Chemainus - mural town

Just about every blank wall in town has a mural of some type showing the town history. The town was once a booming logging area and has re-invented itself to become a busy tourist stop. We were early enough to get some photos without "tourists" encroaching into our scene. By 10:00 the streets are covered in people.

We have to include the usual local cars. Something they like about that parking spot.

Always lots of things to build with cedar out here.

Punch buggies

Here's the one and  only Volkswagen dealership of an vintage

And for those on July 30, It has special meaning.

A Trentmobile?

Nanaimo bathtubs

After 2 1/2 hours ( the stragglers)  return from the islands, barely able to run up and ring the bell. The first tub came in at 1 1/2 hours, the next was 30 minutes back. 40 boats started , less than half finished with 20 knot winds and accompanying waves out in the strait.

Almost there ... that bell

There was a large turn out to cheer them on. In years past, some boaters came in from Australia, and won the race.

Nanaimo continued

We had just settled into the boat when the neighbours informed us there was a dock party (pot ((not the BC kind)) luck dinner) that evening.
We have all motors running, dinghy and sailboat, sails up, galley replenished, water tank full, fueled up, all ready to head out. But first some visiting  of  relatives and house browsing. I don't know how many Macdonalds we'll see on the way, or maybe some unsecured wi-fi to post some photos.
The  SS Minnow , renovated, is located in the covered docks close to us and runs, yep, 3 hour tours. I mention the boat because, Mary-Anne stopped  in to visit  but unfortunately at 80, she has lost some of her appeal.

Our departure from Horseshoe bay

Qualicum beach with kilometers of sand.

We stayed overnight at relatives, ocean side dinner with the mountains in the background.

More come to following the bathtub races, and snowbird fly overs.

The SS Minnow was renovated and is owned by Quality Foods and they  run  3 hour tours with all proceeds going to various charities.

Alice lake / Squamish

Well, we made it past Whistler to Alice lake. The highway roads don't seem as bad any more or we are now seasoned cliff drivers.

I am always in awe of the mountains.

Our campsite at Alice lake is a walk in, everything else was taken. At least in BC the walk ins are only 50 metres in, not like real ones in Ontario, that short one km walk.  We are way to close to Vancouver and civilization. It was very noisy last night and will probably be worse tonight, Friday..Some of the noise came from  loud readers, as they read instructions on how to put up a tent, honestly. We were polite and didn't laugh out loud.

Amy's favourite animal - slugs

We mentioned it was a little crowded, here's your normal "single " camp site, not group camping for those who are familiar with the concept.

Pemberton

One last look at his view in Lilloet, nope, I don't think we can climb that one.

We aren't feeling too bad this morning, our host and myself both agreed that we had a little too much wine last night, but it was worth it.

One last hike to another local water fall to end a great time in Lilloet.

We can almost touch Vancouver now.

Either Amy is a little more used to the cliff side scenery or it wasn't as bad, but the trip, albeit a little slow, went with out too much tension.
Our view coming into Pemberton .

I managed a loner hike last night to be impressed with yet another waterfall and no , they don't all look the same , yet.

Local wildlife on the path

We will try to find a dryer campsite, it is pouring rain to the east and sunny to the west before making our next campsite, tentatively the  Whistler area.

Lillolet

 We stayed at Marble Canyon last night , snuggled up to the mountains, with the lake at our feet.

 We're taking a little tent  respite and stayed with an old  friend here in Lillooet taking the scenic route. Amy was in tears from the drive, the river was at the road side with no guard rails. The river was about 1000 feet down. (the side of the road). Yep, it made me tingle a bit too. It was an impressive view, but gave me no real time to look around, focusing on the next curve with that drop down to the  river ever present, and of course no photos.
One stop to let traffic go by revealing a road side kill, identification please?

We did get one shot before all the "scenic" stuff.

This is how my friend irrigates his garden up here in the mountains. It is the real deal for the almost perfect location. Mountains, lush gardens, horses, waterfalls in your backyard, bears, the odd cougar. It's going to be hard to leave.