What a wonderful day. The weather was perfect and we did one of our favourite walks in Port Alberni and then had lunch in the Clam Bucket. Decided to pop in to see the Eagles before going home and I’m so glad we did eye put on a show for us followed by another put on by Mummy Merganser and her ducklings. Didn’t think the Eagles were going to do anything but mum eventually appeared, junior popped his head up and then daddy brought something to eat. Then he kept coming back with more! Incredible. The mum then spent a while feeding the baby – although he looks as big as his parents and certainly big enough to feed himself! Mum must have then sent dad out for new bedding as he then appeared with a tree branch and spent a while repairing part of the nest. 

We then watched a merganser mum trying to control her brood of ducklings and show them how to fish. It was hilarious as they kept running on top of the water. We just couldn’t stop laughing. We were joined in the shows by Jeannie and her dog. She was really lovely and I’m hoping we meet again before we leave the area.

Beautiful today so decided to drive down to The Saanich peninsula and had a walk along the promenade in Sidney and then some fish and chips on the harbour – delicious.

We returned by using the ferry from Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay – spectacular scenery.

Really lovely day – only downside was that we stopped at the woodpecker nest on the way home to find that all was quiet – presumably they had fledged.

Didn’t do a great deal today – popped along to see the Eagles but the baby seemed to be having a siesta or maybe he was out on a play date. Also popped down to Qualicum and watched some of the classic cars.

Pouring with rain when we woke up but didn’t matter as we weren’t didn’t have much planned today. Parked at Qualicum beach and wandered to the market for a couple of pasties and then popped into Leftie’s for coffee. While we were in there it really hammered down. Luckily for us the rain stopped when we left so we went back to the car and then had a wander around the community wood. Heard two very cross kingfishers but didn’t catch a pic of them.

Turned out beer o’clock was early today  – lucky or what! Sat having lunch watching the birds lining up waiting for any meat scraps being thrown out of the restaurant and the classic cars driving by  – there’s a classic car parade tomorrow for Father’s Day. We’re hoping to watch them from our balcony.

Decided that, as the weather was supposed to be good, we’d do another trek around Newcastle Island. It was definitely worth it as we saw a bald eagle, two deer, herons and three golden tailed raccoons. Had lunch watching one racoon dig for his lunch – perfect.

Once we got home we walked the Parkesville boardwalk and then it was beer o’clock so we stopped for a beer overlooking the ocean and watching a bloke trying to kite surf – unsuccessfully I might add!

Decided to have a “pootling” day. Started off with a visit to the eagle family – looked like it was going to chuck it down! Then to Moorecroft Park where we think saw another eagle family Mum, Dad and and a juvenile who looked to be about a year old.

Then popped in to the shops in Nanaimo and on the way as a Californian Quail, a baby deer and a young deer with very cute antlers

After that it was beer o’clock!

Rain forecast again and it absolutely chucked it down in the car but, once again someone was looking after us and the shone on us all day. Spent a while watching the mother sapsucker feed her babies who, once again, never shut up!

Then it was over to Cable Bay, one of my favourite walks, where we saw a rufous hummingbird. We then took a ferry to Protection Island where we had a bite to eat before heading for home.

The weathermen here yesterday predicted there would be an 80% chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms today – didn’t take their word for it but did think it might be nice to have a lie in and leisurely morning. Needless to say, when I got up it wasn’t raining so felt we had to make the most of the day and donned our walking gear and set off. Very heavy rain in the car but once we reached the trail it stopped and we haven’t seen any more. The weather forecasters here are definitely not as good as the BBC!

Lovely walk once more and managed to see a couple of dippers doing their thing, a Merganser mum with her brood of the cutest little balls of fluff, and a red breasted sapsucker – and a load of slugs, yuk!

I will reiterate – aren’t smartphones wonderful. Last night I had a message from Becca saying that Billy had been sick. Within the hour I started throwing up! Haven’t realised that germs could travel that way!

Decided to take it easy today so just mooched about. Visited Rathtrevor Beach for the first time this holiday. Weather presenters had forecast rain and it definitely looked as if we were going to get drenched, but, in fact it stayed dry all day. Had a quick visit to the Eagles – my has that eaglet grown. Then watched a couple of seals playing in the waves.

No rain again today so we’re off again to Nanaimo. First of all though we had to find the cache where we’d left Spider-Man. I had to take pics of him so Becca could make sure it was logged properly.

We then went to Neck Park. This was the first Provincial Park we ever visited in Canada and has always been our favourite but having found so many more after being there so much I think, although it’s a beautiful walk, there are others that we prefer. Previously we have seen loads of snakes on the beach and purple starfish everywhere but all the wildlife was in hiding today. The only wildlife we saw this morning we’re some Canada Geese which were lining up ready for the midday show.

We then popped into Buttertubs Marsh and saw hummingbirds, a vole and, yet again I nearly trod on a snake. Not sure if they have a death wish or are out to get me!

It was then beer o’clock so we went down to the harbour (via the Pride celebrations in the park) and had a very nice Mexican Meal.  Now we’re sitting watching tv and I’m feeling saintly as the bedding is in the wash and it’ll be tumble dried and back on the bed by bedtime.