CAMPING!

Stamp River Provincial Campground was perfect for us! Lots of trees, privacy and no frills.

 

After a brisk swim in the fast flowing river, we went for a walk to the falls

 

Very pretty canyon that the river squeezes into

 

Next morning we head to McLean Mill to go to the "Steam-Up" festival (which was the whole reason we came camping in Post Alberni in the first place)

 

Very interesting steam machines from the classic Stanley Steamer automobile, to a small steam boat, a gorgeous shiny firefighters pump wagon, lots of tractors and engines and donkeys and huge lorries and of course the mill itself has been restored to steam power! There is something awe-inspiring about the beautiful steam equipment.

 

Cammy managed to get enlisted for the old-time logging demonstration. He got loaded down with old-fashioned faller's gear and there was a lot of it especially for a sunny summer afternoon.

 

And then the lucky bum caught the eye of a man moving his machine and got to ride on a vintage tractor around the mill site! His face is so serious.

 

It was a good weekend, the camping and steam, and museum, and general relaxing around the firepit roasting marshmallows and reading a novel. Very nice indeed.

 

(and the beloved trailer was perfect)

PS; fox&bee, we got some great sound bites of the steam equipment running if you want it

365 days

It's been one year since we got possession of this, our 3rd home.

It was stressful, it was expensive and it was a LOT of work to get to this point, but I still believe this was a good move for us. The floor plan is terrific, the yard is amazing and it's potential hasn't even been reached yet.

It was stinky, dirty, extremely dated and 1/2 torn apart inside, but that couldn't hide how wonderful it could be with some scrubbing, painting and updating. Oh ya it's nice now if I do say so myself.

When I think back to the other house, I do get wistful about the intimate spaces and BRIGHTNESS of it with the white framed, ample windows, and the southern exposure... I also feel a little guilty about leaving a house that was within a few years of being paid off... then again, I'm not romantically delusional about the old house's shortcomings. The rooms were small, things that I loved never fit properly. The driveway was STEEP and the yard was tiny. The brightness that I loved came with a price -- HOT summers. And maybe I could have lived with all that (I did for 13 years after all) but the worst part was that crazy neighbour, she wasn't just threatening me or my husband, but the kids too. A real whackadoo.

This place is better.

365 days we have owned it now. It's home. Our home, noisy road and all (no we haven't "got used to it" like so many people have told us we would).

Bad Dog

We came home to the recycling all over the yard. So T buried him in the bits of plastic and cardboard and made him "stay" for 1/2 hour.

I know Max is doing it to "punish" us for leaving him behind, he gets into in MINUTES of us leaving... Perhaps he thinks getting in trouble is worth it?

It's annoying that's for sure.