Wednesday Aug 5 - Thursday Aug 13 Whiskey Creek, BC
After a very enjoyable long weekend visiting friends, we headed out the Alberni Hwy from Parksville towards Whiskey Creek Campground. We haven't stayed there before; we're there for just over a week.
Thursday afternoon, we went for a walk, back down the country road, to where the road forked; we'd taken the left fork, to the campground, yesterday. There's a sign here that points up the right fork to Whiskey Creek Farm.
It's Saturday! In the early afternoon we walked to the Farm to check it out.
There were a few people around and a short lineup for the bakery. I didn't need the temptation so I just bought a dozen eggs. We had a quick look around the place and then returned to the campground.
I did take some pics to give you a flavour of Whiskey Creek Farm. Friendly staff and nice looking bakery goods!
A short distance up the road we saw this.
But of course...the Starship Enterprise for all you trekkies out there.
Then I pointed this out to Jen. Do you recognize what this sculpture depicts??
We no sooner turned the corner before we ran into this. Check out the typo.
Jen certainly wouldn't have to climb into this vehicle, but she might have to climb out, me too!
Monday already!
We were going to head to Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park yesterday (Sunday) but thought it might be less crowded on a weekday. So today's the day. The weather is lovely; the sky is blue with just a slight breeze. Let's go!
Sunday afternoon we drove into Qualicum Beach just to do some grocery shopping. I didn't think anything would warrant a comment until we pulled into the parking lot and saw this low-rider. Looks like the licence plate just misses scraping the pavement.
Here are 3 videos that I shot on our visit today.
Still on the bridge, but looking downstream. The water sure is clear!
On the path to the lower falls we ran into some stairs, then some more stairs. Fortunately they are descending. But what about the return trip? Navigating these steps again will certainly tire Jen out.
We enjoyed our coffee on a bench in the sunshine.
Finally at the bottom, on the bridge at the lower falls, I took this picture of the lower falls.
We parked at the first small parking area on the way to the main area. We walked along the trail to the upper falls and continued along the trail to the picnic area by the main parking lot. After enjoying the coffee we had brought with us, and the Oatmeal Choc. Chip cookies too, we followed the trail to the lower falls.
Here are some pictures.
Tuesday morning we drove into Parksville to drop off our weekly laundry. I met Maria & Beth at the Craig Street Laundry back in the fall of 2014 when we returned to the Island from Nova Scotia. They didn't charge much more than what it cost me to do the laundry at Beach Acres if I did it myself. A no-brainer! So as we are in the neighbourhood, they get our business. Thanks Maria & Beth!!
One of our favourite walks in Parksville is the boardwalk, so that's where we headed. It's another lovely day.
As we enjoyed our treats, guess what pulled in beside us? A 1960's-era Ford Falcon Futura! Sure looked in pretty good nick!
Over in Port, we parked by the Somass River and relaxed. Just about coffee time, I searched for a bakery in town. Aha, there's the Mountain View Bakery & Deli within walking distance. Off I go!
On the way there and back, I took a few pictures of the flowers.
Thursday's plan was to drop by One of a Kind Creative Woodcrafting. They sell Sleeping Barrels and Barrel Saunas! We spoke to Lynne who invited us in to see the Sleeping Barrel display on the enclosed front deck. On the way through the showroom, we stopped and admired this door.
The artist, and owner of One of a Kind, is Dave Byers. Dave carved this door out of one solid piece of wood (some exotic variety that I forgot to get the name of). It's being shipped to New Brunswick next week and is a gift to a First Nations community there. It's a surprise, so don't tell.
Again, the door is handcarved out of a solid piece of wood. Those are NOT branches that were added later. It took Dave 6 months to carve this magnificent door. It is truly a work of art.
Wednesday morning we decided to take our coffee and drive out to Cameron Lake, west of Whiskey Creek, on the way to Port Alberni.
Back at the campground, we just had to stop and say hello to our new furry friend: a Bernadoodle (Bernaise Mountain dog & poodle cross) named Apollo - 95 pounds of tail-wagging energy!
As we turned around at the end of the walkway, we noticed these stone "sculptures".
Well, that's about it for Whiskey Creek. Tomorrow we head for Pineridge Farm RV off the road to Spider Lake.
We'll see you there.
Here's a Sauna Barrel. I wondered how private this was with the clear bubble at the end but Lynne assured me that when the door is closed, you cannot see in. By golly, I think she is right!
But that's not we came for. We wanted to see a sleeping barrel.
