At ground level, the sea wall just outside our door also offers fine vistas. This one shows a huge flock of goldeneye ducks enjoying the calm conditions.
Next to our building is a 'Happy Rock', first one I've ever seen! Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't, but, it always brings a smile anyway. In case you can't read it, the words on the sign are 'HAPPY ROCK Just pat me to be happy'.
We're also enjoying many excursions. Our first pilgrimage was to visit the Vancouver Maritime Museum. It was a little disappointing with not much to look at, but, the primary purpose for our visit was there in all its restored glory and made up for the general lack of displays. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) St. Roch, first Canadian boat to transit the North West Passage (she actually did it both ways) was fascinating to see 'in the flesh'. There were also a few displays of Maud (Amundsen's ship) artifacts which resonated with us as well.
We'd had to give Haines, Alaska and its bald eagle festival a miss in our rush to beat the snow on our road trip to Vancouver. We were very disappointed and so, it was a delight to find that the bald eagles also congregate at Harrison Mills, just a short drive from Vancouver. We didn't want to rush our visit so went for an overnight trip in the van. We booked onto a mini-jetboat tour that was excellent.
The jetboat was well able to hold station against the ferocious river flow and take us through very shallow waters to get us close (but not too close) to the eagles. There were hundreds resting on the river flats and feasting on salmon. They were in the trees and soaring on the thermals above us (note to self: don't look up in awe at eagles flying close overhead, one particularly low-flying eagle let loose with a rather large deposit that covered both of us. We had to wade in and wash off in the nearby stream).
There were many serious-looking lens and tripod-toting tourists about. After looking at our disappointing photos, zoom envy has now taken hold and it looks like camera replacement is on the horizon. Whatever we get, it won't be as gargantuan as this lens. This man's partner had an even larger lens and they both had to wear special chest harnesses to carry the weight of them.
The best our zoom could do is this. Hardly inspiring, but, maybe you can get the idea, the eagles were a truly wonderful sight.
Almost as good as seeing the eagles was visiting the farm animals at the farm B&B we'd chosen for the night, Blackberry Lane farm, near Agassiz BC.
In addition to the cows and goats we found in the barn, there was a resident barn cat who wasn't allowed in the house. His Blackberry Lane Institution Wanted poster clearly informed guests to watch out for his sneaky behaviour!
A walk around the resort town of Harrison Hot Springs, deserted in November, completed a delightful outing.
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