16. June 2011 - Post Stanley Cup Disgrace

'Fan' is the short version of 'Fanatic'. If this is hockey enthusiasm, I'll pass.

Why target the police? Interesting situation: If Police strongly intervenes, they are accused of police brutality, if they stand back, they are accused of not doing their job.

Just as well, the horses are trained to face such frightening scene.

Downtown Vancouver is a disaster zone today: smashed store windows, burned cars and trucks,

vomit all over the streets, looted stores, trashed restaurants. After the destruction, shamed Vancouver citizens are out in force to clean up after the vandals, gathering debris and lugging garbage bags. Repairing and paying for the damage? Who knows.

Maybe the drunken hordes who caused this can be made to pay....? The blame game has started already: media 'encouraging' hockey mania, police not prepared, not enough liquor control - all, except the rioters seem to be loaded with blame...

Not exactly a clear photo - smoke over downtown from burning cars and trash

Rumor has it, that a drunken group of 'young men' used the even as a stage for pre-planned rioting 'just for fun'. Apparently they had turned up at the 'festivities', armed with plastic bottles filled with gas.

If this is 'fun', what will they do for 'serious'.

Not something that supports the idea of 'Beautiful British Columbia', laid back and happy...

PS - photos are from published local media.

First crossing on the' New' Old Mill Bay Ferry

Crossing Saanich Inlet on something other than my own Millennium Dragon, namely on the 'new' Mill Bay Ferry, is always a scenic pleasure.

On the Way to Brentwood, the eastern terminal for the 25 minute crossing, one passes the small church 'Our Lady of the Assumption', perched high on a hill overlooking Finlayson Arm, the lower part of the fjord of Saanich Inlet.

A simple wooden structure, with an intricate portal architecture, the church is surrounded by towering Linden and Chestnut trees.

Wild Flowers bloom on the lawn surrounding the church

Expansive vista from the churchyard over Finlayson Arm

A farmer on an open tractor was mowing the hayfield below the church, filling the air with tantalizing hay aroma.

One of the 'Stations of the Cross' inside the Roman Catholic house of worship

Not a bad little place beside the Ferry Pier to enjoy waiting time - Seahorse Cafe, overlooking the local marina and Brentwood Bay, where even more boats are swinging at their moorings.

The very welcoming and cozy entry to the Seahorse Cafe

Here she comes, ready to dock.

The M.V. Klitsa, now the 'new' refurbished ferry covering the Mill Bay - Brentwood Bay crossing. In her previous life, she carried passengers, cars, supplies and fuel between Denman and Hornby Island. Now she has been promoted, due to her 'ample' capacity, as compared to her predecessor. The old Mill Bay Ferry has gone into semi-retirement and is now owned by a private enterprise 'somewhere up island'. The ferry man on Klitsa told me, that 'they just handed over the keys and told them to get her out of there'. Well, she is gone. And this one is living up and exceeding expectations - freshly painted, cleaned up and just humming along.

As there are only a few miles to cross, navigation is not exactly a challenge. But, docking in fresh breezes can be a bit nerve-wracking, even for an experienced ferry skipper.

The view North

View at the bow...

View on the car deck - Whimsical adornments (except the 2nd from left) on a dash board on a truck from Parksville.

The only flag missing is the one of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team, given that it is the date of the 7th and last play-off game for the Stanley Cup tonight.

Quieter on this side of Georgia Strait tonight. More than 100.000 fans are crowding the downtown area of Vancouver, where the Canucks are facing of with the Boston Bruins for the LAST SHOWDOWN of the season.

Although the sun is shining brightly all over, belated April showers still travel up 'Squally Reach' in Finlayson Arm.

Prices and Schedule on a sign on the Mill Side side of the Ferry Route.

Ferry wake, old or new, still looks exactly the same....

Where The Boys are....

The boys are congregating....one yearling, one two year old and one older boy. At least judging by their velvety racks they could be grand daddy, son and grand kid.

This is 'the middle boy' scratching an itchy rack

This is the whole gang cropping grass and chewing their cud in my backyard

This is 'grand daddy', quite sure of himself and his impressive candelabra on top of his skull - he is a handsome chappy!

This is 'Babe' with little pea sized knobs sprouting on his forehead. They are hardly noticeable at this age.

Backyard flower not in the least attractive to deer taste buds

My neighbour's Clematis - too far out of reach for deer taste buds.

Shiny bubbles...?

The 'other half' has been polished. Now the boat is 'the talk of the club' because of her very effective esthetic enhancement. She looks like new.

Awaiting the final 'loading' for her summer in the islands: clothes, groceries, diesel, water....and off into the Canadian Wilderness (if the Gulf Islands qualify for that description) I go.

Good Morning - Good Night??

Moon and Sunset over the North Pole?
The photo is said to be taken on the 13. Jan 2011.
I thought that was the season of the long sunless arctic night where the sun has disappears for months on end? Maybe Global Warming has changed the course of the stars throughout the universe....
Nevertheless, an absolutely stunning sight!

Before and After

What a 'few' dollars and a skillful detailer can do to a red boat, that has been bleached by saltwater and 'faded' into a dull pink: miracles!

Look at that shine, almost makes one ashamed of the raggedly looking fender covers, which are faithfully mirrored in the shimmering hull. Might have to spring a couple of extra dollars to have new pyjamas made for the big fenders, to complement the blinding new RED.

Only one side of the hull is finished, this side above still slumbers under a mottled blanket of grey awaiting the magic touch of Mr. Polish.

The Stern...her name and Port of Registry stand out brightly from the mirror sheen red base.

The 'good' side. Almost seemed as if she was sailing faster heeled over on this shiny side versus the 'before' side, when she circumnavigated Saltspring Island this week.
Isn't she luverly!!!

7 June 2011 - Grand Circle Route to Port Renfrew

Another Rite of Summer - drive from Duncan to Lake Cowichan, then across the mountainous ridge of Vancouver Island to Port Renfrew on the Pacific Rim. On the way, the road crosses numerous gorges, where rivers are swollen with spring run off. From Port Renfrew, where the chilly mist from breaking rollers creeps into one's bones, one drives along Juan de Fuca Strait to Sooke, a rather quaint little fishing town. From there one winds over Humpback Road, back to the outskirts of Victoria, to return home via the scenic Malahat Drive. Backyard tourism at its very best.

Fairy Lake still silent and deserted. Not a kayak, picnicker or tent in sight.

Even the information sign at Fairy Lake is still somewhat 'askew', no one bothered yet to straighten the posts mired in mud.

Buttercups paint the swampy lake shores yellow.

Port Renfrew Beach littered with washed up tree trunks.

More wild flowers starting to burst from buds into full bloom.

Whatever this is - it looks pretty

Botany Beach - nary a beachcomber exploring the tidal pools, teeming with marine life.

Ravens visit Renfrew Hotel, which is located beside a scenic small marina, to check out whether any of the guests may have dropped something edible under their table.

And of course - the obligatory Renfrew area black bear grazing on a hill side

This guy seems to have weathered hibernation in fine form

At Jordan River, a refreshment stand - Closed of course.

No RV's parked at Jordan River yet...

Perfectly round pebbles and logs at French Beach.
The sun had emerged, and a few intrepid bathers (mind you, all under 12 years old) waded in and out of the surf.
A drive from shore to shore - a reminder of the beauty of Vancouver Island.

Millennium at her temporary slip, silent witness to a happy event on the MBYC Club lawn: two long time members tying the knot.

And, the groom kisses the bride....

The bridesmaid's high heels dig a couple of deep holes in the lawn...

The bridal party waves to the spectators sipping their ceremonial drinks...

and may they live happily ever after....