Ruckle's Farm on Saltspring Island

While on a visit to the fall fair on Saltspring Island, in September of 2012, we also drove by the farm at Ruckle Provincial Park. We weren't the only ones there, admiring the late summer yellowish browns. As I was walking about looking for good postcard shots, I noticed a group of water colour artists also trying their hand at capturing these unique colours.

The classic Gulf Island late summer palette (12-09-15)

Ruckle Farm on Saltspring Island: I've never
liked the word "bucolic", but this is it (12-09-15)

Ruckle Farm on Saltspring Island:
Country Road (12-09-15)

 A collection of buildings at Ruckle Farm (12-09-15)

Ruckle Farm on Saltspring Island (12-09-15)

120915

Parksville: Sand Sculpting Competition & Exhibition

On the 3rd of August, what with the day being overcast, we took a drive to Parksville to have a look at the Sand Sculpting Competition & Exhibition.

Parksville: Sand Sculpting Competition
 & Exhibition

In years gone by, we've somehow never made it. We either forgot or, having driven to Parksville, found the crowds too much for us, and parking to be horrendous. On this day, everything was perfect. For a nominal donation ($2.50 per person), we were delighted to see some really creative sand art. This post represents my impressions of the sand sculpting exhibition. I may have noted who won, and what prizes were awarded, but really, in my mind, every creation was a winner.

Let the reader guess which fairy tales are depicted...

Parksville: Sand Sculpting Competition
 & Exhibition

Clever: Rub-a-dub-dub... Three men from the pub

Parksville: Sand Sculpting Competition
 & Exhibition

Sand Sculpting Competition & Exhibition
in Parksville: Hanne was
convinced that crack was real... Now THAT'S GOOD

I love this detail

Parksville: Sand Sculpting Competition
 & Exhibition

Sand Sculpting Competition & Exhibition in Parksville

Troll. Billy goats

My personal favourite: a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen

My personal favourite: a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen

Texada Island: Swimming the Limestone Quarry

DANGER, the sign says. High cliffs and subsurface ledges it continues. But a steady stream of cars find their way to the side of the road where a dusty trail leads hot summer visitors to the fresh waters of an abandoned limestone quarry. Young and old, schlepping beach chairs, blankets, towels, coolers, and sundry floating devices, make their way to the few spots available at the edge of the turquoise waters.

DANGER (2011-08-23)

The limestone quarry in question is to found on Texada Island, that rather large, but seemingly forgotten island in the Salish Sea.


After a day or two of swimming in the salt water surrounding the island, the waters of the quarry offer welcome relief from the brine. NOTE: the shower hours at the Shelter Point Regional Park campground are limited, so washing off the brine is a hit or miss proposition for Texada campers.

Turquoise waters of the Texada Island limestone quarry (2011-08-23)

A few "bays" in the turquoise waters of the
Texada Island limestone quarry (2011-08-23)

A few "bays" in the turquoise waters of the
Texada Island limestone quarry (2011-08-23)

Take your favourite floatation device and explore the
Texada Island limestone quarry (2011-08-23)

If you're lucky, you find a spot right by the waters of
Texada Island's limestone quarry (2011-08-23)

DANGER
Texada Island's limestone quarry (2011-08-23)

Antique Clinton

OK, OK, so this isn't a post about "antique Clinton", but rather about some interesting antiques in Clinton. However, there is a wild west, cowboy sort of antique feel to the village of Clinton.

Cariboo Lodge; 
our Clinton home for the night (2013-04-30)

I've felt that way since I first saw the town back in 1958 (or was it 1959?) when I was a little lad. At that time  I fell in love with how it looked just like the towns in all the Hollywood Westerns. Not much has changed; the history remains fascinating. On our last visit, April 2013, we spent some time poking around the numerous antique shops in the area. Poke around these shops, and you'll get a flavour of the Western movie.

Palace Hotel building in Clinton;
right out of the Wild West (2013-04-30)

Clinton Museum (2013-04-30)

"MANY GOOD THINGS";
antique shop sign in Clinton (2013-04-30)

"Antique" wagon wheels tell of Clinton's past  (2013-04-30)

Greatest collection of antiques in Clinton (2013-04-30)

Antiques. Greyhound terminal. SEARS outlet.
All in one. That's Clinton (2013-04-30)

Residential Clinton, BC (2013-04-30)

Pinnacles Provincial Park

2013-05-03
A short visit to see the hoodoos at Pinnacle Provincial Park near Quesnel, British Columbia.

A fairly level trail leads visitors to some amazing geological formations.

It looks like a giant [BLANK]. 

Well it does, doesn't it?

Feeling silly, we made fun of the first "rock" we encountered; "it looks like a giant [BLANK]"

A view of Quesnel, BC below

Our first sight of the hoodoo

Hoodoos... typically consist of relatively soft rock topped by harder, less easily eroded stone that protects each column from the elements...

Swallows nesting in the hoodoos

Way down below; Baker Creek

Basalt columns

Let's visit Denman Island

Let's visit Denman Island (Photos taken:2007-08-25)

Gravelly Bay, Denman Island; terminal for departures to Hornby Island (2007-08-25)

A non-conforming gas station I'm sure;
Denman Village  (2007-08-25)

Nothing says funky, hippy, Gulf Island quite like the
Denman Island General Store (2007-08-25)

One for the road, er, ferry (2007-08-25)

Whaletown on Cortes Island

The feature in this post is Whaletown on Cortes Island.

Photos taken: 2011-07-12

Government dock and General store in Whaletown (2011-07-12)

Government dock at Whaletown (2011-07-12)

Must be the smallest Canada Post office; at Whaletown (2011-07-12)

Tiny church at Whaletown, Cortes Island (2011-07-12)

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Wooden Footbridge over the Fraser River

At 831 feet (253m) long, Quesnel’s Old Fraser River Bridge is the longest wooden truss walking bridge in the world.

Quesnel’s Old Fraser River Bridge

Quesnel’s Old Fraser River Bridge

Fraser River at Quesnel

Old Alexandra Bridge over the Fraser River

On a trip in June, we pulled off Highway #1, between Boston Bar and Yale, to have a look at the old Alexandra Bridge over the Fraser River. (NOTE: the turn-off is easy to miss if your travelling north on Highway #1)

This spot is designated a Provincial Park. There's convenient parking and toilet (outhouse) facilities. The walk down to the bridge takes about 15 minutes over a well-maintained path.

Old Alexandra Bridge over the Fraser River

Old Alexandra Bridge

Old Alexandra Bridge construction details

Old Alexandra Bridge construction details

GOOGLE MAPS: Location of Old Alexandra Bridge over the Fraser River