Different Visitors

Exploring Egmont

Morning Visitor
Thu June 3rd

A new mix of visitors today, starting with the Otter over my morning coffee, who was contravening the fishing restrictions and taking trout from the lake.  

Soon after a Red-breasted Sapsucker popped by to extract insects from one of the pines in the garden, (not sure why they are called Sapsuckers if they eat insects?) closely followed by a Western Tanager, (a member of the cardinal family, brightly coloured but quite common) were added to the list.  

Breakfast done, my main focus was the formal Transport Canada PCOC (Pleasure Craft Operators Certificate) examination.  All very formal, we are allowed 75 minutes and need circa 78% to pass.  After yesterday's online courses and tests, it took me 20 minutes for a 96% pass-rate on 50 multiple choice questions - quite chuffed.  I suppose knowing Port from Starboard on an aircraft helped!     I now know what a Cardinal buoy and a Bifurcation buoy looks like! You can look it up!
Western Tanager




Temporary certificate lodged on phone, we set off for Egmont at the top end of the Sunshine Coast, from where onward travel requires a ferry from Earls Cove if you want to get to Powell River then the northern crossing to very top of Vancouver Island.  The main reason for checking out Egmont  is that it is the base fora trail/hike to the Skookumchuck Narrows which we plan to visit next Wednesday for the 4.39pm +XL Flow Wave that appears at the rapids when the water from the Agamemnon Channel (sea channel) is forced through the neck of the Narrows.  Think the Severn Bore - but bigger. The flow waves are meant to be more impressive than the ebb waves.

Red-breasted Sapsucker

We ended up at Back Eddy Marina for lunch (very good salads), but also checked out West Coast Wilderness Lodge for a possible evening out.  They have beautiful lodges and outdoor decks for dining and events overlooking the Narrows going down to the Sechelt Inlet, stunning views and are already pretty well fully booked for 2022, after the problems of the last few years.  Their website does not do it justice. Worth a visit if you head in this direction.


We stopped off at Ruby Lake to give Jack a swim on the way back, then back to the ranch.  We were hot by the time we got back and decided a dip in Mixal was needed.  Even Fred took a dip!  It was quite warm.  Jack also took another dip and another dip and another!



Tomorrow we are off to look at a long-term rental option on Halfmoon Bay.  More to follow.
A rare Grey Dipper












Comments

  1. MaddyRJune 7, 2021 at 10:19 AM

    Freda - I hope you are sitting on top of cheeky Mike in that lake for that caption?!!

    ReplyDelete

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