Tobago Cays Marine Park

We are not sailors, yachties or cruisers, so if we wanted to explore the smaller islands in the Caribbean or enjoy a day in the Tobago Cays - we needed to find a way to do this.

Thankfully Allison and her team at Isle of Reefs Tours offered an opportunity to see the Cays that is affordable and most of all, fun!

Sunday was beautiful and we headed out from Silver Bay (right in front of Ade's Dream) on a full day of adventure from Carriacou to the Tobagos Cays with a stop at Mayreau Island on the way back. We decided that having already visited Happy Island on our last trip that we wanted to see Mayreau this time - which was fine with Allison and Mojo. We were excited for our day on the water - not to mention snorkelling, iguana watching and sipping on rum punch!

We left Carriacou passing by Petite Martinique, Union Island and Palm Island before arriving at the Tobago Cays. The Cays are an archipelago consisting of 5 uninhabited islands: Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Baradol, Petit Tobac and Jamesby. Petit Tobac is where Johnny Depp and Keira Knightly were stranded in the first Pirates Of The Caribbean movie.

Our first stop was Petit Bateau where we had a chance to relax and check out the island before heading off to Baradol.
                                 
Baradol is home to the Lesser Antilles Iguanas. These prehistoric looking creatures were found all over the hills - in the trees, the grasses - even in the middle of the walking path!

   

Saw turtles, rays and lots of fish in the water off Baradol - a beautiful place to swim before heading back to Petit Bateau for a 'picnic' lunch courtesy of Allison. I can't imagine anything further from a picnic - a delicious sit down meal complete with plates, cutlery, cloth napkins - so delicious we had to have a bit of a nap before heading back into the water.

On our way back to Carriacou we stopped at Mayreau Island  where we had a bit of a hike up to the Catholic Church  where you can see the entire Tobago Cays.

After a full day exploring the Cays, we headed back to Carriacou for dinner at Laurena's before relaxing on the deck of Ade's. Night!

                                      

Off to Carriacou we go!

After a night at Woburn Villas, we headed down to catch the ferry at Carenage. The Osprey Ferry runs between Grenada and her sister isles of Carriacou and Petite Martinique every day. If you haven't purchased your ticket before travelling, you can buy one at the dock - but you must bring cash!

This was our second trip to Carriacou and this time, it was a little rougher - and also very full due to the large number of people travelling to Carriacou for Carnival. It was a beautiful day for a ferry ride though - and we were able to see the coast of Grenada and some of the smaller islands to the north.

Arriving in Carriacou, we checked into our 'home away from home' for the next few days Ade's Dream. It is nothing fancy - just the basics -but clean and the staff are so friendly. It is close to restaurants, produce vendors, bus station and has a great deck to watch all the carnival festivities without having to be right in the middle of it!

We had a quick lunch at SeaWave Restaurant just across the street - great place to get local cusine for a reasonable price - but remember - you are on local time - so enjoy the time it takes to have lunch!


After lunch, Allison of Isle of Reefs Tours met us for a tour of Carriacou. What a treat! We never felt rushed and Allison answered all of our questions - which required a lot of patience as we asked a lot of questions!

We learned about the history of Carriacou, saw boats under construction, historic ruins, traditional villages and board houses, beautiful beaches and so much more! It was well worth the cost - we were able to see the whole island without having to rent a vehicle or rely on the bus system.

After our tour, we had a walk through town and enjoyed a beautiful sunset before enjoying dinner at the Kayak Kafe before we called it a night! Looking forward to tomorrow and out trip to the Tobago Cays!

It's been a busy week! Catching Up! Day 1 - February 13 2015

Hard to believe this time last week we had arrived in Grenada and were on our way to Carriacou via the Osprey Ferry.

It is always a long trip - first across to Toronto with WestJet and then to Grenada with Caribbean Airlines - but stepping off the plane to sunshine and warm weather was worth it!

Caribbean Airlines sure knows how to make passengers feel welcome! From complimentary luggage check in to headsets and blankets - they offer it all - including an in-flight meal or snack depending on what flight you take.

We took the red eye - and even then, they offered a 'snack' consisting of a Jerk Turkey Sandwich, chips, cookies and beverages - including a delicious rum punch!

                        

We did manage to get a bit of sleep - but not much - and were happy to get through customs and pick up our bags before heading off to Woburn Villas which would be our home base for the next few weeks.

Our host Yvonne had picked up a few groceries so after a bit of breakfast, showers and bit of shut eye -  Yvonne dropped us off at Spiceland Mall and we enjoyed some window shopping before heading out to Grand Anse Beach and some 'lime time'.

It was an early night - we were not quite on Grenada time yet and still had a bit of repacking to do but we did have time to enjoy dinner at Umbrellas - still has good food and a fun beach vibe. Best of all - we didn't have to cook! Then off to bed so we could be up early to take the ferry to Carriacou - and Carnival!

I took lots of pictures and had great intentions of blogging every night on this trip - but the fresh air and fun meant I was pretty tired - and no blogging until now. But will try to get caught up this weekend - don't want to forget a minute of this trip!

Ten FREE (or all most free!) things to do in the Comox Valley

I had a chance to spend almost two weeks in the beautiful Comox Valley recently and I was really pleased to see so many things to do - and many at little or no cost.

Here are a few of the ones I discovered - and there are lots more!

1. Explore the beaches! Miracle Beach has sandy beaches and if the tide is out, lots of shallow tidal pools. Bring a chair, sunscreen, book and snacks and spend the day!

2. Watch Canada’s own Snowbirds! In May, the Snowbirds migrate to the Comox Valley to practice their maneouvers in preparation for the many airshows they will perform at during the summer. Watch them from Singing Sands or Kye Bay – anywhere along the strait is a good place to see them.

3. Comox Valley Heritage Walking Tours give you a chance to learn more about the history of the valley as well as a chance to get some fresh air and exercise!

4. Visit Seal Bay Regional Nature Park! A network of trails on the Comox Pennisula, the paths are excellent for hiking and biking. A steep path leads to the beach where visitors sometimes see seals, sea lions and other wildlife (we didn’t L )

5. Visit the Courtenay & District Museum & Paleontology Centre. The first stop on the Great Canadian Fossil Trail, the centre offers year round fossil site tours ($$) but also has a permanent display of a fossillized twelve metre long Elasmosaur dinosaur. Centre also has local First Nations and early pioneer displays.

6. The Gardens on Anderton give you a chance to relax as well as offer hands-on activities. There is no charge, but donations to their program are gratefully accepted.

7. Visit the Comox Air Force Museum and Heritage Airpark. The history of the Comox Air Base is housed at the museum. There is an extensive photo and reference display to see inside before heading outside for a walk to the airpark where historic aircrafts are on display.

8. Check out downtown Courtenay, The city is filled with trees and greenery, and there are plenty of locally owned cafes and restaurants to have a cup of coffee or meal where you can sit and watch the world go by. One of our favorites is Hot Chocolate where you can enjoy a coffee or gelato (our favorite!)

9. Goose Spit Regional Park offers a great expanse of sandy beach when the tide is out and is the perfect place to enjoy a campfire on the beach at the end of the day. There is ample parking but it does fill up fast, so be sure to come early.

10. The Comox Valley Farmer’s Market is a great place to get your groceries - straight from the producers! Every Saturday from April to October at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds, Wednesday mornings from 8:30 to 12:30 from July through August on England Ave. between 5th and 6th Streets, and October - April inside at the Native Sons Hall.

So many things still to do - will have to visit again soon!

Trip to Nakusp

Been a while since I posted - thought I better start and post some pics and memories before I forget them!

For my 50th birthday, Barry arranged a trip to Nakusp Hotsprings. Neither of us had been there - but after this trip, we know this will be somewhere we will go to again.

We took the route over the Monashee's - and enjoyed the Needles Ferry (still one of the few free ferries in BC!)

Once we checked in at Nakusp Hotspring Cedar Chale ts, we headed back into Nakusp for dinner at The Hut. The Hut is a great local hangout - good burgers, chicken, fries and ice cream treats.

After dinner, we took a walk along the boardwalk - I love the walk - every town should have one like this. There are two special gardens - the Spicer Family Garden and the Japanese Garden - both beautiful.

We headed back to the hotsprings and enjoyed a late night dip before calling it a night.

On Saturday, it rained the whole day. We enjoyed the hotsprings - and the hummingbirds that were all over the place.

We decided to take a drive to New Denver and passed Summit Lake and Roseberry on the way - beautiful areas - would like to camp there one day. When we arrived in New Denver, we decided to carry on to Sandon and check out the area.

Sandon is a true ghost town - at one time a thriving community now a great place learn about an important piece of BC's past.

                                               

We did try to get up to the parking area so we could walk up to Idaho Peak - but the road was washed out. We will have to try again.

On our way back to New Denver, we were lucky to spot a beautiful cinnamon colored brown bear - who was quite content to keep enjoying his snack while we watched!

Rainy weather meant lots of water - and the waterfalls in the area were full to the brim - and so beautiful.

Victoria Falls

Ione Falls

 A great time - hope to go back soon!

Active Pass Lighthouse, Mayne Island

The original Active Pass Lighthouse was constructed at Georgina Point on Mayne Island in 1885. The current circular concrete tower was built in 1969.

The lighthouse, also known as the Georgina Point Lighthouse, is viewed by hundreds of people every day from the ferries that run between Tsawwassen on the BC mainland to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island.

But to really experience it, take advantage of the fact that the lighthouse grounds are open to the public and  include it as a place to see when you visit Mayne Island.

Barry and I visited the lighthouse in September 2010 - what a great view and with no rain, we enjoyed watching the sun go down.

Daytrip to Trinidad Cuba

Our trip to Cuba in 2009 included a daytrips to Trinidad. Declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1998, Trinidad seemed to be Varadero in reverse - lots of opportunity to interact with Cubans and it has kept most of its old world charm - cobblestone streets and traditional stucco houses painted pastel colors combine with a beautiful setting - breathtaking!

We checked out some of the local shops - there were lots of local artisans. Painters, weavers, carvers - but the one that stands out was the gentleman who had a display of handwoven hats and bags in the front of his home. He was more than happy to have us come in and even gave us a short tour of the inside of his home. Needless to say, I couldn't leave without a straw bag - and got a very nice one.

We walked up to the Plaza Mayor, the main square.  It was interesting to see the old churches around the square - all missing their religious symbols  and icons that should have been in the wall niches. Trinidad was an interesting mix of religions - the traditional Catholic churches and then the painting we saw featuring the various saints of the Santeria religion.

From the plaza, Patti and I decided to check out the Museo Nacional de la lucha Contra Bandidos, which was once the Convent of San Francisco de Asis. The quaint yellow bell tower is one of the most photographed sites in Trinidad and from the top you get a great view of the whole city. The climb up the very narrow circular staircase and ladder was worth it.

Barry and I both said several times during our trip that we would like to visit Trinidad again - and give the Caribbean side of Cuba a try.

 

Dinner Bay Community Park and Japanese Garden

While exploring Mayne Island (between enjoying the hot tub and walking the beaches!) we discovered a great community park just across the road from where we were staying. 

An even nicer discovery was that within the community park was a Japanese Garden, established by the residents of Mayne Island to recognize the contributions on early Japanese settlers, many who were relocated to New Denver during WWII and never returned to Mayne Island.

It is a peaceful garden, filled with plants, trees, pieces of art and historical articfacts. If you visit Mayne Island, make time to visit this garden!

Japanese Garden September 2010 Mayne Island

Irish Settlers Memorial Charlottetown PEI

When we visited PEI in February 2010, we had a chance to do lots of walking and quite by accident stumbled onto the Irish Settlers Memorial.

The memorial reads as follows:

“The Irish Settlers Memorial honours over ten thousand early immigrants to this island. The granite Celtic cross symbolizes both Ireland and Christianity. The circular terrace embraces thirty-two flagstones. Distinctive relics imported from each of the counties where the settlers had originated. The Memorial faces the harbour at Three Tides, where the Immigrants entered upon their new lives.

The Celtic Heritage Assoc. for P.E.I. –  Canada Day 2001.”

Barry's family came to the Island about 1800 from Ireland, so it was a great to find this monument. Life for Irish immigrants couldn't have been easy - and from the family research I have done, they left their families and encountered many challenges trying to begin a new life in Canada, including fighting stereotypes about the Irish. I hope the descendants of those families are not only tolerant of new Canadians, but accepting as well - remembering the struggle of those who came to PEI to make a better life.

Barry at Three Tides Harbour

McLure Wildfire Monument

The summer of 2003 in BC has been dubbed the 'Summer of Fire' - one of the most catastrophic in British Columbia’s recorded history. Due to an extended drought in the southern half of the province, forest firefighters faced conditions never seen before. Lightning strikes, human carelessness and arson all contributed to igniting nearly 2,500 fires involving more than 10,000 firefighters and support personnel - and burning more than 265,000 hectares at a cost of $375 million.

While the fires in Kelowna certainly were devasting for the amount of property and possessions that were lost, I believe the fire in the McLure/Barriere area was even more devasting. Not only did these communities lose property and possessions, the Tolko Mill at Louis Creek was totally destroyed - and was never rebuilt, resulting in a lose of employment for many.

Barry was in Barriere with the team when the call came for everyone to leave as the fire was raging out of control. For those called to work the fire, it was a lengthy stay - but at least they had a home to go to when it was all over.

On our return trip from Jasper, we stopped at the McLure Wildfire Monument. It was thought provoking to stand where fire had raged - leaving nothing in its path - but not extinguishing the sense of community found in the small, rural towns of McLure, Barriere and Louis Creek.

The McLure Wildfire Monument Society created the Wildfire Dragon Monument Site and Spirit Square to permanently recognize all those who fought in the fire, helped in the aftermath, and joined hands to rebuild - and what a tribute it is.