A Short Jaunt in the Boat

It's a long weekend here in Canada - Victoria Day is the unofficial start of summer. Boats, camping, barbecues - the season is short and we Canadians make the most of it. We took the boat out on her first outing for the season and enjoyed gloriously sunny weather, perfect for hiking, lounging on the boat, and reading. We didn't go far, to Bedwell Harbour off Pender Island.

We decided to come home on Sunday night and arrived around 9 pm. During the night rain began to fall and it's been drizzly all day, so a good move on our part. 

Tim went for a little ride in the dinghy, looking at other boats in the harbour. He's very conscientious about wearing his life jacket, and a hat.

On Sunday afternoon we hiked up Mount Norman. It's a hike we've done a couple of other times, but we've always wandered down some other trails and never found the peak. Not so this time. We arrived at the viewpoint and enjoyed the vast expanses to the south, west, and northwest. The freighter in the above photo is making a sharp course adjustment at Turn Point off Stuart Island where the Canada/USA border also makes a very sharp turn.

Beautiful wildflowers grow on the island, delicate and pale. Already the lack of rain is drying out the forest. I'm glad today has been wet for the ground badly needs the moisture.

I love the warm resinous scent that rises from the forest floor. Now is the time when the evergreens put forth new growth of lime green. 

We packed a little lunch and ate it perched on a rocky shore after descending the mountain. A river otter entertained us by fishing and consuming his lunch while we ate ours. He dove under the water and came up with something in his mouth that required a lot of chewing and then he threw his head back to swallow.

Evening sunset as we arrived back on our island home. 

Linking with Mosaic Monday, hosted by Angie of Letting Go of the Bay Leaf.