Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Beach walking...weekend highlights.

Last weekend we motored over to South Pender Island.
The weather was positively gorgeous and we were snug and cozy nestled in our bunks for several nights of sweet slumber, gently lulled by the action of the tide.


The sunsets were amazing...


I finished The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry which I really enjoyed and have started reading Meg Wolitzer's new novel, The Interestings.
I'm impressed by her writing style and must remember to read some of her previous novels.


We savoured some succulent oysters in a mignonette sauce on the outdoor patio.
The Pender Island vineyard Sea Star Ortega was the perfect pairing...
so good in fact, that we purchased a few bottles to take home.


Keeping cool was a challenge...
the daily dips in the pool were essential.


Canada Geese and their goslings swam to and fro...from boat to boat hoping for a handout.


This cannon sits near the Canadian Customs dock...
I wonder if it a warning.


One of the most relaxing things to do when one gets off the boat is to saunter leisurely on a beach...
beach combing with hopes of finding some smooth sea glass or a shell.
Looking at Mother Nature's handiwork never gets boring...


The beach is made up mostly of clam shells...generally referred to as a midden.

The First Nations people would have eaten the clams as they were plentiful and easy to harvest.
The ocean would have provided a rich diet of seafood and the many small protected harbours would have been easy to reach by canoe for the hunter gatherers.

Archaeological digs are quite common on the Gulf Islands.
Arrowheads can still be found if one knows where to look.



The local Arbutus trees have a red bark that peels away like paper revealing a limey green wood underneath.


Seaweed and barnacles


The ocean is cold so I rarely swim in the sea.
There were people swimming and I am sure it would have been refreshing given the heat.






One big Barnacle!


Put to use as a place to store change...
toonies for the marina showers.

Hope you've enjoyed this wee peek into our latest boating adventure.
It's back to work for Mr. HB and I'll be catching up on the domestics and gardening 
here at The Humble Bungalow.


24 comments:

La Vie Quotidienne said...

What a lovely outing...it all looks so refreshing and beautiful, a wonderful lift to the spirit.

I loved the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye, such a thoughtful book, I will have to look into The Interestings...it's always great to get a book recommendation.

Susan said...

I can just picture you and your husband on this weekend outing. The photo of the sunset is so beautiful.

LPC said...

Oh, now you've made me crave the ocean terribly! Thank you:).

kim at northerncalstyle. said...

Wow, what a beautiful spot! These kind of getaways are so classic summer. Your photos are gorgeous. I hope you had a great holiday. x Kim

Lorrie said...

It was a beautiful time to be out on the water, and so warm that I was tempted to swim, too. But I cooled off simply by dabbling my feet in the water. Lovely sights. That's one big barnacle!

Anonymous said...

Just curious . . . a while back we hear of "melting starfish" along the Pacific coast, people were suspecting it had something to do with Fukushima. You've been boating in the area for a long time, any noticeable difference in your opinion?

Madame Là-bas said...

What lovely photos! You must be really happy to have the boat and to be able to enjoy the islands. Oysters, clams and mussels could be my diet too!

KSL said...

What a beautiful post - I too love boating, beach walks and swims. I often wander on the beach for hours looking at whatever the sea has washed up. I can't imagine not living near the sea.

Adrienne Shubin said...

How I miss your corner of the world. Such stunning natural beauty!
I have The Interestings on my summer reading list (my much neglected summer reading list). I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it once you've read it.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I've been eagerly reading your blog and it's no doubt that you have not had time to read given you've been busy Vlogging and attending conferences.
I think one of the reasons that I like it so much is that it takes place at a time when I was going through the same kinds of experiences and events in my life as the main characters.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

What are you reading this summer?

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

The sky was on fire in that sunset and I wonder if it might be all the forest fires in the interior that made it look so red.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I hope you have an opportunity to visit a beach sometime soon...

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Boating is so relaxing...and it is a very simple way of holidaying...
I loved your white outfit on the latest HIWM group post on Adrienne and Jill's blogs.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

It was a fabulous weekend and it looks like the weather will be warm for a few more weeks...happy cruising fellow boater!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Scientists would have to answer that question but I have heard from several people that the PH of the ocean has changed...thankfully we saw the orcas put on quite the show just off Stuart Island on our way into the harbour. Nature and the ecosystem are under serious threats by gobal warming and climate changes.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I think you and I like the same kinds of food...we are so fortunate that we both live on the coast. My SIL lives in the interior and they never get fresh seafood so when they visit we serve salmon and crab to them.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

California has many beautiful beaches...I'd love to spend some time there.
Can you walk to the beach or do you drive? What is your most prized beach find?

No Sacrifice Bags said...

Amazing sunset photo! Glad your'e having wonderful weather on you boating holiday.

Deborah Montgomery said...

sounds so wonderful to be rocked to sleep by the waves. looks like it was a lovely trip!

Stephen Andrew said...

What a fabulous photo you got of the pool! The underwater woman is such a great layer to the scene.

Pondside said...

It sounds like it was a perfect weekend. The weather has certainly been outstanding! I love the little barnacle change-holder.

About Last Weekend said...

Wow, what fabulous photos, sunsets, water and pools and oysters - my kind of time. what a wonderful break...
I read that book and can't remember the characters now...but I remember getting fed up with them and thinking at one stage they weren't that interesting. Oh now i remember, yes its was a Donna Tart group of preppy people at camp and they way they turned out and talent wasted or not quite used. Now I think of it it was an interesting concept but i wasn't sure I cared about the main character towards the end...Now I'm doing so many writing courses, it's been fascinating to look back at books in another way....

Lynne said...

Wonderful photos and sounds like a wonderful outing . . .