Here We Go Again, Again!

When I entered the name for this blog post, my computer told me I had already used the title “Here We Go Again!”. Did I want to replace that file with this new one? No, each time we set out on a leg of our overlandish odyssey, there are similarities, but it is a uniquely new adventure. Here’s the latest update.

Ontario’s provincial flower, the trillium, is blooming everywhere around us on Vancouver Island just now. This one is at our campsite in Nanaimo. Apparently, trilliums can take 4 – 15 years to bloom, and if picked, take 2 – 7 years to bloom again. Who knew?

As previously noted, this is the longest stretch Betty & I have spent in one place in the past three years. Vancouver Island has a moderate climate and is such a beautiful place to live, or just visit. There is so much to see and do here, and yet in these past six months we have seen and done relatively nothing!

While we enjoy shorts and sandals weather, there are snow-capped mountains all around. These are seen across Nanaimo harbour.

Now that we are packing up in preparation for our travels back to Winnipeg, we couldn’t help but venture out just a little before we go.

The price of regular gas in Comox is 143.9/litre. Hoping it’s less than that as we head east!
The scenic town of Cumberland is just southwest of Comox & Courtney.

Betty’s family was originally from Cumberland, England. Her dad was born in Egremont. So when we saw the Vancouver Island community with the same name, and his birthplace in a street name, we just had to go exploring.

The streets of Cumberland, BC are named after towns in England, including Egremont, where Bet’s dad was born. Other principal avenues include Maryport, Windermere, Penrith, Derwent, Allen, and Keswick.
A coal-mining town in the late 1800’s, Cumberland had the second largest Chinese population, after San Fransisco, at the turn of the 20th century.

It’s sunny and warm on the island just now. Everyone is eager to get out and enjoy some fresh sea air. Yes, we have heeded the advice against unnecessary travel. But after being cooped up all winter, this fresh air and sunshine is necessary! Besides, we could and did travel without personal contact with others. 

Petroglyphs Provincial Park is less than a mile from our campground in Nanaimo. We drove past it regularly, but visited for the first time this week.
Yesterday, Betty, Charlie & I visited Nanaimo harbour, and enjoyed boats and ships of all sizes passing by.

Despite the unexpected health issues, it’s been a wonderful place to winter, and Betty & I are looking forward to a return visit this fall. 

At Nanaimo Beach, lots of kids found their way into the water at low tide.
The beach was full, with everyone responsibly either social distancing or wearing masks.

In the meantime, here we go again, heading back to our family in Winnipeg that we’ve missed so much over this past six months. Almost time to cue Willy Nelson’s On The Road Again!

As one ferry arrives from Horseshoe Bay, another gets ready to leave for Vancouver. That will be us, later this week…

Cheers!

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