Community Art

Roberts Creek Mandala

Friday Aug 3rd

About 30' across


Mandala: any of various geometric designs (usually circular) symbolizing the universe; used chiefly in Hinduism and Buddhism as an aid to meditation. source: Websters  


Started in 1997, the Mandala at Robert’s Creek was conceived by two local artists.  It has been repainted with a new design each year since except for a gap due to Covid.  The latest creation in the shape of a turtle was completed a couple of weekends back by Robert's Creek residents - adults and children.  It’s pretty impressive at ground level but can only really be appreciated from above.  


We have had a stream of visitors since mid-June and enjoyed the company of all of them. It has been great to catch up with UK friends and family. That's it for this year! It’s time for a holiday so we're off to Whistler! 


Our latest guests, Martin and Harriet, besties who we have known since our school days, were safely deposited back at YVR for their flight back to Blighty on Thursday. Their BA flight was running two hours late, (par for the course with BA lately), which was just as well, as the ferry from the Coast to Horseshoe Bay was running 45 minutes late dumping us in Vancouver in the rush hour that we’d planned to avoid.


The late outbound leg meant I missed the booked late running 1905 ferry on the way back and had to retire to the pub for the 2125. This time they were still serving food!


M&H arrived on the Coast on Sunday 7th after exploring Van Island in an RV for ten days or so and then had 24 hrs in Vancouver checking in on our Grandson and doing some sights.  As their ferry docked in Langdale on Sunday a brass band struck up while I was waiting to pick them up.  It turns out that the local Salvation Army holiday camp (Camp Sunrise) in Langdale was holding a music camp for youngsters from Vancouver and the reception was for them.  I did admit that the band was not laid on for M&H.



Their arrival was immediately preceded by another of the Sunday yacht races where we got off to a brilliant start.  A long downwind leg over the line meant we had the Spinnaker up and led the field down the far side of Keats Island.  Our boat, Mandala, is great in heavy wind and weather, but does not like light winds.  In the lea of Keats Island we lost rudder control and started going backwards with the tide at one point. After our great start we came over the line, last of the boats that finished.  C’est la vie.



We had a great few days catching up with M&H, reminiscing and viewing pics of our sprogs growing up together, of which H has loads!  Said sprogs are now more than twice the age we were when we first met!  Wednesday evening we enjoyed a seafood finale at Smitty’s Oyster Bar in Gibsons, our favorite haunt on the Coast, as others will know and enjoyed!


We strolled down to the Marina after supper as a huge superyacht had moored up in the marina. It can be hired for $100k per week in summer ($156k in Winter). It sleeps 12 guests apparently so it's a bargain at $8.3k per head. It is registered in Canada, so probably not an Oligarch's! Picture below.


M&H did arrive bearing two huge 500g jars of Marmite, which should keep us going for a while!


American Bittern
One of the walks we like to take visitors on is the trail around Smuggler Cove.  We got there early this time and at the beginning of the walk had the place largely to ourselves.  The highlight was seeing an American Bittern, the first I have ever seen.  Sadly I didn't have my camera with me but H got a picture. 


The tide was the lowest I have seen it and dozens of Ochre Sea Stars were wedged in between rocks.


Full name - 'Pisaster ochraceus, generally known as the purple sea star, ochre sea star, or ochre starfish, is a common seastar found among the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Identified as a keystone species, P. ochraceus is considered an important indicator for the health of the intertidal zone.'
 

Some were dinner plate sized
The day prior we had taken them on a canoeing trip up  the Sechelt Inlet which gave us a chance to try out our new Old Town canoe.  Jack, as ever, was in the boat before us.  On the outbound leg we canoed into the shallow 'aquarium' area where the clear waters allowed us to see star fish, crabs and a brightly coloured sea cucumber. On the way back as we were weaving our way through small islands, we came across a seal and her young pup. Pic below.


My early morning walk this morning took me past this huge off-road camper truck.  I have never seen anything quite so large.  Bikes piled on the roof and curtains drawn, all was quiet.  Curiously it had Ukrainian plates, Fred has seen it there the day before too.  That’s a long road trip, I’m curious to know the backstory!

 

Monday we will be escaping to Whistler for a week, to enjoy some alpine and lakeside activities.  Ros is there for another week before heading back to NZ and Nick, Lizzie and Seb are there till Tuesday.  We have a family dinner planned for Monday evening.  I wonder how long it will be before we are all on the same continent again!


Mother seal with pup





Off-road go-anywhere camper truck!





From Ukraine


Super yacht in Gibsons Harbour

Marmite resupply

Smitty's Oyster and Seafood bar - seafood platter ..... enough said!



Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 12, 2022 at 11:30 AM

    Indeed enough said! Martin and I thoroughly enjoyed our few days with you and hope it won't be too long before we return. The lift to the airport was gratefully accepted but it really was above the call of duty and way beyond our 50+ years of friendship....thank you Mike! We may have brought you Marmite but next visitor needs to bring decent port! Love and thanks from us both H x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MikeT67MAugust 12, 2022 at 1:18 PM

      Great fun and great to see you. Until next time ........oh and a bottle of 63! 😀

      Delete

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