Was also interested in reading over the Squamish Children's Charter - impressed that this was displayed so prominently in a public space.
We drove down a VERY potholed road to Nexen Beach opposite the Squamish port. Very atmospheric with the mist hanging low & reflections on the still waters of the harbour. Enjoyed noseying around there but then found we'd walked into a movie set - luckily they weren't filming at the time!
Lunch back in town at Zephyr Cafe - a very filling soup with bread.
An afternoon walk in the woods by Carol's place, along the Stawamus River Trail. Loved the river colours of rocks & leaves. Chanced upon a beaver lodge just by a bridge.
Pizza dinner at Boston Pizza with Kyle, Lisa and wee Sidney - quite tasty considering it's a chain pizza company. Mustn't be so judgemental .....
Tuesday: Ten am, we met the others at the Sea to Sky Gondola - great views on the way up & from the top. Enjoyed an interpretative walk with Stephane (he was in a bad mood to begin with but we cheered him up!) who told us of how the gondola venture began, about the wildlife in the area & of the First Nation owners of the area. After that we joined the others for a cuppa at the cafe - beautiful sunshine. Served by a couple of young Kiwi travellers (one from Hamilton & other from New Plymouth) spending 6 months in Squamish.
Went for walk around the viewpoints on the walking trails - Spirit Trail (400m loop) and Panorama Trail (1.6km loop) and then began the Al's Habrich Trail but it became too damp and rocky for my still aching ankle. Loved the views from the cafe viewing platform over Howe sound & fiord, across The Spit, down the Mamquam Valley watershed, toward Atwell Peak. From Spirit Trail viewpoint looked up to the mountain range of Goat Ridge, Sky-pilot & Co-pilot. From Panorama could get a good view of the huge Stawamus Chief granite dome.
 |
| Carol & Caroline |
 |
| Betsy, Harriet & Chook-chook really loved the view |
Having exhausted my ankle fitness for the day we travelled down on the gondola and went on a flatish walk to Shannon Falls - stunningly beautiful in my eyes. Was amused watching a woman & her dog posing on diferent rocks below the falls so they could be filmed by her friend.
Returned then to Carol's home for a mid-afternoon lunch. After Caroline had a nap & I had finished reading the local paper, we went out for a brief evening walk whilst Carol prepared a vege stew. Cosy evening in watching yet more Trump madness on the TV news! Love Trevor Noah's humour & blunt honesty!
Wednesday: The day dawned misty but it didn't hold us back as we went up to Whistler for a museum & gallery day. Check out the photos in this update..
Thursday: A change in the weather saw us heading out for a drive to check out the Cheakamus Centre and the eagle run at Brackendale.
Whilst we drove into the centre I knew we couldn't really have much of a look round without a prior appointment so wasn't surprised when a teacher approached us as we entered the ground to explain that we couldn't wander around as they had two large groups of children undertaking programmes. I had only intended to look at the environment in which the centre is located & the exterior of the buildings so was happy to have a quick look before heading further on.
We ate some lunch at The Crabapple cafe on our way back into town; a rather funky, if dark, cafe with a relatively wide selection of breakfast & lunch choices. I enjoyed the smashed avocado on rye.
Once at the Eagle Run area we wandered along the stopbanks, reading the information on the seasonal eagle watch programme on the various interpretation boards. [cbc News] Whilst we were hoping to spot eagles we managed to see 2 or 3 harbour seals playing around the the main current of the river - I could have sworn one looked directly at us & responded to our wave! They're obviously after the same thing the eagles, bears & seagulls come for ........ the salmon. This Vancouver Sun article expresses concern over how many salmon the seals eat over a season.
I heard an eagle but it was Caroline who spotted one flying over the river toward the forest but it didn't look as if it had grabbed any salmon. That was all the wildlife we saw during our time there.
Called into Lisa & Kyle's home for a visit, had a cuppa then went on to Nesters market to buy some produce for the nacho meal we planned to create for the whole family. Back at Carol's we set to preparing the beans & toppings. A lovely evening of sharing food & conversation. Sidney seemed to enjoy 'Little Kiwi looks for Fantail', a book we gave her.
Friday: The four of us - Carol, Tessa, Caroline & I - drove to Lillooet for a day's adventure on the Koaham Shuttle - the link is my blog on the outing.
Saturday: Went to Squamish Farmers Market with the family. I bought calendar & some cards from local photographer who takes wonderful wildlife photos. Also bought box of very tasty vege empanadas from a Colombian woman trading there - so many excellent looking vege & food stalls. We then walked to the Green Moustache for a juice; I enjoyed a carrot, apple, beet & ginger juice while others each had one of the wide range of vegan smoothies. Lovely to soak up the sunshine while we finished our drinks.
Lisa & Sidney went home whilst the 4 of us went for drive down to Porteau Cove, a popular diver spot where we marvelled at the large logs washed up on the beach & at the divers being interviewed about their underwater Halloween pumpkin carving activity.
Back to Carol's for lunch after which Tessa joined Lisa & Sidney up at the gondola for a special Halloween family day, while Caroline & I went for a long walk up the Stawamus River then along the base of the Smoke Bluffs finally ending up at Squamish Adventure Centre from where Carol picked us up.
That evening we went to Howe Sound for meal. I enjoyed, with my meal, the dark licorice stout they brew. Would be a great one to be able to buy in NZ - will have to look in to it. As we drove into Carol's street a neighbourhood Halloween gathering was in full swing with spooky decorations all over the place & lots of kids having a great time.
Sunday: Packed up all our gear. Enjoyed a brunch with Carol's family - she cooked blueberry pancakes & french toast accompanied by hickory & brown sugar beans.
Afterwards we all went for walk in forest along Stawamus river - lovely to see Sidney so fascinated by the wind-blown leaves & the stones in the water. A little later we said farewell to Lisa, Kyle & Sidney, then Tessa as they returned to their homes. Carol then took us for our last walk on the wild-side on the Mamquam River Trails where we watched a number of spawning salmon making their way to the spawning channels. One unfortunate salmon was caught in the shallows of the river & was spotted by a sharp-beaked seagull who made sure it got no further.
At 4pm we returned to the car & headed for the Adventure Centre where we enjoyed a cuppa & a final chat before boarding the bus to Vancouver. Our Squamish - Sea to Sky sojourn had come to an end .... countdown to flight home had begun.
No comments:
Post a Comment