Believe it or not we were not the first in the queue for the ferry this morning…..we were 2nd lol! We got to Horse Shoe Bay at 7am for the 8.30 am sailing… Your Dad always allows plenty of time for hold ups.

The crossing was flat as a millpond, sunny and clear visibility. We sat on the top deck for most of the time, admiring the scenery of the coastlines. 

  

 We were first off the ferry and went straight into Nanaimo town (where we docked ) and where we are staying for 5 nights. 

Nanaimo is a small coastal town and seemed like we were in Ireland. There is a Bastion there. It is a fortress built by the Hudson Bay Company to defend the town and protect the inhabitants. It has 2 storeys and on the top storey is a cannon which is still fired every day at noon in commemoration. Very interesting building both inside and outside and quite a feature of the town and harbour. The wooden steps inside were very steep and over 80% of the original wood it was built with, remains. It was built in the early 1800s. 

   There was an old man with very long grey hair and long beard playing beautiful music with a flute begging for money. The road sweeper man also asked us if we would donate money to him for cleaning the street. It’s different here …….. 

 We went to 2 coastal parks in beautiful forested areas. The wildlife we spotted was brilliant. Many many huge turquoise dragonflies, butterflies, and tiny baby deer, many gulls and Canadian geese, a bird we think was a woodpecker and best of all 3 bald headed Eagles…….. and all this in just 3 hours in the afternoon. This island is definitely our kind of holiday destination.  

       Our hotel is lovely and we are going whale watching tomorrow afternoon. I do hope we see a whale, keep your fingers crossed xxxxxx

Love to you all and missing you all xxxx