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

Sunk

An abandoned boat, taken in Winter near Pender Harbour, modified via Photoshop. Inspired by Kiff Holland.

Kiff Holland SFCA

We keep mentioning Kiff Holland, he is an established Canadian Artist who settled in British Columbia. We bought a couple of his works back in Ontario, they provided a daily impetus to "reach the beach" here.

Tranquility

Daily Bread

Saturday, Bread and Pizza day. I doubled up on the fluids by accident so I added more ingredients and made a megaloaf, we are using a loaf tin now, makes for more rectangular toast and sandwiches. Light, fluffy whole wheat bread with added fibre, tastes like Hovis, makes great toast.

Million dollar Squat

Soon to be homes of the rich and famous...

Squamish Nation

Today during our paddle we made a beach landing on the strip of waterfront property around Granthams landing that belongs to the Squamish Nation, the houses are now empty, tenants have been moved on and systematically they are being demolished to make way for new development.

We also learnt that climbing back onto the Tarpon in the surf gives mega wet bottoms.

Coles

They have been working on Coles Marine Ways site lately, clearing it off no doubt for a multi-million dollar development. Waterfront property, does not look so great at the moment, but I'll post updates as time goes by.