Alberni Valley - McLean Sawmill Historic Site

After spending a few hours walking about Stamp River Provincial Park, on the road back to Port Alberni, we spotted a directional sign to the National Historic site at the old McLean sawmill. Curious, we turned off the road to see what this was all about. Happily, after we parked the car, we noticed that coffee and a bite to eat were available at a little snack bar. Before we could even get our bearings, a gentleman, dressed in the garb of an old-time train conductor, ushered us past the snack bar, "If you hurry, you'll catch the show." We did catch the show (real live old-time loggers - yes, we call them loggers, not lumberjacks - showing how things used to be done), and made a note to come back here with our next Vancouver Island visitors. Here's the day's postcard.

McLean Sawmill Historic Site (2011-06-25)

Nanaimo - November stroll at Neck Point Park

It's not often that Nanaimo is graced by sunshine in November. On this particular day, a leafless tree silhouette, in Neck Point Park, provided a postcard frame for a chilly Salish Sea.

A rare sunny November view of the British 
Columbia mainland across the Salish Sea (2012-11-26) 

Royston - Red Railing

Pardon the title alliteration.

I can't count the number of times we've driven by the Royston turn-off on Highway 19a (known locally as the Oceanside Route or the Old Island Highway) with hardly a thought to actually having a look. On this day in August, after poking around Comox (I think we checked out the new Costco there), the mood just hit me; "why not take a drive down to the water?" We found this little pier right at the end of Royston Road, where it intersects with Marine Drive.

The view here is of Comox (Port Augusta as it was known in earlier times - circa 1860).

Royston; The view here, is of Comox (2011-08-10)

Nanaimo - Colliery Dam; this may soon be gone

The Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo is being "reconfigured" and this may soon be gone. A postcard view in remembrance.

The Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo (2012-02-15)

The Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo (2012-02-15)

Port Alberni - Wooden Eagle takes flight

After a long road trip, coming back from Ucluelet, Tofino, and Long Beach, we stop by the quay at Port Alberni for a cup of coffee and a little snoop about. The wind was blowing fairly hard, and this carved eagle seemed to be taking flight.

  Eagle takes flight in wind funnelling
up the Alberni Channel (2013-07-12)