- Northern Pacific Wanderings 2024 — here we go!
- Enjoying a few days in Hong Kong
- A day in Kaohsiung and Tainan, Taiwan
- A quick trip to the Penghu Islands
- Two Days in Taipei, Taiwan
- Naha, Okinawa
- Two days in Beijing
- Two days in Incheon and Seoul, South Korea
- Jeju Island, Korea
- Busan, Korea in a day!
- Nagasaki, Japan
- Arita, Japan
- Miyajima and Hiroshima, Japan
- Kyoto’s Bamboo Forest and Rock Garden
- Matsushima, Japan
- Hakadote, Japan
- Kushiro, Japan
- Dutch Harbor….er, Unalaska, Alaska
- Kodiak, AK
- Homer, AK
- Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, AK
- Sitka, AK
- Klawock and Craig, AK
- A Nanaimo, BC, Canada drive by
- Vancouver BC, end of trip, and final thoughts
We are now close to the end of our cruise. Today we pulled into Nanaimo, the so-called “Harbour City” almost directly across the Georgia Strait from Vancouver, our debarkation point. We once spent the night in Nanaimo on our boat as we were heading home from a trip up north, but had never explored the city. And, it turns out, we didn’t this time either. Instead we headed north and west from the city to visit MacMillan Park, the home of Cathedral Grove, one of the most accessible stands of giant Douglas fir trees on Vancouver Island. The park protects and preserves a significant representative example of Douglas fir old-growth forest within the Coastal Western Hemlock Biogeoclimatic Zone. We wandered around the trails, admiring the grove of trees, some dating back over 800 years.
From there, we went over to Coombs Market. The town of Coombs was established at the beginning of the 20th century by families who arrived as part of an immigration program sponsored by the Salvation Army, who brought nearly a quarter of a million poor English and Welsh to Canada. Today, the area is primarily known for its annual fair and bluegrass festival, but we stopped to visit one of its other landmarks — The Old Country Market. This gem started over 50 years ago as a roadside stand, providing fresh produce to travelers heading to the west coast of Vancouver Island (on one of the few roads that actually allows you to get to the west coast. The couple that built it were Norwegian immigrants and, consistent with many of the buildings of their native Lillehammer, they incorporated a sod roof in the design. But what made this market a tourist destination was the idea to put some goats on the roof to keep the greenery trimmed. Today, it is a sprawling marketplace with a grocery store and a variety of tourist-oriented shops. And while the goats weren’t actively trimming the roof, they were relaxing in their stable. Yes, this place was a bit touristy, but the real find was the native wood carver next door at the Coastal Carvings Fine Art Center (coastal carvings.com). While I normally don’t plug businesses, the work there is amazing across a variety of media. If you are ever in the area, you should stop by!
It was a short day, but it was also time to pack. Tomorrow, Vancouver!
This entry was posted in British Columbia, Canada, Cruising, Nanaimo, Travel
I am a traveler and sometimes clay sculptor, following a long career working in consulting. My work allowed me to travel the world extensively and I was hooked. Today, I travel with my wife/best friend to explore new places, meet new people, and learn new things.
