Vancouver Island in the year(s) of COVID

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Back in July last year we decided that it would not be safe for us to leave Canada (no explanation needed.)

Vancouver Island was the obvious choice with its mild winter weather.

We picked 5 accomorations in 4 locations over the 15 weeks of our getaway.

There are 3 panoramas at the start. They scroll automatically after about 5 seconds.
Tap on the first photo to enlarge it then scroll through the rest.

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Photos

The Island
January, Victoria.
February, Parksville.
March, Comox & Campbell River.
April, Victoria.

Good trade
Top - Sauble Beach in December.
Bottom - Victoria 2 days later.

Naval tribute
Nearby Esquimalt is the base for Canada’s naval operations.

Emily Carr exhibit
We were lucky to get a timed entry to see this special exhibition at the Royal BC Museum.
On the left, her painting of a Haida village.
On the right the same village after her art training in France, 1910/11.

Thetis Lakes
One of our favourite walks around Victoria.

Hot Tub Boat!
This can be rented for a waterway cruise. I think it had a steam driven engine.

Victoria Harbour
So unusual to see flowers blooming in a Canadian winter.

“Yes I (was) a pirate...”
We made the short drive to the charming town of Sidney just north of Victoria.

Fisgard Light
First one built on Canada’s west coast.

Goldstream Provincial Park
Old growth fir trees.

February in Parksville
The view from our condo balcony in Pacific Shores, Parksville.

Mount Arrowsmith
Just inland from Parksville

Just a reminder...
Islanders don’t see much snow...fortunately it usually doesn’t stick around for long.

Hardy Hummer
The hummingbirds at home head south in September but the Anna, here, stay all year.

Marlie’s dragon
This unusual dead branch caught her eye.

Old style logging
Loggers cut notches, inserted a narrow plank then attacked the tree with axes or hand saws.
My father worked in a sawmill, in Australia, for a couple of years and used this same technique.

Stumped
Here you can see the remnants of notches left by loggers long ago.
Fortunately they didn’t “clear cut” as is done now with fully mechanized logging.

Trees knees
These are live stumps. Their roots steal nutrients from nearby trees with branches and leaves.

Forest walks
These red dresses, sometimes full sized, sometimes miniatures like this one, represent the memories of missing and murdered indigenous women.