So I am still sitting around in Vernon waiting for: 1) a travel assignment in the US and/or 2) my BC nursing license to be awarded so I can work here. I am sure you all can guess that I am hoping option #1 happens first but it really is not looking that optimistic these days so I am looking at a few other options. Obviously it is time to take a look at my currently planned career path.
Yet another shot of the view from Bonnie and Barry's place.
Anyway, since I really am not doing anything else I decided to finally take up some friends on their invitation to have me visit them on Vancouver Island for a few days. How long was I going to stay..…well we decided that it would be until I got bored being there or they got sick of having me. It actually turned out to be like 3 and a bit days and we actually did not reach either of those 2 points but mom kept calling so I thought maybe it was time to head back to the mainland.
Taken from the ferry on the way to Vancouver Island.
So who are these friends…...Bonnie and Barry Sparkes. I have known them all my life as they lived next door to us in Nova Scotia. They are both loyal readers of this blog and well just some great people to hang out with. Barry retired from the Navy a few years ago and now fills his days with many, many committees and volunteer activities and curling and that kind of thing so between him and Bonnie I had a very busy week…..which was really nice.
Shack Island. This sits just off the shore down the hill from Bonnie and Barry's house. They tell me people live out there in the summer.
I headed out on Monday, February 16th when I hopped aboard the Queen of Oak Bay, the ferry that would take me to the Island.
On the ferry just leaving Horseshoe Bay.
Much cheaper for me just to walk aboard and leave my car on the Mainland so me and Big Blue (that’s what I am calling my back pack these days and I assure you I packed more for this week long visit than I did for my 3 month trip in Europe) found some big empty seats, took a few pictures of the trip over and then promptly fell asleep. I guess I am still very good at sleeping when I can and that seems to be whenever I am on a moving vehicle.
Taken just as we left Horseshoe Bay.
So it was a little bit chilly on the Island (cool winds, high moisture….you know how it is) but there was no snow, and there was green grass and there were flowers blooming and the sun was shining so needless to say, I was very happy.
Some of the flowers out front of Bonnie and Barry's house. At least spring has arrived somewhere.
My days in Nanaimo consisted of me sleeping in (not that I don’t do that here) and then taking part in whatever activities Bonnie and Barry had planned. It was kind of nice to have a schedule again. One day Bonnie and I wandered the streets of neighbouring Qualicum Beach while Barry had a meeting (I will be back there later this summer for Crystal and Doug’s wedding) and then the 3 of us had pie and stuff (yummy).
A couple of the things I found in Qualicum Beach. Ok so they don't sell wands here but Pizza is the next best thing.....and you may need to be a Harry Potter fan to understand that.
Seriously a cute little shop....and it is not just a cleaver slogan.
Bonnie and I went to a movie another day while Barry was at another meeting (we saw The Reader….it was really good) and Bonnie and I even managed to stay up until 2am once talking about stuff after Barry went to sleep. It is a good thing both Bonnie and I like to sleep in. Of course I also spent some time with Barry. We caught a hockey game online (Bonnie and Barry’s nephew plays for the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL….he didn’t play that night but we watched anyways). I also joined Barry on his Meals-on-Wheels route (one of my favourite community resources for people…not sure how Barry found all those houses without a GPS but hey, not everyone navigates like me).
Barry also took me to his Wednesday night curling. Yes, that’s right I went curling. Of course being from the Canadian Prairies, curling is no mystery to me but I have not thrown a rock since high school. I managed to get a little review in and then got quickly thrown into a game. Now I should add that Wednesday night is for the novices (people who are new to curling or have been away from it for a few years) so it was no problem that I hadn’t played in a while. Now Barry and I did not get to play on the same team (but we didn’t have to play against each other either) but I did get on a great team with some people who really helped me out. They even invited me back to play with them again the next week. Too bad I wasn’t there. I forgot that curling was fun. My team won by the way. Sorry there is no picture evidence but I am sure Barry would vouch for me if you don't believe me.
In the Nanaimo harbour.
And be complete without a walking tour of downtown. A very nice little city I have to day and I will have to make a few more visits.
Very much enjoying the sunshine.
Bonnie also enjoying the sunshine.
Eventually I did have to leave the island and head back to the doom and gloom that I call Vernon (although the sun is shining today…but they are calling for more snow on Tuesday). Here’s hoping something comes up soon.......although Vernon is a whole lot more fun when the sun is shining and it is warm enough to head to the beach.
The ferry ride back to the mainland.
Vancouver as seen from the ferry as I went sailing by.
Julie
