Goats on a Roof? Where Did You Say I Could See That?

“I forgot to tell you about the goats!” the man puffed nearly out of breath. “Goats on a roof…in Coombs…go there,” he said in short phrases between breaths.

“Of course, we will make a trip there before we leave the island.” What else could I say to a man who just ran along the beach to give us this travel tip?

Ed and I had casually chatted with the man and his wife moments ago about places and things to see on Vancouver Island. The couple passed along dozens of suggestions but forgot to mention the goats. Now, I figured the goats must be worth seeing. After all, this stranger left his driftwood seat and trekked after us when he realized this important omission from our original conversation.

I almost forgot about the goats too, at least until I noticed the exit sign on Highway 19 for Coombs. It was late in the day, but why not go see what this man had encouraged us to see?

And, we did see goats! Baby goats, black & white coated goats, goats with horns - all live on the grass covered roof of a market combination restaurant/ice cream store. They walked steady across the pitch of the roof. They nibbled grass growing over where gutters should hang. They seemed accustomed to the tourists like me with cameras in hand. So we say “the goats on a roof” and will pass this attraction along to other travelers to Vancouver Island.

July 20, 2008

Coombs, BC

Salmon is Delicious Anyway You Cook It, Especially If You Cook It Kent’s Way

Wonderful ideas hatched over cold Canadian beers and snacks of Fontanne cheese on crackers. We were sitting around a nighttime campfire in a Provincial Park when the conversation with our campsite neighbors, Kent and Jen Kristmanson, turned to salmon. We were, after all, on Vancouver Island. We were thinking about fishing, the salmon runs, big fish in a big country in big wilderness and our big appetites.

Ed and Kent actually put the idea forward that would forever challenge my esteemed chef’s status when it comes to preparing salmon. No longer would I think of my Brookshire’s bought orange fillet as delectable. No longer would I think about disgracing the fish with dabs of butter and minced garlic. Kent would show me a new way of preparing salmon.

That evening Ed and Kent agreed to go out the next morning to French Creek Seafood, Ltd. for “off-the-boat” seafood. I honestly thought the idea would die by daybreak. But, true to their word and fortified with a couple of cups of coffee and a hearty breakfast, the fellows headed out to the harbor. Kent knew this place well. He said it had a fine reputation locally.

Ed and Kent came back from the fish market with a salmon that was longer than any cooler we had in the motor home. Nevertheless, we packed that baby with ice and waited until later in the day. We’d have a fine dinner that evening.

In preparation for cooking, Kent went through my collection of a spices and dried herbs. He knew what he needed. He took some of my stuff and added fresh herbs from his wife Jen’s kitchen. Ed built a fire in the fire ring. I pulled out the roll of foil to wrap the fish. Kent took charge of stuffing the salmon in the way he had been doing for many years.

The toughest part of the dinner was waiting for the fish to cook. It smelled so good as the herbs blended with the salmon aroma. Kent told us to be patient. And, while we waited, Jen and I prepared side dishes, set the table, and kept bringing the guys cold beers. Time passed and the fish cooked to perfection.

We popped open a bottle of fine wine when Kent brought the fish to the picnic table. As he pealed back the foil wrapping, there it was …fresh salmon sizzling and steaming. We chowed down on salmon. I’ll tell you, the side dishes weren’t the main choice on any of our plates. We all went back for seconds of the salmon. It tasted dang good!

Salmon Purchased at French Creek Seafood Ltd.

Open 7 days a week

www.frenchcreek.ca

1097 Lee Road, Parksville, BC, Canada

On the Point at French Creek Marina

250-248-7100

July 18, 2008

The Whimsical Driftwood Sculptures of Campbell River, BC

I did not drive to Campbell River with any particular activity planned, so imagine my delight when I came across these whimsical carvings on the shoreline of Highway 19A. I laughed aloud at the exaggerated wide eyed, red lipped fish; and I wondered if the open mouth on the old man’s lined face expressed surprise.

I smiled at the otter holding a crab across its chest. The image reminded me that our family once nicknamed my son Chris “Otter” for his frequent missteps as the child. Chris was the kid who frequently slipped into the fishing hole at the Westline and lost his rod but came up grasping a creature from the water much like an otter.

Another carving attracted the attention of youngsters and the rest of us too. The red and green pair of characters popping out of the carved trash could grace the screen of Sesame Street. Was this an artist’s interpretation of Oscar the Grouch, but with a smile?

Some carvers took a more serious approach. One created the lifelike the waving mane in the profile of a horse. Another captured the thrust of a whale crashing through the surf. The detail and smoothness of each invited my touch. They felt smooth like the polished finish of expensive furniture.

A banner strung between two trees proclaimed this display: “Campbell River Shoreline Arts Society, Transformation on the Shore, Driftwood Carving Competition.” I did not try to weight my opinion with that of the competition’s judges. I simply enjoyed my Sunday afternoon stroll among the carvings and wondered about how ragged pieces of driftwood were transformed to these masterpieces.

July 20, 2008

Transformations on the Shore

13th Annual Amateur/Pro-wood Carving Contest

www.crshorelinearts.ca

June 25 - 29, 2008

Go Fly A Kite!

I’ve had my share of kites as a kid. I remember ripping up cotton rags to tie as tails while Dad did the hard part of assembling the wooden cross and stretching the long diamond-shaped paper to each end. He had to tie the string on the frame and attach the tail too. I remember the joy of watching the kite rise and pull the string so tight it would cut my hand. I remember too the disappointment of watching my kite nosedive into the ground or worse head straight for the maple tree crashing into the branches beyond my reach.

My best experience handling a kite came one summer while vacationing in Ocean City, New Jersey. I spent $5 of my vacation money on a neon pink kite like none I’d even seen before. An oval shaped piece of Styrofoam fit into the center of a circular shape of Styrofoam. A spool of fishing line was tied to four places on the kite. When the ocean air gave it lift, the kite rotated faster and faster in a spin straining the 10-pound test line. The kite was called a flying saucer. It looked just like an orbital UFO from the popular TV show The Outer Limits. I sat on the beach for endless hours just holding the flying line and watching the kite spin in the wind.

Had I been inventive, I might have devised a way to anchor the kite without actually having to hold it myself all those hours sacrificing a swim. At the kite flying demonstration in Parksville, British Columbia, one cleaver flyer let a toy bunny hold his flying line. The bunny looked like the famous battery powered “Energizer Bunny”. Though it was anchored to the ground, it wobbled a bit but the bunny never let go as the wind off the Vancouver Island Strait of Georgia kept the kite aloft.

The bunny was just one of the delights among the elaborate displays set up by kite flying clubs. They assembled on the grounds of Parksville Community Park for this Saturday, July 19^th kiting event sponsored by the Lions Club. That sunny afternoon, I watched several skilled men launch a kite nearly as long as a football field. When the wind finally stretched this kite full length, it made a line of white polka dots across the sky.

One fellow dressed as a Pirate interchangeably flew several kites as colorful and elaborate as his costume. Shapes and colors floated against the blue sky along with simple kites that looked like white handkerchiefs drifting in the breeze.

Then on the ground, there were some youngsters just learning about kites who were almost as much fun to watch those who have mastered the art of flying a kite.

July 19, 2008

Parksville, British Columbia

Vancouver Island, Canada

Vancouver Island: Pacific Rim National Park

I felt exhilarated seeing the Pacific Ocean from the beach of Vancouver Island. The immense power of the ocean struck me with awe and wonderment. The journey here was clearly worth the effort. Getting there had not been easy. Our drive cut from the east side of the island in Parksville through narrow, scenic mountain passes taking us as far west as possible. After nearly 2 ½ hours, we reached the prize at the end – the Pacific.

We climbed down the short set of stairs from the parking lot to Florence Bay. The sandy beaches invited us to walk this nearly deserted place. Seaweed shaped like small palm trees lay toppled on the beach. Another tubular plant with onion shaped bulbs lay in long tangles. Leafy kelp had washed ashore too. When I held one up, its length stretched longer than my 5’3” stature.

Stacks of weathered driftwood lay scattered on the beach. I found a piece that looked like a Pirates’ sword lost in a shipwreck and washed up in the tide. Some driftwood had once been massive tree roots twisted and hollowed in a natural sculpture. Backed against the earthen hillside, logs, some more than 30 feet long and striped of their bark, lay like natural sets the stadium bleachers. They didn’t roll when I climbed on top to watch the surfers ride the waves.

Of course, I had to sample the water too. I waded in the water without getting soaked as deep as my Cabalas shorts would decently allow. The water felt icy cold and I welcomed the warm sun when I could no longer feel my toes.

At the Wickaninnish Centre, the staff eagerly talked to me about the seaweeds we found at Florence Bay and the ocean mite that nibbled on my leg when I waded in the water. They were a friendly group giving their full attention to my questions. The exhibits were informative too. They included a whaling canoe, murals of ocean life, whale bones, and history of the Nuu-chah-nulth-aht First Nations people.

Though the interpretive center contained many interesting displays, I felt drawn to its deck overlooking the ocean. This is truly what I wanted to see. Long Beach stretched north. It is the longest stretch of surf swept sand on Vancouver Island. I stood there spellbound a long time watching the endless waves hit the sand and tide pools. The ocean is a vast exhilarating wonder.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is part of Canada’s system of national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation. The Pacific Rim includes the coastal plains portion of the Pacific Coast Mountains and the nearshore waters of the west coast of Vancouver Island. In January 2000, UNESCO designated Clayoquot Sound as a world biosphere reserve. Pacific Rim is a core protected area of the biosphere preserve.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

From: Rathtrevor Provincial Park Campground we followed

Hwy. 19 north to Hwy. 4 west to Ucluelet/Tofino

250-726-4600