Recently, a friend from Alberta came to spend a few days with us. Her daughters came up with this great idea as a gift for Christmas 2023. She hasn’t been here at all since we moved in 2011 (and not for years before that either). Although I didn’t take photos everywhere we went, I did get enough to share here.
The next day we got an early start so I could begin by showing off our local farmers market, Qualicum Beach Farmers Market. She even picked up some specialty, locally made chocolate for her grandchildren as a surprise for Easter.
After the market and stopping for a coffee at our favourite local bakery, we were off to Englishman River Falls Provincial Park where we went for a short walk and took a few photos. Afterwards, we drove out to Cameron Lake and to experience the splendour of Cathedral Grove (old growth forest).
In between Englishman River Falls, before heading out to Cathedral Grove, we stopped for a great lunch at Cuckoos Trattoria in Coombs. While there we did a walk around to see the goats and check out the Old Farm Market.
We walked the main waterfront beach in Qualicum watching resident sea lions and seals watching us back; the many people out on the water whether in boats or paddle boarding; and simply soaked up the sunshine and salty air. We also walked the lovely beachside trail in Rathtrevor Beach as well as the boardwalk in the Parksville Community Park. And for a grand finale, we drove to French Creek Marina where Gisela got to watch one of the herring boats unloading, which is always very interesting.
Although I had all these different stops and visits planned while she was here, I made sure our evenings were slow and relaxed even if the days were relatively full of exploration. I’m hoping I showed my friend what we have to offer at this time of year and that it will be an appetizer to come again at another time of year to take in even more.
Nice way to do it — making sure there’s time to R&R.
We are still under deep snow and well-below-freezing temperatures at night.
Shouldn’t be long now, though. There are wild swings from low to high temperatures; lots of melting, then freezing, which means lots of dangerous ice.
It is what it is, right?!
-Kate
What great photos, Diane — and how fun to be able to relive my little visit through them! Thank you! And I certainly hope I can come back sometime to experience even more of what the Island has to offer. You are so fortunate to live where you do — but I know I don’t have to tell YOU that!