Rockies and Vancouver Island Adventure: Nanaimo rest day and Duncan with photos!!!

Evening view from the camper

We had a very relaxing day yesterday, took the bus into town, $2.25CAD each way for Seniors, so maybe just over £3 each in total. Seemed expensive for the 5km distance each way, it is a flat fare. The bus exchange was up the hill from the waterfront in a bit of a seedy district. We didn't walk back up but found a bus stop near the ferry terminal for the way home. I had a dodgy knee and wasn't walking very well, think I must have strained it, possibly on the board walk the other day. Anyway, we walked along the waterfront

Looked at the sea planes,

saw one take off...

Then we had a coffee and found the bus stop.....after a short visit to a very nice shop selling decent gifts!!

In the afternoon Michael took himself off for an hour's walk while I rested my knee, applied tiger balm and made a lace.

It is growing very slowly, I haven't had as much time to do this as I thought I would. I also brought some patchwork, but I find that difficult to do in the van even with the extra lamp I brought. I am working on dark fabric with dark thread, so, surprisingly, it is easier to see the lace!

We saw a seal, various ducks including loons, heron and a black squirrel.

Later on we became real Canadian campers and made a fire, one of Michael's favourite occupations!

Unfortunately just as he got it going nicely, it rained, however he toughed it out!!!!

So we had a damp evening, but were warm and dry in the van.

Km today 0!!

Sunday 25th September

A gentle start, then I got back behind the wheel and we drove south for three quarters of an hour to the British Columbia Forest Discovery Centre, which was really interesting. There is a replica logging camp using buildings which were saved from demolition, and include school room, accommodation, blacksmiths shop etc. Lots of locomotives and machinery too. We took the train ride which runs through the site and along the side of Somenos lake, crossing a wonderful trestle bridge

We spoke to a very helpful lady at the Visitor Centre just across the car park and came away with loads of information for the rest of the morning and tomorrow.

We drove about 10-15mins south to Duncan (we had to visit didn't we!!). This town is famous for its Totem Trail. There are over 40 carved totems around the town and they have set up a self guided trail, just follow the yellow footprints....

The widest totem in the world!!!!

They all tell a story and the project was set up in 2012 to demonstrate the link between the town and the First Nation heritage. Most were carved by First Nation men, who had learned the skills from their forebears, although one was Maori. First Nation houses had carved house posts, which informed about the families living there, and the totems were a way of recording their legends.

Following recommendation from the Visitor Centre we drove back north to a small village of Crofton on the sea front. The drive was delightful, rural farmland and mixed woodland with Autumn colours. We are parked on the harbour front, it's a bit public, but we have got a nice view across to Saltspring Island. The wood pulp processing mill is also just in view!