#155 Aug 2017 Vancouver Island Friends

Retirement gives Ralph and I the opportunity to decide when and where we spend our time. Many of our friends are retired as well and have the same options. In August we managed to find a weekend where all our Vancouver Island friends were home and beds were available. We just took the Suzuki.

We tried to get a ferry reservation for Saturday morning but there were none available. We set the alarm and hoped to catch the 7:45 ferry to Duke Point in Nanaimo. We arrived at the Tsawwassen terminal more than an hour before sailing time. There were only five more vehicles onto the ferry behind us. A close call since the next ferry was 10:15, which would have been a long wait and less visiting time on the Island.

The sky was clearing nicely as we left the Tsawwassen pier.

 

 

Roberts Bank Superport is just north of Tsawassen Ferry Terminal. It is one of the busiest import/export ports in North America and a major hub for container trucking companies.

 

It is also a major coal export port. In the Lower Mainland and along the coast of Washington State there are many protests about the dust from coal trains.

In Living Forest RV Resort in Nanaimo we visited Al and Brian and Tigger. Happy hour was in an empty RV site with a view of the ocean.

 

Tigger is always ready for his happy hour treat.

We continued to talk and eat through the evening and the next morning.

Sunday we drove to Colwood in Greater Victoria. This time we saw Marg and Paul and not just their house. Last winter we used their home twice while we were on the Island. They have been great friends for over 35 years.

Monday morning was bright and clear for the solar eclipse.

We had four pairs of glasses and a camera filter to watch the event.

This was about an hour into the eclipse.

At the maximum of the eclipse the temperature dropped noticeably.

Paul was taking pictures with his cell phone and noticed some interesting effects so I used the camera and phone. We stood in the garage and held the phones outside. Notice the reflections in the sky show the outline of the sun.

Some reflections looked like flying saucers!

 

And then it got brighter and warmer.

From Victoria we viewed 91% of the total eclipse. The best spot in Canada. A truly exciting natural phenomenen.

Later we met Lorraine and Peter for supper in an old English style pub in Oak Bay. Great visiting with local beer and pub food.

That evening the ferry ride was spectacular. Beautiful weather and view.

Mount Baker stood clear and bright.

 

And then we spotted orcas spouting. What a delight!

The final touch to a memorable weekend was a breathtaking sunset over the ocean.