THIS PAST WEEKEND WE FLEW BY SEAPLANE FROM THE SUNSHINE COAST TO NANAIMO VANCOUVER ISLAND TO VISIT WITH MY SISTER SUE AND AUDREY. FRIDAY MORNING WAS COLD, AROUND 5 CELCIUS BUT THE WEATHER AND WATER WAS CALM. CHRIS (THE PILOT WITH WESTCOAST AIR) GAVE US A BEAUTIFUL 20 MINUTE RIDE WITH A SMOOTH TAKE OFF FROM PORPOISE BAY INLET, FLYING ACROSS THE GEORGIA STRAIT BETWEEN VANCOUVER ISLAND AND THE SUNSHINE COAST AND LANDING IN NANAIMO HARBOUR. THE WONDERFUL THING IS THAT THIS TAKES ONLY 20 MINUTES VERSUS BETWEEN 5 AND 6 HOURS IF WE GO BY FERRY, WHERE WE HAVE TO TAKE 2 FERRIES IN EACH DIRECTION AND GO VIA VANCOUVER ON THE LOWER MAINLAND OF BRITISH COLUMBIA!
IF YOU HAVE NEVER TAKEN A FLIGHT ON A SEAPLANE WITH THE FLOATS IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE - FABULOUS VIEWS OVER THE GEORGIA STRAIT, CLOSE TO THE WATER SO SOMETIMES WE GET TO SEE THE KILLER WHALES (ORCAS), DOLPHINS, SEA LIONS, FISH JUMPING AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES ON THE BUSY GEORGIA STRAIT - LOG BOOMS PULLED BY TUGS, FISHING BOATS, AND THE LARGE CONTAINER SHIPS SAILING BETWEEN VANCOUVER AND ASIA.
THIS WAS A VERY SHORT VISIT - WE WERE SNEAKING IN A 24 HOUR BREAK FROM OUR BUSY SCHEDULE AT TRAVELMASTERS. WE WENT TO MALVE HOUSE FOR AN EARLY 3 COURSE DINNER - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED IF YOU GET THE CHANCE TO VISIT NANAIMO. AFTERWARDS WE SPENT 5 HOURS WATCHING EVEREST - THE AMAZING DISCOVERY CHANNEL MOVIE ABOUT THE 2006 ASCENT OF EVEREST, HIMALAYAS - AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.
SUE, AUDREY AND JAN, ALONG WITH LINDA AND MICHELLE FROM SECHELT, CLIMBED KILIMANJARO TANZANIA THIS PAST AUGUST - SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND OUR INTEREST IN THIS EVEREST MOVIE AND THE DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE AND COLD. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ABOUT OUR INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE ON KILIMANJARO GO TO WWW.KILIMANJAROKRAWLERS.BLOGSPOT.COM
WHILE WE WERE WATCHING THE EVEREST DVD'S, THE SNOW STARTED TO FALL OUTSIDE - BY THE TIME WE WENT TO BED THERE WAS AT LEAST 2 TO 3 INCHES ON THE GROUND!
BY SATURDAY MORNING IT WAS A TRUE WINTER WONDERLAND SO WE ENJOYED OUR BREAKFAST WATCHING THE BIRDS EATING THE SEED AND SUET IN THE GARDEN, AND SEEING THE SNOW TRUCKS AND PLOWS ON THE STREETS OUTSIDE. AFTER A FAST SHOPPING TRIP WITH CHRISTMAS MUSIC AND DECORATIONS IN ALL THE STORES, WE HEADED OFF TO THE FOX AND HOUNDS FOR A TYPICALLY BRITISH LUNCH OF STEAK AND KIDNEY PIE AND BEER (WELL, I HAD WINE!). THE FOOD AND ATMOSPHERE IN THIS SMALL AND COZY PUB IS EXCELLENT AND WE HEARD THAT THIS BRITISH COUPLE ARE OPENING UP A PUB, CALLED THE BLACK GOOSE, IN PARKSVILLE ON THE WATER IN JUST ABOUT 3 WEEKS TIME - WE SHALL DEFINITELY TRY THAT ON ONE OF OUR NEXT TRIPS TO VANCOUVER ISLAND.
WE CAUGHT THE 3:10PM SEAPLANE BACK TO SECHELT (JUST 3 PASSENGERS SO A COUPLE OF EMPTY SEATS) AND BY 4PM WE WERE BACK AT HOME AND WORKING ON THE COMPUTER LOOKING AFTER TRAVEL PLANS FOR OUR CLIENTS. WE ARRIVED TO SUNSHINE IN SECHELT BUT THE SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINS WAS VERY LOW DOWN ALMSOT TO SEA LEVEL - SEE THE PHOTO ABOVE TAKEN WHEN WE ARRIVED.
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A QUICK BREAK - NANAIMO IS A GREAT PLACE TO GO. YOU CAN TAKE THE SEAPLANE FROM SECHELT (AND VANCOUVER) AND IN JUST 20 MINUTES BE ENJOYING A BREAK AWAY.
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