Searching for sites on the West Coast ... camping and geocaching July 8, 2013

Planned a week in advance we decided to head out to Rennell Sound, the weather had changed a bit ... not the beautiful sun of the past weeks, but out we headed.

Laundry interfered a bit but 5 of us piled in the truck and took off ... the laundry truck people met us out there, after they had got the laundry on the line!

The trip out on the roads ... not too bad, we did meet the grader, a good sign, then we met a gigantic loaded logging truck with an understandably grumpy looking driver .... to the side we shot and then backed up for a while when it became apparent that the truck wasn't going to! After the next sighted truck we stopped to find out there was yet another one heading our way so over we pulled to allow it to pass safely. There are some newly repaired road spots which are a bit rough!

Soon we turn on to the Rennell Sound road, which was full of people and machines .... more logging trucks and heavy road equipment, as well as campers and boats ... brief stop for more logging traffic and down to Bonanza we head, having checked for some camping spots with good small boat launching beach along the way. Bit blowy on the beach but otherwise great ... one of the reasons for going to Bonanza was that there was a new geocache ... with 5 of us looking we couldn't find it ............. perhaps we need more clues!

Two major sights on the road were the burned out camper near to the top of the Hill

and the amazing amount of dust stirred up by the logging trucks ... as it continues dry.

Always ready for retreat ... June 7

The Over the Hill Hikers founders got the chance to boat, eat, lay back, eat, hike, eat, boat, etc. What a wonderful restful time with delicious foods ... on ur retreat!

Tides weren't perfect but the woods were great, even with lots of blow down last November.  Deer, healthy and delicious looking, were gently about, fun was had by all. Thanks to all the contributors.

Puesta review June 6, 2013

The guys and me headed to the Pseuta ... Dave to check out how much it had changed ...

Wonderful to travel with someone who knows the mechanics and engineering of it all  ... you can see the cement between the massive planks and the iron bolts as well as the wooden pegging. Yes it has changed ... starting to go quite quickly now ... we were still able to see the section further northward as well.

Lots of wonderful old conversations checking up on old friends etc. Great trip and 3 of us ended up at the Port Museum ... all agreed it is a great museum.

Thanks Dave for coming to visit us and wanting to check out things!

June 30, 2013 Checking Chinikundl

Communications a bit unclear ... hesitation after yesterday's soggy weather and today's uncertain ...
On 10 minutes notice we headed out to walk the Chinekundl loop which DW and his high school student assistant have recently been clearing.

These are great routes, mostly old abandoned logging roads which have been cleared of the winter blow downs ... chain saw work, with some drainage work in the future and signage is coming soon. The bridges make the crossings easy ... some bear sign but they seem to be off looking for berries.

The old camper still hasn't been removed ... Forestry isn't interested ... anybody interested in helping?

Special thanks to all those that are doing and/or supporting the work so we can all enjoy these hikes ... the lower loop today, while 75% uphill through the forest, meant a steeper shorter walk down the road  - took less than 2 hours.

Reflection of a tiny plant in a puddle ...

Up the Hill Hike with Language training

Another gorgeous day so off we went on a delayed Birthday Hike with Dan and his family ... we headed up the Sleeping Beauty road to find and "Y" and the signs to head to our Slatechuck Hike but first we drove up to see where the "Connector" and the "new" Sleeping Beauty routes were.

A few trees are leaning precariously cross the road ... but navigable. The road is just "ok" many potholes but who is in a hurry anyway - just go slowly.

The information signs, from the Island Hikers project are holding up well ... the trail has had some work done ... thanks for the alder chunk bridge and the steps dug in the bank.

Today it felt like walking in Bear Ally ... there were bear signs everywhere along the grass and clover trails! Different ages and different composition! So being wise hikers we kept up a conversation, just to allow the bears to know that we too were there. Some of the conversation was in Tagalog ... so if we go to some of the Hash-runs in the Philippines we will know what they are saying when we need to hurry up!

Great hike, great views .... quite different from the last visit.

January 2013 ... oh what a difference!

The Third Annual Sea Asparagus Hunt - June 5, 2013

It was judged that the weather would be good and the tides were right if we left at 8:30 .... so we did, 5 of us ... gumboots, hikers, dancing shoes, and running shoes  ... some of the group, did training runs; one member danced up the beach and three others trudged on 45 minutes to the spot ...chatting or book listening.

The weather while not cold was a little more threatening than expected as none of us had any rain gear  ... and we didn't need it at all!

Once  to our favourite spot we spread out to pick or cut away ... thinking of winter meals of fresh frozen hand harvested greens.

Generally a nice and productive walk ... the work begins when you get home .... 5 changes of water, then picking over [picking clean is a saving grace at this point] then boiling water baths, towel drying, and then into the freezer bags.

Almost a perfect day - if you sit down in a good patch to pick and you are listening to a good book you pick more than you expect!

May 26 ... a little of everything

Today was full, some of the hikers began with feeding many thousands of tiny chum and coho fry ... some soon to be released.

After that it was up the coast for the low tide ... and some more crabbing. Not too much time and some success but not as much as previously. The views at a sunny low May tide were wonderful ...

But no time to waste as we were all meeting at the 10:00 ferry for a trip to Sheldons Bay and then a hike into  Dogfish Bay.

A wonderful trip but while stopped on the Gray Bay road for logging it gave one cause to think about the huge piles of coal-decked trees, stripped from the adjacent roadside slopes Hardly seemed that they were big enough to fall ... and why work 7 days a weeks and take them out so quickly when you could work less in one week and work more weeks! Always great political conversations on the hikes or in the cars to the hikes.

Bear, deer and frogs [maybe a toad] were seen ... no noticeable tsunami debris! The road was in great shape and the trail is in good condition.

It was to be our summer farewell hike with HH, but she wasn't feeling up for it. We missed her.