Back to Nanaimo

After a very restful night's sleep, John and Gerald woke to a beautiful clear bright blue crisp sunny day. I am saying this because it is the ONLY blue sky I have seen since we arrived. John woke and took a video of the dawn breaking over the trees from the balcony of the cabin.

Once Gerald had awoken and green tea made (the coffee machine did not have filters for the coffee we had brought), they sat on their balcony experiencing the moment. Then they were off for a walk along the Wild Pacific Trail. The views were incredible to start with but and became progressively better. The surge of the ocean waves crashing over rocks set against the azure sky took John's breath away.



They met two women walking what Gerald called their 'ugly' dogs. They were shar peis, the ones with all the wrinkles. One woman said the dog who came up to us was a chicken and didn't need to be on a leash, because he never ran off - at which point he ran off - down the path the way from whence they had come. We had to stifle our laughs as they coaxed, cajoled and begged the dog to come back so they could continue on their journey. John said children and animals always make liars of us all.

They walked by a Coast Guard place and lighthouse that is still run by people and not automated. Then it was back to the cabin to check out. We looked for a place for breakfast but it was 11am and we got a Mexican brunch. John had black bean soup, and a chicken tortilla wrap. It was good but hot.

Then we took the long (about 3 hour) ride back to Nanaimo through the same gorgeous country that we had just travelled over the day before, past Kennedy Lake, over the pass to Sprout Lake all the way to Port Alberni. We got gas and a drink there - Gerald had a dark roast coffee and John had a hot chocolate with whipped cream. Gerald said it was no wonder John was fat. hahaha

Finally back in Nanaimo, we went to get the crabs with which John was going to say thank you to Gerald and Karina for their hospitality. They got four jumbo crabs, took them home and returned the rental car. Gerald prepared the crabs for Karina's arrival and all three of them sat down to a feast of crab and stir fried vegetables. It was delicious! And the three had a great time talking about schools.

It was time for bed and John was happy to fall into his, knowing that tomorrow was going to be another full one.

TBD