Thursday, 20 June 2019
Madeira Park, British Columbia, Canada
Two options for today.
Go north to Kamloops in the interior and drive in a loop back to Vancouver over the next few days.
Or.
Drive to the Sunshine Coast. As Miss Vancouver recommended.
Grateful to old friend’s (as in longevity) little sister for also suggesting Sunshine Coast. And her time in looking up these things. Thank you Bloss.
Sunshine Coast it is.
Off we go.
You’re probably wondering, dear reader, where the Sunshine Coast is. Google it. Go on. Do some work.
Pootling back along the Sea to Sky Highway, which I suppose is now the Sky to Sea Highway. Some urgency in this morning’s drive as a ferry needs to be caught.
Fortunately arrive at Horseshoe Bay in time. In need of lunch, the only option is a vegan, hippy shack selling anything but a bacon buttie. It’s all humous and vegetables. None of these vegans look very healthy and happy do they.
Forty minute cruise across an inlet of the Straits of Georgia to Langdale. As soon as you land, you can immediately tell there’s a different vibe here. Like Hornby Island, the Sunshine Coast is a chilled out place with plenty of laid back people. Think Dylan from the Magic Roundabout.
Still on the mainland but only accessible by boat, this 50 mile stretch of coast line, from Langdale to Egmont, is the Sunshine Coast.
And gloriously sunny it is too.
The only main road closely follows the coast line and every so often are side roads leading down to small hamlets with names like Smugglers Cove, Secret Cove and Halfmoon Bay. Half expect the Famous Five to come bounding around the corner.
With lashings of ginger beer.
It’s that sort of place.
Peaceful. Relaxed. Scenic.
Very pleasant afternoon drive exploring hidden coves and beaches. One such foray results in an ice cream on the beach. Saddens me to think that this time next week, it’ll all be over. Really don’t want this trip to end. Having the time of my life.
Laugh somewhat when I see a road sign warning of deer. Which has been doctored. See photo below.
One thing that does strike me is that at every bus stop is a chair or two. Either a cheapo white plastic one or a wooden affair. It’s that sort of place that people would put chairs out to sit and wait for a bus.
Slowly wending my way up the coast, arrive at The Painted Boat Resort (https://paintedboat.com/). Only booked it last minute and no time for detailed research. So don’t fully understand what I’ve booked.
Oh my.
Assumed it was a bog standard type hotel suite.
Oh no.
This is a two bedroom villa on the waterfront. With a big outdoor deck.
This isn’t a hotel room.
This is a home.
Give myself a pat on the back. Have struck gold.
Seems a shame to waste the view and the warmth of the sun by sitting in a restaurant for dinner. So it’s home made dinner al fresco on the deck. After a bit of local shopping.
This is the life.
This is most pleasant.
This will do very nicely.
Well done Miss Vancouver and Old Friend’s Little Sis.
Such a nice evening that a post prandial perambulation perhaps required down on the floating boat moorings belonging to the resort. Gaggle of people gathering on the gangway. All are in lightweight blue brushed cotton pyjamas. With a white rope tied around their waists. Nothing else. And I mean nothing else. Men and women. Their attire doesn’t leave a lot to the imagination.
They’re a white hat away from being a Smurf.
Curiosity gets the better of me. Papa Smurf introduces himself as he’s a fellow Brit. From London. They’ve been here all week on a training course.
Meditating.
