Otters Three

Boxes Nil

Fri Jun 3rd. 

That's not strictly true.  We still have some stuff in boxes, but ones that were already boxed before we packed up Eastcourt House; books, children's toys etc.  They are unlikely to be unpacked any time soon, well maybe some of the children's toys!

The last week has flown by.  I guess the busier you are the quicker time goes.

Last Friday and Sunday, the choir had two concerts in Sechelt and Gibsons, which were both well received.  Rehearsals have now started for the next piece, 'A Little Jazz Mass' by Bob Chilcott.  We have until the end of the month to perfect it for its first airing.

Some friends came in for a drink after the Sunday concert and it was warm enough to sit on the deck and enjoy the setting sun.  "A bear has just gone down the road" said one of our guests.  I grabbed my camera and rushed down to the road, as a large Black Bear was ambling past the mail boxes, before wandering up into the woods towards Chaster Creek.  

A regular route according to a fellow dog walker who Fred was talking to, as they move between the ravine at the top of our road and the one at Chaster Creek.  It's rather nice to see them wandering around.

Sunday morning Fred took part in a coaching session with a visiting high-profile Pro-coach from Vancouver.  If the week of shifting and emptying boxes wasn't enough of a physical drain, the tennis finished her off.  

The only thing to do in such circumstances is to sit on a sunny deck drinking chilled Okanagan sparkling watching the sun go down.

The rest of the week was spent, unpacking boxes and getting rid of the empty cartons to the recycling centre.

Three trips with the seats down and doors squeezed shut.  On one visit I managed to block the shipping container which acts as the cardboard receptacle, where one end has a large 'letter box' hole cut to take the cardboard.  Subsequent recyclers were left rather frustrated as I quietly exited the car park.  The local Salvation Army thrift store has been getting daily deliveries.  Fred is now on first name terms with the 'Sister'.  Five more boxes to go and the local group helping Ukrainians being settled in BC are also about to benefit from quite a few boxes of duplicate bedding and furniture.

There has been no sign of the Grey Whale(s) in the last week, which seem to have moved North up the Coast and were last seen around Halfmoon Bay.  We have though had three young Otters fishing, eating and grooming off Bonniebrook Beach.  I happened to have my camera with me on Tuesday when they emerged onto a rock, having swum along eating fish as they went. 

They were there again this morning, though as rain was forecast, I didn't have my camera.  They are a delight to watch.  

As they were heading up the beach to cross the road and get into one of the creeks, I headed off.  They are known to attack dogs if they feel threatened and Jack is one curious spaniel!

There have also been a pair of Belted Kingfishers working the beach this week.  

One of them obligingly perched on the same rock that I saw the Otters on a few days later.  This is the female with the rust patches under the wing.  They always look as though they are having a bad hair day!

The male doesn't have the rust patches under the wing.

Female Belted Kingfisher

I extended my morning dog walk further along the beach one morning, beyond where the road stops.  I've tended to avoid the foreshore as Jack has developed a taste for vacant crabs shells and occasionally not so vacant which tend to upset his digestive system!  Friends who live on Hopkins Landing ended up with a $,000's vet bill after their Golden Retriever developed a similar taste.  He now wears a muzzle on the beach.

Towards the far end, I came across a Robinson Crusoe raft.  A fellow walker explained some teenagers had spent a day building it the week before before setting sail.  

Complete with a rudder blade that pivots down in to the water and steering connected to a tiller or joystick.  Quite clever design and construction,  Robinson Crusoe would have been proud of that!

Nick, Lizzie and Sebastian are heading over for the weekend and then the Norfolk Cronks arrive on Tuesday for a jam-packed three weeks, including some whale watching off the north of Vancouver Island.  Fred will be looking after Jack as she doesn't do boats other than ferries on mill ponds.  This is the beginning of our summer season, with Ros and Fred's sister coming over in July, some friends late June and more friends early August, by which time we'll be ready for a holiday!

As I write this blog Fred has returned from shopping with the rain tipping it down.  'Biblical' was her description.   We are in for a lot more.  

It does have a rather serene side.....

Some more pics of the week below.

One of several trips like this!