I spent the past week up in Sault Ste. Marie. I was doing work at our site about an hour north east. Weather was pretty good, only one day of rain as we were coming out of the camp, otherwise it was hot and sunny. Stayed at the Delta Hotel downtown right on the river.
There is a boardwalk trail that goes along the waterfront.
All the pollution from the American side of the border makes for a nice sunset.
Work had me out to British Columbia this past week. A colleague and I had to get some of the equipment back up and running after some recent problems. We lucked out with the weather, there was some rain when we were crossing on the ferry Monday and a little bit early Tuesday morning, but the rest of the week was mostly sunny.
Shanna had some time off and was planning to go to Abbotsford, so when she heard I was coming, she planned her route via Saturna Island. It was good to see her.
This is the Four Winds B&B that we were staying at, it sits right on the water.
Before we headed to dinner on Wednesday we took in East Point. The island in the middle of the photo is a hangout for sea lions, seals, and bald eagles. It is about 200m offshore. This is an old fog alarm building.
Here are some of the sea lions (Otariinae), the grey mounds in the foreground are the seals. (Click on photo to enlarge)
There were two bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) on the island as well. (Click on photo to enlarge)
With the tide out there were lots of purple sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus).
Some of the seals (Phoca vitulina) in the water.
There was a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) sitting on the building.
As we got closer to the hawk on the building, it took off and landed in a nearby tree.
These were Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula).
We just missed the sunset by the time we got to the pub for dinner.
The next morning was clear so there was a nice sunrise.
The sun rising over Tumbo Island with Mt Baker in the background.
Waiting for the ferry back to Swartz Bay.
The ferry from Saturna Island to Mayne Island wasn’t that busy.
Leaving Saturna Island behind, the last time I was there was 4 years ago, hopefully it isn’t as long until the next trip.
We had to transfer at Mayne Island.
We got back to Vancouver Island and had dinner in Sidney at Shabai Thai, it was delicious. Shanna stayed with me in Sidney before catching an early ferry back to the main land Friday morning. I had an early flight back to Toronto.
Low tide was at 8:55 AM this morning, some of us were up early to go beach combing for sea glass. Here is some of my find before the girls came down.
Most of the day was spent playing cards and bananagrams. In the afternoon, Susan, Gillian and I went in to Victoria to buy some lobster. We also visited another lighthouse.
This is the Leard’s Front Range Light, it was built in 1879.
After the disappointment of Sunday, there were lots of lobsters today. We bought 5 lobsters that total about 8.5 pounds.
The lady at the seafood store told us to take the rubber bands off before cooking them.
Claudia and Angela having their lobsters.
There isn’t a giant pot so it is one at a time in two pots.
Gillian digging into her lobster.
There were few clouds tonight, so we were able to watch the sun set.
If you look really close you can see a heron in the water (at right) and on the horizon you can see the confederation bridge.
I was down in California last week for a meeting. It was held at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula. Here is the sunset from the second night.
The large crowd of people were from the group I was with, the beach was only a five minute walk from the hotel.
The temperatures were about 20 degrees C, but we all know it’s 10 degrees colder by the lake (or ocean in this case).
We had good weather all week, just a little chilly.
There was some sort of photo shoot on the beach the one morning.
A sign on the path to the beach warning of mountain lions in the area.
There are not many meetings where there are deer grazing outside the meeting room.
The one evening while watching the sun set, the wind was howling, causing the sand to be whipped around, making it difficult to see at times.
One of my colleagues from Nova Scotia, when he left there was still three feet of snow on the ground back at home.
The view from the conference centre.
The conference centre started as a YWCA meeting place back in the early 1900’s. It is now part of the Asilomar State Park.
All of the meals were provided, but by the last night a few of us decided to head into Monterey for some seafood.
On the wharf.
There were seals hanging around.
Lots of fishing boat in the harbour.
There are three seals in this picture.
The one in the water made his way up onto the dock.
Today we were heading to Cape Cod for the beaches. It was a travel day with only one planned stop along the way. We stopped at a K-Mart along the way for some beach toys. Both Angela and I had an Elvis sighting while we were in the store. It wasn’t until dinner that I asked if anyone else saw Elvis and Angela described the same guy.
Claudia wanted to stop at Walhburgers in Hingham, MA. This is the restaurant in the reality tv show on A&E by the same name. It is owned by Donnie, Mark and Paul Walhberg. They have either table or counter service, we opted for the faster counter service.
On the ceilings are these with all of the movie titles they have been in.
The outside of the burger joint, not very big inside, but the turnover is quick on the counter service seating side.
We’ll be spending a few days in Wellfleet, MA while we are on the Cape. After dinner we headed to Duck Harbor Beach.
Waiting for the sunset.
Angela.
Susan looking for sea glass. There wasn’t much around, no colours.
The beach area, it was low tide, it was very rocky.
Angela and Claudia doing what they do best on a beach.
A Cape Cod sunset.
The girls collecting hermit crabs.
Almost down.
…gone.
It was a great start to our Cape Cod stay. Tomorrow we off to the Cape Cod National Seashore. Our drive today from Waltham (A) to Hingham (A) to Wellfleet (C).
