Last Paddle of 2010

Weather cooperated today, it was cold though and the Christmas turkey and all the trimmings had taken it's toll on all five of us. We managed to paddle out to Soames Point (C) after having an interesting time at Granthams Landing (B) where we were stuck on a huge drifting log.

After the wind and rain lately, Howe Sound is full of driftwood and floating logs, lots of navigation hazards and at times a bit of a slalom course. The return trip was fueled by thoughts of coffee and baked yummies at the Black Bean.

Stumpy

Down the tree, onto the stump, always with one eye on danger.

The Nuthouse

Squiggy has his routine, uses the birdhouse attached to the tree to scope out the safety zone (avoiding the neighbourhood cat brigade) and then runs down to the second stump feeder, or the little red nuthouse, to feast on the daily trimmings.

Return of the red headed Chicken

We have not seen the Pileated Woodpecker on the stump feeder before, however, the bird food is attracting everything, usually mornings are flooded with all types of birds, and the squirrel of course, afternoons the vacuum cleaners arrive in the form of a parade of deer. Rinse, repeat.

Snow Poet

Snow was here for a day
November rain took it all away
(starting to wish it was May)
Oh look, a Stellar's Jay

Loaf Evolution

The breadmaking continues, we have refined the original product, which sometimes had a height problem if the dough was too moist during rising, the loaf has evolved into what our parents would describe as a large "unsliced tin" a definition I struggled with when I was young as I had no idea that bread was cooked in tins.

Here is the evolved model, five cups of wholewheat flour in this one, the key thing is that the ratio of everything is important, so my slap happy bread making days are behind me.

Oh yes, must always mention it makes cracking toast.

Snow Day

The temperature has warmed slightly, so the usual late November rain is replaced this year with snow, and quite a bit. I walked to the post office this morning and snow is dropping out of the sky like it was Ontario. This will not stop the long trek to the Blackfish pub this afternoon as we have a responsibility to be customers whatever the weather.

Varied Thrush

The cold weather has hastened the liberal application of wild bird food on the feeders in the back garden. The usual suspects are appearing.

Deep Freeze

No paddling today of course, it was minus sixteen on the water thanks to the Arctic breeze we have been enjoying, bringing unseasonably cold temperatures, but bright blue skies. North Shore mountains a week after the other photo.

Canada Geese

The blast of Arctic air may encourage the large flock of Canada geese we have in Gibsons to move South sooner than later. A couple of them, enjoying the more tropical temperatures of a week ago.

Novembrrrrghhhh.

A week ago, the North Shore mountains looked like this, perhaps if the minus temperatures expected tomorrow allow the camera to operate without freezing (and I feel like going out) then I will add the "much dusted" visage that we viewed today.

Duck!

A few of the more attractive aforementioned ducks. A very high cuteness factor here.

Spot the Pigeon

I don't actually know if that was it's name, caught in focus down at the marina, fighting for food with a rabble of ducks.

Derek Smith

Saturday was a busy social day and in the morning a surprise Gibsons visit from an old friend, Derek Smith, last time I saw him was probably 17 years ago. We watched his boys team beat the Sunshine Coast minor hockey team at Brothers Arena.

Autumn Walk

The walk back from the landing, a steep trek up School road, along Sargeant and up the path to Abbs, a look down towards the marina and the bluffs, Keats Island in the background and way in the distance a sneak peak of Bowen Island.

Bonus Friday

The phone rang and I was bleary eyed as Karen asked "do you want to paddle" and my first thoughts were of snuggling back under the quilt, but then I agreed and we went off for a 10.30am jaunt. The Hopkins landing float provided a mid point break and we saw our first sea lion in Howe Sound who seemed very interested in his first sighting of an outrigger.

Lest We Forget

To commemorate all those who step into the light to push back the darkness.

Photo taken in Victoria, Vancouver Island, 2003

Cormorant

Typically the water was like a millpond today (because we were supposed to go paddling yesterday) and the bay was busy with Cormorants fishing. They have a habit of predicting when you are about to press the shutter button and then dive, here is one that did not get away.

Fox Sparrow

It is easier to sneak up on these little blighters when you have a decent zoom lens on your side.

Bald Eagle

The rain fell hard yesterday, turning a paddling day into a shopping day. Today the weather is totally different, bright blue skies, sunshine and excellent walking temperature, so we set off on an extended walk down to the shore. Here a bald eagle at maximum camera zoom, riding on thermals over Granthams.

Biffday

Today it was Karen's birthday, spent in the big city of Vancouver, craft beers and good food, some more paddling gear as fantastic prizes and a big wedge of Cheshire cheese and chocolate from Whole Foods to contemplate, it was a good day. We made it by the skin of our teeth to the 5.30 pm ferry home and in the kitchen a huge bottle of Californian red awaits to be consumed before bedtime.

Karen, 1964

(And I was under the impression she was 39)

November

Tuesday Paddle. It was a great day today, especially considering we are in November, the winter rules of the paddle club are now active and our excursions will be kept in a narrow corridor between Gibsons Marina and Hopkins Landing. That may sound boring but safety is paramount at this time of the year.

Today a total 70 minute paddle, 35 minutes down to Hopkins for a half time respite from the cardio, a chat about house buying and the joys and perils of real estate as we held court at the Hopkins float, then a 26 minute sprint back to Gibsons in what felt like "slow" water.

As usual, there followed a mug of hot coffee as the survivors discussed future plans at the Black Bean coffee shop on Marine drive.

Autumn

Nature has a way of filling in the blanks.

Natural landscaping, mushrooms hiding behind the post box on Tricklebrook Way.

Discovery

I was looking through a Victorian book about strange birds and guess what I found on page 325:

(The Mother in Law)

Ducks

We see them everywhere, all different shapes, here, a pair of very special harlequin ducks on a seaweed covered rock down at Roberts Creek.

Strange Birds

Yes, you see a lot of strange birds on the beach down at Roberts Creek.

Cormorant

We believe these to be double crested cormorants but there are no fine black plumes evident on the head.

This big guy was drying himself off as several younger birds (or females) grouped around him, he was strutting his stuff, keeping order on the rock.

Closer

The new camera is being tested, it is a Canon SX10is with 20 times optical zoom and image stabilization.

Today we walked along the beach at Roberts Creek and took a series of shots of a group of double crested cormorants sat on a seabound rock, under normal conditions a shot this close with the old camera would have been impossible, and the detail not as sharp.

Click on the image to see detail.

Animal Magic

I look at this picture and I hear the voice of the late and great TV presenter Johnny Morris saying in a typical baby animal voice "Mam, Mam, wait for me Mam" - the two seals paraded around the harbor all the time we were there today, fishing we suppose or maybe just out for a stroll.

Young Pup

A young seal pup, grey and white mottled coat, chasing after it's mum in the harbour this afternoon.

Dribble

A young gull on the pier today, unaware of my new zoom lens, planning to fly away as I get within photo distance, his plans thwarted.

Watcher

It seems that there is always one of these chaps around, watching as we go through our daily nothingness, making mental notes as to where we are and what we are up to, a dossier to be used for no good I bet.

Single wide Migration

It is that time of the year again when double wides are splitting and migrating North to return to their single wide lifestyle, we have seen this happen twice in two days, male and female "wide loads" flocking past our front yard.

We will watch the progress as another new house is built in the neighbourhood.

Deer Xing

A random deer, looking to see if the grass is in fact greener on the other side of the road.

Women in Tights

The better half, just before we threw her out of the airplane.

New gear after our trip to Mountain Equipment Co-op, MEC CyclPad 3mm Neoprene gloves, MEC Moque boots, MEC pants, MEC silks, MEC toque.

Black Spider Rendezvous

Here I am, a few weeks short of Halloween playing the role of Charlie Sheen in Navy Seals.

New gear after our trip to Mountain Equipment Co-op, MEC CyclPad 3mm Neoprene gloves, MEC Moque boots and an MEC toque. The new Stohlquist Drifter PFD was from Gibsons Marina.

The CyclPad gloves make your hands feel like cartoon "claymation" hands, but gosh, they are warm.

Lamb Islets

At the end of Sechelt Inlet Road (the road just stops!) there is a place called Tuwanek. The inlet presents a small group of islands, popular with the locals called the Lamb Islets:

Sechelt Inlet

A few aerial shots of the Sechelt Inlet from our floatplane trip:

Around the Bend

The "North" corner of Keats Island, past the Shelter Islands (or Sangster Islands, or whatever they are called) to an edge followed by a right hand turn towards Barnabas Landing.

Crane

Not the wildlife sort, a floating crane on the other side of Sangster Island, spotted on the Tuesday paddle.

October

Yes, it's the time of rain again, blue coats and wet walks in Cliff Gilker park, hopefully pictures of coho salmon soon, rushing to their destiny up Roberts Creek, here, the good woman is showing off her new bridge.

Thanksgiving

It was a lovely walk today, down to the marina, October rain and mist, the sound of a penny flute in the distance, quiet water and lonely boats.

Bear Aware

Karen was chopping the toppings for the pizza when she excitedly squealed that there was a bear in next door's driveway, it was dark so no chance of a photo but we moved from the kitchen window to the back room window, then back, watching this very healthy bear parade up and down. I would estimate it was at least 400 pounds, bigger than the one I took a picture of a few weeks back, it could be the same one as now is the time that they try to pile on their winter fat.

To make up for no picture, here is a bear ornament we have (a gift from the outlaws):

Half the Story

If you follow you will know that we showed last weeks loaf, which is really only half the Saturday story as the bread batch also forms the whole wheat pizza base too, here is tonights offerings, the "usual" loaf and the as yet unseen (on the blog) pizza.

Tonight, red peppers, jally-peno's, shallot, garlic, white mushroom, olives, "light" old cheese and bacon. Oh, and because it is birthday week for David, a couple of bottles of cheap sherry, one of which, at this stage of the proceedings, is long gone.

Number three

The better half was in the number three seat today, I was in four and was counting strokes and of course, the team's David Bailey with an el-cheapo camera that can be lost one day. Although, I'm sure we will never have an unplanned huli...

Today on the runway, Karen is showing off her new Stohlquist  women's "BetSEA" PFD and testing out her lightweight bent shaft 48" Grey Owl paddle.

Gearhead.

Paddle Up!

Steerperson Kathleen and todays number 5 seat, Judith.

Preston Island in the background as we enjoy a "paddles up" rest period before heading back to Gibsons.

Preston Island

Tuesday paddle, calm all the way out of, and back into, the gap. There is only one house on the island and the only way on or off is via boat, so I expect there is always a good stock of beer and pretzels...

Bowen Island Ferry

Queen of Capilano

We will start a series of pictures of the various ferries that enable the population to move around on the coastline, here is the Queen of Capilano which is being used on the Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island route.

Wreck