent.  As I was doing so, a flotilla of about eight double kayaks arrived with their occupants, about 16 high school kids and their guides/chaperones.  Oh please, tell me they're not staying the night.  Then the guide instructed them to unload their camping gear and follow him to the campsite.  Oh lord.  The weird guy I would take a chance with, but 16 high school kids, no thanks.  I'm sure they were very nice kids and I hoped they'd have a good experience.  Without me.  So I put the tent away, packed the boat up again and headed home.  Aside from my overnight plans being spoiled, it was a beautiful day on the water and on the island.  

Yesterday I went back for another paddle to the island, it was such a beautiful day.  The water was like glass and there was just enough breeze to mitigate the hot sunshine.  Ideal conditions.  I circumnavigated the island, enjoyed the seals and bird life and the perfect day.  

Snack time

 Mt Baker

Another 70th birthday party

This year I told my kids that I wanted a birthday party, here at my home with all of them.  Though a couple of months after the fact, they did it.  And, in fine fashion!  The fountain in the park was turned on in my honour

 And the turtles lined up (with one imposter)

 My daughter, Charlotte, and her son, Lucien, arrived several days before the event so we had time together to not only do party preparations but to hang out together.  

They brought their bikes and we had fun riding around.  Rode several miles on our Galloping Goose trail to pick blackberries at a nature sanctuary, and to my garden several times, 



exploring Chinatown 

and out to a wonderful taco dinner.  
 

A great group of people showed up for the party

 John

Joanne

Phyllis

Nancy

Peter and Linda

Diane

The Mitchell Family with Lily and Lucien

The Thursday morning coffee crew and spouses

 

Ritchie, Ken, Sam

Jim and Charlotte

Jim and Demian

Juliet