Overcast Skies

Summer Over?

Wed Aug 18th

Dark O' Clock Start for Vancouver

Thu Aug 19th

To suggest life has settled in to a routine might imply the sense of adventure is waining, which is not the case.

We do feel settled in Gibsons.  It has a strong sense of community and a good base for exploring the Coast as well as 'mainland' BC.  I say mainland, but the Coast is actually part of mainland BC, but you can only get to it by boat, or plane.  Too many mountains in between.

The search has started for a second car as Fred is out playing tennis 3-4 times a week, usually in Sechelt, it means I'm half a day without transport each time. 

Last patch of snow

I predicted a few weeks ago that the last patches of snow on the distant mountains would be gone in a few days.  I was wrong.  As the peaks emerged from the cloak of cloud that followed rain at the beginning of the week, a small patch still exists.  For how much longer remains to be seen.

Wednesday was a local day, apart from Fred's tennis match in Sechelt.

Thursday I had an early start for Vancouver to get the car serviced.  The first ferry out is 0620.  Still dark.  The days are getting shorter and the warmth of the last few weeks a distant memory.  Surely summer can't be over already.  More rain is forecast and temperatures seem stuck around a maximum of 21c.

The early ferry meant I had some time before the service centre opened, so I met up with Nick for breakfast after a short walk on Kits beach at a favourite haunt.  Zen's on Yew St.  Best  'Bennies" in town.  

Kitsilano Beach must have one of the most beautiful views in Vancouver.  Looking out to sea it produces stunning sunsets and even on a murky morning the view of ships anchored, waiting to get into port, the distant North Shore, Stanley Park (great for cycling around) and CBD is stunning.  Nick and Lizzie's deck looks down on all this. 

After dropping off the car and picking up the loan I head out to Coquitlam to collect some wine glasses and pop in to KMS Tools to check it out and buy some wood turning blanks.  An Aladdins Cave of tools, machinery, equipment and gear - if you like that sort of thing! Jobs done and a quick visit to one of Vancouver's big car malls where the majority of dealers have showrooms and it was back to collect the serviced car.

Bad time for loo break!

Though my booked ferry wasn't until 1905, I headed back to the ferry port.  Long queues backed up from the closed toll booths, so I wasn't confident of getting on the 1730.  

The previous boat had only just left which meant the one I was aiming for was going to be running late and there were a lot of cars ahead of me.  The booths opened about 10 mins later and I joined the line to board the ferry.  

I'm not sure why anybody would head to the washrooms as the ferry was loading, but the line 10 queue had to drive round the abandoned vehicle.  Although the ferry was fully booked when I made the reservations, I was surprised the upper car deck completely empty.

 

The explanation became clear when we docked in the secondary berth at Langdale which does not have a gantry for the upper deck.  This was the boat's last journey of the day.

Turning in for an early night after an early start the moon was shining across West Howe Sound.  A restful view to end the day, though I was not enjoying it for long.

Moonlight over West Howe Sound