Monday, July 20, 2020

Summer Along the Coast



I am so pleased to announce that summer has finally arrived in our corner. Temperatures this week will be between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius (70-77 F), with sunshine everyday. The good weather began over the weekend, while we were out for a short jaunt on Solitude. 

As we slip away from shore we leave behind the cares of land and focus on the moments. We're in our own world, an enormous expanse of sea, our small boat bobbing on the waves, with rocks and forest still visible. 


We normally prefer anchoring out in a small inlet or cove away from civilization, but for this trip we visited Ladysmith, a small town on Vancouver Island, and stayed in the marina there. It was very quiet.

One of the delights of boating is that there is nothing to call one's attention away from the main business at hand - relaxing and observing. On both evenings, as the light softened, a heron picked its way along the logs for a little preening and fishing. Doesn't he have amazing balance?


Solitude is a slow boat - we go about 7 knots - leaving plenty of time for conversation and silence, for wandering through my mazy mind. I noticed a large crevice in the rocks and I fancy it looks like a silhouette of a bird, beak pointing right, carved there on the hill. Do you see it? 


Lately, people have been recommending podcasts to me. I signed up for a couple, but can't bring myself to listen to them. I'm sure they are most interesting, but I'm quite content with the interior monologue that goes on inside my head. Do you listen to podcasts? With earbuds or headphones or broadcast from a computer? I also hate things in my ears. 

The heron in the photo above looks not at all concerned about the slug-like seals nearby. 


The coast of Vancouver Island is very much a working one. Pulp mills along this coast have ramped up their production of  medical grade soft red cedar pulp for use in masks and other personal protective equipment during the pandemic.


I always enjoy watching the tugboats at work. They are so mobile and can turn on a dime. Not visible in this photo is the worker who stepped off the tug and made his way along the log boom, looking as if he was walking on the sidewalk on land. 


For dinner one night we walked up the hill into town and ate at the Fox and Hounds, touted as the place to go for British pub fare. Outside, a red telephone box clearly indicates the British vibe. Inside, dark wood floors, Tudor-style beams, a long wooden bar, and lots of British knickknacks lining shelves and windowsills contributed to the traditional pub feel. The food was great - I had a seafood pot pie that was scrumptious, and Tim enjoyed a burger with fat chips, as hot as can be. Fewer tables and other procedures let us know that care was taken regarding the pandemic. 


Next to the marina was a sawmill with log booms where seagulls hung out, mostly keeping social distance. 

Home again now. Tim's off to work and the laundry is churning away. As for me, a little gardening, some cooking, and some sewing today. There will be time for reading, too. A perfect summer day! I wish the same for you!


22 comments:

  1. I smiled and commented to my husband about your summer time temperatures! We are in the 90's with humidity. Do you have mild winters too? Glad you enjoyed some time on the boat again. What a completely relaxing time.

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  2. Oh, that sounds so relaxing to be on the water and not have to rush off to anything. Beautiful scenes. I did notice that 'bird' even before I read your words.

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  3. Oh my goodness, Lorrie, would you pipe some of that cool air down this way. Hitting around 98 degrees today with the heat index about 110. So, yes, a breath of your air would be so refreshing. Pardon me while I wipe the sweat off my brow. (grin)

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  4. In times like these it is great that you have a boat and an outlet to get out and about with it. We are warming up here, too. Summer has arrived.

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  5. I'm landlocked these days so I enjoy living vicariously through your sailing trips. Last weekend, I had a Zoom meeting with some people in B.C. One of them was in the Sunshine Coast which I got to see through their video.

    I've listened to some podcasts (broadcasted on my laptop), but it never clicked with me because some of them are sooooo long! I know some people listen to it when they're running, traveling (cars or public transit), or even doing housework? During the pandemic, I discovered quite a number of tea reviews on YouTube. But the majority of them ranged from 10-30 minutes. I just didn't have the mental or literal bandwidth to watch them!

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  6. Yes Lorrie, like Latane not far off in Virginia, we here a bit farther south in NC are even warmer! It was unbearable to step outside again today - sadly, everything revolves around remaining in the a/c house.
    Your trip sounds wonderful - if we were younger we might consider getting a boat to sail away in!
    Stay safe - hugs, Mary

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  7. Lorrie this was such a delightful post. It sounds like a perfect way to enjoy the day - so peaceful and relaxing. It brought back our boating memories from when we lived on the coast of Virginia.
    Your temperatures sound wonderful as we swelter in the mid 90's here in West Virginia.
    Enjoy these summer days and stay well.

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  8. What a wonderful post, Lorrie. We were in a live-aboard for 3 summers several years ago. I think it is the most relaxed I have ever felt in my life! I hope the rest of your summer is perfect! xo Diana

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  9. Dear Lorrie,
    You have the best of two worlds, land and sea. I don't listen to podcasts. I prefer picking up a book when I have time. I've even gone back to books in my hand, not reading from tablets.

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  10. Looks like a lovely weekend. We haven’t been to Ladysmith by boat for many years.
    We are off to Sidney Spit with the grandchildren this coming weekend for some walks, crafts and sandcastle construction!
    This weather is divine! Enjoy your week!

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  11. What a lovely way to spend some time together - drifting peacefully along on the water whilst watching nature in all her glory slip by.
    I don't listen to podcasts either, books are definitely my preference.

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  12. What a glorious way to spend the summer (I'm borrowing from your grandson here)! Must feel so calm and quiet on the water. I'm shamefully behind on my blog reading, it's been a busy period, and I back read all the posts that I've missed. Miss Iris is adorable and I love Sweet Peas as well, the nicest scent and altogether a very modest and well behaved flower.
    Amalia
    xo

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  13. Lorrie, you have no idea how happy your posts like this make me. It's like I get to travel to my favorite place I've never been. Your photography and writing skills are part of it but darn if you don't have the best subject matter ever!

    I did immediately think that cliff opening was a giant crow or raven! Your quiet days on the Solitude sound idyllic. I'm thankful for being able to travel to your world through these posts.

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  14. Lorrie - so glad your summer has arrived. Your description of boating is how I feel about hiking. When I am hiking, there is nothing to crowd my mind - no thoughts about laundry that needs to be done, or an email that needs to be written. Can't even comment on blogs! It is a wonderful freedom. I have watched a few podcasts that people have recommended, but it is less than five, and certainly not something that I seek out. Anything newsworthy I tend to get from my hubby! I do see the "bird" in the rocks! Enjoy the rest of your week!

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  15. I love your photos. I immediately saw the black shadow of a bird your eye picked out as well. I love some podcasts. I go in spurts with them. Now that Baseball will be back as of Friday , I i'll be listening to fewer of the podcasts. The knit ones are okay, but usually too long for my liking. I loved Patient Zero and I love Terrible Thanks for Asking. But summer is a good time for that conversation in my head while I am out on the porch with the cats. Hard to beat the sounds of summer

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  16. I'm late reading blogs today. Lovely weather and lots to do outside fills my days it seems. Today was cooler than it has been so I divided my time between garden work and sitting on the porch.
    I saw that bird silhouette right away and thought it looked like a crow.
    It sounds like you had a lovely little get-away. I enjoyed the photos too.

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  17. Sounds idyllic wonderful weather and beautiful scenery what could be better?

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  18. My comment disappeared as I was typing! I was saying "thank you" for taking us along on this quiet respite. Lovely to be able to get away like that. I've been housebound for so long, I'm beginning to talk to myself! I enjoyed seeing what YOU were seeing, including the shadow "bird beak".

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  19. Lorrie, I love your perfectly timed photo of the heron! Thank you for the mini-vacation--Vancouver Island is so beautiful. I agree with you about podcasts. Every once in a while I'm tempted by the subject matter, but I end up leaving it after a few minutes. Just give me a transcript to read, please.

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  20. Ohhh, your summer just begun!

    And what a way to spend your summer time. So relaxing! Marvelous.

    I don't listen to podcasts and do not like things in my ears, either. I don't watch what they call Vlogs either. For me, it's just old fashioned blogging, please and thank you. ~smile~

    Gorgeous photos!

    Looking for sign of Autumn
    🍁🍂🍁 🍁🍂🍁 🍁🍂🍁

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  21. A lovely post with beautiful photographs ... and I just love that red telephone box :)

    All the best Jan

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