The order of these photos and slideshows is 'most recent
at the top' - scroll
down to find those that interest
you. If
you have photos - or videos - of NHCS activities
that you want to share with
the community then email
them from here
Fort Langley trip, June 2013
(submitted by Jim Pittendreigh)
On June 5, 2013 some
NHCS members went on a day-trip to Fort Langley with Janies's Bus. We crossed the Fraser River on the new Port
Mann Bridge and returned on the new Golden Ears Bridge. The original Fort Langley was built by the
Hudson's Bay Company in 1827, in a location that was advantageous for trade
with the First Nations, arable soil for agriculture, and as a transhipment
depot for furs from interior HBC trading posts.
In 1858, it was the site for announcing a Proclamation that created the
Crown colony of British Columbia. The
present Fort Langley is a re-creation of the old Fort Langley, with the
exception of the Storehouse building (building number 7 on the map) which is an
original building like Nanaimo's Bastion.
Parks Canada has a blacksmith shop, cooperage (barrel making), and gold
panning as working exhibits.
Some members of NHCS,
that are clients and volunteers of theNanaimo Senior Visiting Society, attending
the delightful annual tea put on by
the students of the Wellington School. The Student Union has organized
this tea
for more than 20 years..The sandwiches and baked squares, as well as
the
musical entertainment provided by the students were much enjoyed.
Swaths
of golden broom brightened the way on a cool morning as
we drove the highway north to Campbell River. We had a misty
ferry crossing to Quadra Island where our first stop was at quiet Cape
Mudge Village with it's little wooden church, petroglyph boulders,
unique totem-supported shelter by the ocean and the intriguing
Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre Museum. Lunch was at the Tsa Kwa Luten
Lodge with high beams,windows looking towards Campbell River, and
westcoast menu. Refueled we had the choice of walking the trail or
riding the bus to Cape Mudge Lighthouse which is over 100 years old for
photos and a short beach walk. Back on the bus
again Janie drove us along green
sheltered island roads to a farm vineyard where we
were greeted by the family dog and welcomed to the tasting room in
the cozy log building. Once purchases`were safely
stowed it was time for a stroll on Rebecca Spit with the bonus of
seeing a seiner setting it's net then pulling in a catch.....too far
away to see the fish but the universal fisherman's call of "it's a big
one" did reach some ears.
First
timers discovered that ice cream is considered an essential part of the
day trips and seemed happy to indulge at Terry's. We also fitted in
a quick tour of Heriot Bay and "downtown" Quadra before it was
time to catch the ferry back to Campbell River for supper. Lots of deer
and fauns were out browsing on the lush grass by the side of the
highway on the way home, eagles and turkey vultures soared
aloft and we spotted a healthy looking black
bear wandering along a green bank. A
fitting end to a late spring day tour.
Saturday
morning in early May and we were all eager to get on the bus
for Janie's day trip to Sooke so the kilometers soon passed sharing
stories and watching the scenery on the highway south. Before
Victoria the winding humpback road took us away from the highway
traffic through the huge trees and mossy rocks. Back on the
more traveled pavement the red and white Triangle Island Lighthouse and
a welcoming Spirit Bear sculpture showed us the way to the Sooke Region
Museum. The interior of the museum combines an information centre,gift
shop and many displays covering the area history (logging,fishing,first
nations etc). Outside there are several interesting buildings ( e.g.
bunkhouse,Moss Cottage) accessed by easy paths and brightened with well
maintained plantings. Also attracting attention of young and old around
the buildings are collections of machinery. A couple of hours can
easily go pleasantly by at this museum. A short tour around Sooke
included a local market and lunch at Mom's Cafe where the desserts are
extremely tempting. A good walk in the fresh sea air at
Whiffen Spit helped burn off calories and the mist lifted a
little in the breeze showing us paddle boarders and kayakers on the
water, rocky landscapes and wave skimming cormorants. Sooke Potholes
Park provided quite different landscape, a cliff top trail
above the potholes, wild flowers on ledges and open flat areas in the
sun. A huge stone chimney and rocky steps, fireplace and archways
created speculation about the person who had big plans and dreamed of
a unique resort high above the Sooke River. The enormous
beams which once stood here are long gone with the dream and only the
stones remain as a reminder. Another of the island stories we hear when
we get out in a group exploring with Janie. On the bus again
it was a chance to relax on the way home, with a break at the farm
market, and decide what trip to go on next.
Our
leader
Mark again produced a bright sunny morning for the group to enjoy our
walk at
Harewood Plains. After several days of unusually hot weather it
was becoming quite dry, allowing the
grasses to start the
task of taking over from the early
wild flowers. Once again he
had picked a perfect day to see a great flower display before
they
vanished until next spring. It was lovely to see masses of Camas in
full bloom
and a wide variety of flowers spreading across the "meadows"
colouring the thin soil of this fragile area. Salmon Berry,
Thimbleberry and
Elder as well as wild Strawberry blossom hinted at fruits soon to come.
A sharp
eyed "wanderer" spotted a clump of Nanaimo's official flower, Lotus
Pinnata, a rarity and (like the rest of the gated
area) protected by
the Friends of Harewood Plains. Birdsong, fluttering butterflies and
interesting conversation added to the experience. It was another
special day to
enjoy fresh air, nature's bounty and great views with an
amiable group not
too far from downtown Nanaimo. Margaret
Janie took
us on a day trip to Salt Spring Island on Saturday so I thought I'd
share some photos.
Saturday morning started
out like a typical spring day on the island...cloudy, blustery and
unsettled ...when we climbed aboard the bus with Janie. We
were soon on the road and passed through a few patches of drizzle
before loading on the little ferry for a short ride to Salt Spring
Island. Despite the grey skies we were pleased to find a bustling scene
at the Ganges Market and for the next few hours the sun easily dried up
the intermittent sprinkles. Colourful stalls offered
preserves,garden produce, bedding plants, food and
all sorts of local arts and crafts while a couple of musicians
entertained the strolling shoppers. After sampling the market wares
there was time for a quick look around Ganges and a snack before Janie
negotiated the pot holes on the road winding up Mount Maxwell. Quite a
few of the passengers climbed the short trail to the lookout point to
marvel at the views and take some . photos. The wind was really gusting
so we soon returned to the shelter of the bus to continue our tour
through the green, pastoral Salt Spring Island landscape. Quite a few
vineyards have been planted among the rolling hills which used to
be mostly dedicated to sheep.We enjoyed the funky stores and
bakery at "downtown" Fulford Harbour, peaceful Burgoyne Bay
and Ruckle Park with its trails,historic farm and, when we
were there, a flock of turkeys feeding at the edge of the trees. The
Salt Spring Island Cheeseworks in a rural garden setting provided
entertainment in the form of a busy hen yard and a visit to the goat
pens. The little shop was full to overflowing when we did some serious
cheese, pickle and preserve tasting. Quite a few parcels of tasty
treats were brought back on to the bus as well as the inevitable
ice-cream cones. Too soon we wound our way back to Vesuvius bay for the
ferry to Crofton. A final stop at Russell Farm Market then Janie drove
us back to Nanaimo in the sun after another happy day out..
Margaret
Crafty Workers –
recent donations to local causes.
(from
Inge von Stackelberg)
Carol on behalf of the Nanaimo Harbour City Seniors
"Crafty Workers" making a presentation of $ 328.00 from our recent
Salvation Army Garage Sale, to Cathy Robson, Program Coordinator for
Nanaimo
Senior Visiting Society.
The
“Crafty Workers"also donated two Afghans that were recently auctioned off
at a Daybreak
Rotary Club of Nanaimo Meeting and raised $ 150.00 to help with the
programs
for elderly and shut in seniors.
(There
are pics from the garage sale just below this
entry)
Crafty Workers Fund-Raiser March
2013
The Crafty Workers have
raised a considerable amount for local causes over the year. There are
several other entries about them on this page. This is their latest
effort .
(from Inge von Stackelberg):
Carol and I from the Nanaimo Harbour City "
Crafty Workers" had a small fundraiser at the Sally Anne Hall
on March 23rd in order to raise funds for the Nanaimo Senior Visiting
Society ( former NTVS Nanaimo Telephone Visiting Society)
At
this very busy event we spread the word about the activities
at Nanaimo Harbour City Seniors as well as the mandate of the Nanaimo
Senior Visiting Society and their programs. As you might be aware, that
group offers support and visits as well as outings, to the elderly and
lonely. This is the segment of our society that often falls through the
cracks, as they no longer drive and often become isolated over time.
A trip to the Maple
Sugar Festival in Duncan, February 2013
(Submitted
by Margaret Dyke)
I took my camera on the trip with Janie to the Maple Sugar Festival on
Saturday so here are some photos to share.
It was a misty morning when
Janie took the group to the Maple Sugar Festival at the Forestry
Discovery Centre in Duncan. Many of the buildings were open with rooms
authentically set up as they would have been in the early days at
logging camps (even down to the pitted wood floors from the tramp of
caulk boots). A trip on the little train or a wander through the woods
revealed many interesting pieces of equipment and buildings. As well as
seeing the logging exhibits on this occasion it was possible to join a
guided tour showing how our Big Leaf Maples can be tapped. Sap was
being boiled down and there were vendors with a surprising variety of
products made from these local maples. Maple tea, maple water, cookies,
brittle, and cupcakes were temptingly laid out together with bottles of
syrup. Not quite the same flavour as from the famed Sugar Maples of
Quebec but tasty nevertheless. After an interesting morning it was off
for a warming lunch in Duncan where everyone shared their experiences.
On the way home we had a side trip to see the eagles appreciating the
new compost facilities at Duke Point . We ended the day marveling at
the huge metal vanes and base parts at the storage facility awaiting
transport to the north island for the new energy producing windfarm.
Another intriguing and enjoyable day out with Janie and her beautifully
decorated bus.
For those of you who know about crummys, steam donkeys, come-a-longs,
spar trees etc there's one photo that needs a name. It's the last in
the slideshow below. If
you know the machine then please Email
here
A
"Thank You" from the
"Crafty Workers" and the Crochet Group
– from
Inge von Stackelberg
We would like to thank all who
helped us to make our Christmas Bazaar on Nov.
15th, 2012 a success. Your
donations of yarn for us to work with, donating handcrafted items for
sale, buying raffle tickets, attending the event to purchase our goods,
helped
us to raise $ 1500.00 from the Crafty
Workers table and book sales, which will be donated
to the Nanaimo & District
Hospital Foundation. This money will help to purchase
vital equipment for our new ER. The
Crochet Group raised over $ 400.00 through their Craft Sales
& Gift
Box Draw, which will be donated to the Palliative Care Unit at the NanaimoHospital.
A group of us went on a day trip to Mount Washington with
Janie and were once again lucky with the weather..bright and sunny
although a little chilly on the mountain and a few clouds did pass
over. A stop at Buckley Bay for refreshments and other essentials was
made before we continued north on the highway and up the winding road
to the base of the chairlift on Mount Washington. There was time to
admire our surroundings, pop in to the gift shop and take some photos
before we took our window seats at Fat Teddy's for warming and tasty
lunches. The windows looked out on the peaks of Strathcona Park against
a blue sky as well as giving us a glimpse of the Comox Glacier. Next
stop was at the head of the Paradise Meadows trail. It is very well
named for the peaceful setting sheltered by mountains and containing
well placed rocks and trees, clear pools and interesting views all
courtesy of mother nature. The boardwalk gave easy access for our walk,
places to rest or feed the eager Grey Jays/Whiskey Jacks and more
cautious Stellers Jays, and many photo opportunities. Small patches of
wildflowers (including Blue Gentians waiting for more warmth to open
their petals) and berried plants lent colour to the scene unfolding
before us as we followed the meandering trail. Back on the bus again
the road down to the valley revealed Denman and Hornby islands "afloat"
in a soft blue Salish Sea with hazy mountains of the mainland in the
background. A stop at the Comox Valley Information Centre allowed us to
see the plane mounted outside and some interesting exhibits. Janie took
the scenic ocean side roads back south with a stop at Qualicum Bay for
the icecream break. Our last stop was at the Qualicum Cheese factory
and Mooberry Winery where my camera got a good lick from a friendly
calf! Another interesting day on the road with Janie, sharing
experiences with other seniors.
On a cool sunny morning we set out along the back roads of
the Cowichan valley for our first stop of the day at the Information
centre and museum in Saywell Park, Lake Cowichan . We were soon back on
the bus and followed the winding logging road ,with some delays due to
bridge construction, to find the trail to the Harris Sitka Spruce. This
giant Sitka ( about 13feet in diameter) grows at the end of a short
wooded trail on the edge of Harris Creek and is well worth a look. The
next rest stop was at tranquil Lizard Lake....we didn't see any
lizards(actually salamanders according to a camper) in the clear water
but did enjoy a walk on the dock. The miles....sorry kilometres
...rolled by until we reached the Pacheedaht First Nation campground
where the Gordon river flows into the ocean. A walk along the sand,some
beachcombing and wave dodging, enjoying the sun on a driftwood seat all
led to good appetites for lunch at the Port Renfrew Pub. The deck
overlooking the water and hills behind was a lovely place to relax over
lunch and some lingered there while the rest of the group went on the
trail to Botanical Beach. Tide pool exploring and a lucky sighting of
two Humpback Whales entertained us until we trekked back up the hill to
the bus. Once the group was again united we circled back via Sooke and
the Humpback Road to the highway home. The obligatory stop for icecream
fueled our spirits after a day of fresh air, sunshine and good company.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden
Tour,
Vancouver, August 2012
(Photos and commentary from
Margaret Dyke)
The group with Janie's Got a Bus had a guided
tour of the
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden learning about the symbolism
of buildings,rocks,water and plants. Drip roof tiles, we were told,
allow rain to form beaded curtains...certainly not evident on the hot
summer day of our visit. Bat carvings, upturned roof corners and zig
zag walkways are to discourage evil spirits from lingering. Reflective
white faced buildings, screens ,intricately carved openings in the
walls,water and the use of green planting help the illusion of coolness
and a feeling of calm. The garden features details such as hand placed
pebbles forming patterns on courtyard floors. There were touches of
colour too with textiles and other art displayed in one of the rooms.
It was fascinating to see the huge Koi respond to their "dinner" gong
and ,accompanied by some opportunistic mallards, display their colours
as they were fed. A very interesting tour followed by a walk in the
adjoining park a stroll around Chinatown and lunch wherever the fancy
took us in this busy area of colour, sights and sounds of a different
culture in the heart of Vancouver. A scenic drive around Stanley Park
completed our day out as we once again headed for the ferry home.
(Photos and
comments from Jim Pittendreigh) On August 3,
2012, some NHCS members went on Janie's Bus to the Filburg Festival in
Comox. With great weather and many interesting booths, and the Filburg
house, it was a very good outing. The Filburg House is the former home
of the manager of the Comox Logging Company. Originally built as a
waterfront summer cottage, the Filburgs remodelled it into a quaint
permanent home.
(Photos and comments from
Margaret Dyke)
August 9 Janie took us to Denman and Hornby Islands for a day
in the sun. Due to time constraints and busy summer ferries we spent
most of the day on Hornby Island. Lunch was at the relaxing Thatch Pub
overlooking Shingle Spit with Denman Island and the Beaufort Range in
the background. A stop at Fords Cove allowed us to see Chrome Island
while an easy walk revealed interesting sandstone formations around the
Cove. Unfortunately the windmill above the store seemed to be out of
action. Another stop was for a tasting at Middle Mountain Mead (island
made jams,pickles and vinegars were available as well as the wines).
The winery is set among rose,lavender and herb gardens with a view of
Texada Island between the trees. We also headed to Tribune Bay. The
long curving beach was being well used by sand and sun lovers but there
was still room for us to enjoy the warm sand and paddle in the clear
water. After that it was time for a browse "downtown" during an
essential ice-cream break. All too soon it was time to say farewell to
the country roads of Hornby and Denman Islands take the ferry back to
Buckley Bay then Janie drove us home to Nanaimo after another good day
out.
(Photos and comments from Margaret Dyke)
July 23.The day started out a little cloudy
but hopes were high for some great views of Vancouver to come. It
turned out a typical "wet coast" day,mist and rain covered the mountain
as we headed up in the gondola. Only a few tree tops peeped through but
it was worth the wet walk along the trails past some huge carvings to
see Grinder (rescued from Invermere as a tiny cub) and Coola (rescued
from Bella Coola). The two Grizzly Bears have been at home in their
sanctuary on Grouse for over 10 years and seem to get along quite well
among the rocks and trees with a pond for fishing and playing. After
drying off and warming up with lunch at the restaurant it was decided
to leave the misty mountain and head off to Lonsdale Quay. The
colourful market provided a pleasant diversion and the weather was much
improved. There were some interesting boats to observe as well as
Vancouver skyline views for those of us not into shopping. We were soon
setting sail on the Coastal Renaissance after a pleasant day out and
plans for more adventures on Grouse Mountain in the sun next time.
Queen Elizabeth Park and the
Bloedel Conservatory July 2012
Some NHCS members went on Janie's bus tour on July 16, 2013
to Queen Elizabeth Park and the Bloedel Conservatory in Vancouver. With
a sunny day, we had a beautiful view of Vancouver while enjoying lunch
at the park's "Seasons" restaurant. The Conservatory has tropical
rainforest and desert plants as well as some exotic birds. (Jim
Pittendreigh)
(From
Lynda Avis) Today we celebrated Norm Martin's 99th
Birthday at Thursday afternoon bridge. Norm is shown here with his
wife, Clare, to whom he has been married for 35 years. Norm was born in
Edmonton but spent most of his life in Duncan where he started Martin's
Menswear in 1930. The store is still operating and two of his
granddaughters are running it now. Norm is one of those rare
individuals.....a perfect gentleman in every way! He still plays a
great game of bridge, too!
Pender Island July 2012
On July 2, 2012, some NHCS
members made a trip on Janie's bus to North and South Pender Island.
Pender Island is divided by a man-made canal over which a road bridge
connects the two portions. Due to direct ferry sailings, we had
sufficient time to explore both portions, unlike previous trips. After
a delightful lunch in Port Browning Marina's restaurant, and more
exploring, we stopped for ice cream at South Pender Island's mall. (Photos and comment from Jim
Pittendreigh)
On Friday, June 19, 2012, nineteen NHCS members were transported to
Ucluelet on Janie's bus for a cruise on the Frances Barkley,
through the Broken group islands of Barkley Sound and up the Alberni
Inlet to Port Alberni. Before the cruise, we had a wonderful lunch on
board the Canadian
Princess at Ucluelet. (Photos and comment from Jim
Pittendreigh)
Most of the NHCS members who went on the bus trip to Whistler on June
25, 2012 braved the mountain heights on the Whistler-Blackcomb
peak-to-peak gondola ride. Everyone enjoyed the adventure, and the
stops at Shannon Falls and Brandywine Falls. The town of Whistler was
very busy with lots of tourists and mountain bikers. (Photos and comment from Jim
Pittendreigh)
Just
to show how great the van trips can be - Here's a short movie (12
seconds) of NHCS member Grace Tickson doing an impromptu dance on the
ferry "Queen of Oak Bay" during a senior's bus trip to Van Dusen
Gardens on June 19, 2012.
Thanks for letting us share it, Grace.
Photos and comment from Jim
Pittendreigh. Some NHCS members
participated in a bus day-trip to Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver on
Tuesday, June 19, 2012. Unfortunately, we were too late for the
Rhododendron blooms and too early in the season for some of the other
flowering plants. However, the Gardens are always an interesting place
for a visit, especially the challenging Elizabethan Maze. The on-site
dining room has elegant food and great decor for a delightful lunch.
Photos from Jim Pittendreigh and Margaret Dyke,
comments from Margaret. Thanks to both.
These are some photos to
share of a weekend trip "on the road" with Janie .
We walked on the suspension bridge over the Englishman River
before heading to the Errington Wildlife Recovery Centre on a beautiful
sunny day. A guided tour of the centre showed us birds which can not be
released into the wild after accidents or abuse and explained how they
are now taken care of and being used to educate visitors. The recently
rescued baby black bear could be seen on CCTV in his comfortable
quarters. He is being brought back to health with minimum human contact
in the hope that he can be rehabilitated once he is old enough. After
lunch we had an essential ice-cream break in "Lighthouse Country"
followed by a visit to Morningstar Farm which produces Mooberry Wine
and a great variety of products available under the Qualicum Cheese
Works label. Here we also admired some of the farm animals then a
scenic drive took us to Coombs to round out the day with some shopping
and of course a look at the goats. Another enjoyable day out on the
road with Janie.
Vancouver Island Annual Senior Table Tennis Tournament
held June 3rd. 2012
From Wally: Players from
all locations of the Island with Nanaimo Seniors well
represented. Photos below show Mosh winning the Mens over 70 singles
and George Kress (blue shirt) a semi-finalist; Wally Lawrence
winning the Mens doubles under 70’s with Ken Holman from Chemainus and
Wally a semi-finalist in the Singles.
Bowen Wanderers May 2012 on
Extension Ridge trail
(an unusual plant and a question)
From Al Myer: Margaret
asked me to send these pictures to NCHS for the Bowen Wanderers hike to
Extension trail on May 24, 2012. The plants in
these photos are Pleuricospora
fimbriolata . They are Saprophytic plants and are rarely seen in this
area. She had only seen such a plant once before. A
saprophyte is an organism that obtains its
nutrition from assimilating organic matter. Like the fungi, the
saprophyte is a heterotroph, meaning that
it does not make its own food. And
now the question. On
the last 3 photos of the slideshow below: Is this a maze or a
labyrinth? I think it's a
labyrinth because it does not have multiple entrances.
(Scroll down to see more
and larger photos)
Now back to the flora. Among the bizarre plants of the world
are the non-green, saprophytic angiosperms. Most familiar are the
monotropoids, classified as their own family, Monotropaceae or, more
recently, as subfamily Monotropoideae of the rhododendron family
(Ericaceae). They inhabit temperate coniferous
or mixed forests. The common name for Pleuricospora
fimbriolata is "Fringed Pinesap." But do such rare plants
really have "common" names? Pleuricospora is the
name by which this monotropoid is known. It occurs in conifer forests
in the Sierra Nevada, and in the Coast ranges of northern California
from Santa Cruz County northwards. It also occurs in Oregon and has
been seen a few times in Washington. Pleuricospora can be found in
summertime in deep conifer forests.
Like the other monotropoids, it is parasitic on fungi that live in the
leaf litter beneath conifers. Descriptions of Pleuricospora
say that the plant is yellowish. Perhaps ivory or cream color would be
more accurate. It certainly is a non-green plant. The bracts (= leaves
along a flowering stalk) turn dark brown at their tips very soon,
perhaps as a natural result of drying.
The flowers of Pleuricospora fimrbriolata
are whitish. The sepals are fringed at their tips (one is seen at upper
left). The name "fimbriolata" means "fringed" in Latin..The fruits
developed by a plant of Pleuricospora are white
and, at maturity, fleshy. Thus they are different from fruits of most
of the monotropoids, which are dry and papery at maturity.
After
8 years as a driving force on the NHCS Board, Lynda Avis stepped down
to move onto other ventures and Gary Brownhill took over as President.
There were other changes and you can see who is on the Board now by clicking here.
Below is a photo of Lynda passing the gavel to Gary at the AGM.
Bowen Wanderers on Harewood
Plains - May 2012
From Jim Pittendreigh:
NHCS members of the Bowen Wanderers walking group on a walk
among the wildflowers of Harewood Plains on May 10, 2012.
HYDRORIDER
DONATION - May 2012 From Lynda Avis, NHCS President
The
NHCS has recently donated the
"Hydrorider" (pictured below) to the City of Nanaimo's Aquatics
Department. This donation
is just one of many items that the NHCS have donated to the City for
the use
and enjoyment of its citizens over the years. The Hydrorider will
enhance
health and wellness for each person who uses it which is a major
component of
the NHCS program.
From
a
City of Nanaimo
press release:
“Thanks to a generous
donation from the Nanaimo Harbour
City Seniors, visitors to the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre
can enjoy a new water based exercise apparatus known as the Hydrorider.
This
water based bicycle provides will provide users a low impact,
resistance cardio
based exercise workout. The bike cost $2,200 to purchase. The
Hydrorider is
available for all pool patrons 18 and over.
The
Hydrorider can be incorporated into most fitness plans. The bike
provides
numerous benefits for users in an underwater environment that allows
for stress
free training. The equipment is a great option for people who have
undergone
hip and knee replacements, and other joint related injuries. Elite
athletes may
also find it a great option in rehabilitation as the equipment allows
them to
get back into the water faster than dry land training. For more
detailed
information about the bike visit www.hydrorider.com“
(L-R: Board of
Directors Hale Yardley, Anne Smith, Bob
Davies, Pat Foley, Miriam Peacock, Lynda Avis and Gary Brownhill
&
Lifeguards Stephanie Penner and Morgan Wylie (on bike)
Long Beach - April 2012 trip
Jim
kindly sent photos from this van trip
After visiting and having
lunch at Tofino, the group visited Chesterman Beach with its many
surfers. We then went to Ucluelet to view the town and walk the Wild
Pacific Trail. Although it was overcast most of the day, some rain
showers only occurred late in the day. We didn’t see any whales but it
was a very nice outing anyway
Margaret
kindly sent photos from 3 recent outings. Scroll down to see all 3:
First: "Since the seniors bus was
sold I haven't been taking trip photos. However, I would like to share
some of recent walks with the Bowen Seniors. As you can see we walk in
most weather and on this particular day after a pleasant walk along the
trail in Bowen Park we enjoyed Buttertubs Conservation Area before
heading up the hill to VIU. Here we were rewarded with a coffee break
and great views before heading back down the hill."
Here's
the first slideshow -
Click
here or on the image below to start the slide show -
then use
the arrows to
move through
Second: At Planta Park and Neck Point Park "This was one of
those island "spring"days rain,wind and sun with a misty rainbow to
delight us. The wildflowers were a little late this year so the
erythroniums (faun lilies) were just barely showing buds during our
walk at Planta Park. The herring boats were busy while we were buffeted
by the wind down at the beach. Continuing on to the trails at Neck
Point Park we were lucky to have a spell of sunshine and blue sky."
Here's
the second slideshow -
Click
here or on the image below to start the slide show -
then use
the arrows to
move through
Third: "For
our March walk in Morrell Sanctuary we had a pleasant morning with a
big group of walkers. The skunk cabbages provided early spring colour
and we were serenaded by pacific wrens as we walked the woodland
trails. At the end of one of the side trails an eagle provided us with
an example of his hunting skill when he/she picked out a common
merganser from a group on Westwood Lake. The eagle did get pretty wet
in the effort and had to rest on a fallen log rather than taking his
trophy to the tree tops. We had our rest stop in the picnic shelter
beside Morrell "Lake. Fresh air,exercise and good company with free
entertainment from mother nature...all part of a morning out with Mark
and the Bowen wanderers. What more could you ask for?"
Here's
the slideshow -
Click
here or on the image below to start the slide show -
then use
the arrows to
move through
French Fling
NHCS
presented an "armchair visit to France' at the Bowen Park Complex on
March 12, complete with themed decorations by the Board and others.
There was an outline of French history by Lynda Avis, NHCS
President; a language lesson from Andre Letain, who
is the Seniors French Instructor; highly entertaining dances
from the Kirkwood Youth Dance Company; a photographic tour
from Michelle Mazzarotto who is Department Head of Languages
at Dover School; and a French Epicurean lunch from
the Good Cooking Guys. A great time! Thanks to all those who
worked on this.
From Michele Duerksen: Ron
Poier proudly displays his
1960’s Shelby Cobra Stained Glass project he completed in the
ceramics room at Bowen Park Complex. Ron has been a member of the NHCS
since September 2011. Way to go Ron, this is an excellent
looking
work
of art!
Final "On the Road" program van
trip
From
Margaret Dyke: Here are some photos to share of the final trip made
through the "On the Road" program. The bus was filled to capacity for
the lunch trip on December 31st to the Black Goose in Parksville. After
a scenic drive we chose our meals in the interesting building
overlooking gardens and ocean. The rooms were very colourfully
decorated for the season and glowing with a wood fire. The "British
style" fare was tasty .......with the additional spice of stories
shared of many adventures with Janie and our hopes for 2012.
to go to the YouTube video.
A
saprophyte is an organism that obtains its
nutrition from assimilating organic matter. Like the fungi, the
saprophyte is a heterotroph, meaning that
it does not make its own food. And
now the question. On
the last 3 photos of the slideshow below: Is this a maze or a
labyrinth? I think it's a
labyrinth because it does not have multiple entrances. 
