Hole In The Wall Hike

I LIKE THAT my sister-in-law, Rose, joined us for a short excursion on a rainy day in Port Alberni. Frank packed our grandson, Grayson, on his shoulders for part of the trek while Rose and I trudged down the well-packed trail sidestepping water puddles and hopping over slugs.

The most exciting thing about hiking with our five-year-old grandson is that he refreshes our sense of wonderment with nature. He opens up our fascination with sticks and stones and ignites our amazement with plants. Glistening water droplets on a spider web catch his attention and we all stop to gaze at the complexity and intricacy of its construction.

Further down the trail, a rusted-out vehicle draws our attention. Frank and Grayson stand as close as the surrounding prickly bushes will allow. Grandpa takes the time to identify the various car parts while Grayson listens with keen interest.

Rose pays special attention to the Scotch Broom close enough that we can admire their neon yellow flowers. I tell her that the invasive species seems to be taking over the Island. They are such bullies that other plants are taken over by them. I’ve also read that the leaves, buds and pods of broom contain toxic chemicals and substances that can affect the nervous system and the heart.

Our trek continues through the raindrops to the hole in the wall. What used to be a pipeline has since been disassembled but has left a gaping hole in the layers of sediment large enough to travel through. Grayson tosses rocks into the fast flowing stream while Rose takes cover under a large broad leaf tree and Frank attempts a river crossing. The slippery rocks discourage him and so we turn back toward the trail and make our way out of the forest.

Hikers on Hole in the Wall Trail

Hole in the Wall

Campbell River Bait

I LIKE THAT the overcast weather these days in Campbell River doesn’t put a damper on our plans to walk around the Pier Street Farmer’s Market. We waded through the avenues of product sellers and settled down to enjoy the tunes from a free live band. We munched on fish and chips purchased earlier at the Fisherman’s Wharf.

The panoramic view from the wharf is glorious. Standing on the pier facing the Island Highway, I am greeted with an array of boats of all shapes, sizes and condition. Gazing northeast presents me with a royal blue ocean and the tree-covered south end of Quadra Island. As I face the southeast my mind follows the outgoing tide down the Strait of Georgia, south to the unobstructed Pacific Ocean.

I cast my eyes to the dock and experience the excitement of men, women and children fishing from its sturdy timbers. To add to the ambience, there is a large blue net, and lying next to it is a bright orange life ring. The fragrance of seawater fills my nostrils and the mist of the ocean showers me with a cool spray.

I invite you to join Frank and I next time. It’s a wonder.

Campbell River Fisherman's Wharf

At Your Service

I LIKE THAT a happy cluster of service providers gathered at Spirit Park in Campbell River on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. My dear friends Pat J and Nancy C contributed happily and wholeheartedly to the weed picking task and the sweeping duties.

Jan T, a local businesswoman, service provider extraordinaire and member of Business Improvement Association, invited friends and family to join her on a four-block clean-up of Campbell River’s downtown core. Some started with a free coffee offered up by Nesbitt’s Island Coffee on Shopper’s Row, and Shot in the Dark Café on North Island Highway. The scrumptious muffins were supplied by On Line Gourmet. We split up into work groups, pulled weeds and removed the trash from the sidewalks and boulevards.

The upbeat mood that sprung from the volunteers was uplifting and humbling. Having a clean city is important to everyone on the team and you can thank the volunteer groundskeeper helpers as well as the City workers for that.