Friday morning was calm and overcast so we motored over to meet Ann Aerobic at Wallace Island. We found them in Princess Cove so we anchored and stern tied then rafted together.
We enjoyed sandwiches on deck then dinghied over to a small dinghy wharf, where we tied up and took a walk through an arbutus laden forest. A pretty trail led us to other anchorage coves and an old residentail site that is being restored historically (it had been a little resort retreat for a wealthy family).
On the way remnants of an old orchard and a rusted out tractor and harrows and Willys truck reminded us of past farming days. As we strolled in the peace of the fall forest I was reminded of Dad as I often am this time of year, which were the days of his birth and death - "October Man". As I smiled to myself lost in my memories I rounded the corner into the field to be confronted by a "forestry" green "water pump" just like the one I had stood beside while Dad pumped water a dozen times....and the one I got my baby finger caught in....a vivid memory of my father. So as I remember him, I am sure he sees me too...that other dimension just a thin veil beyond us, out of reach on the other side of consciousness.
There was a clearing with picnic tables, one that had a puzzle underway, another anchorage and what may have been a smokehouse or cold house of some kind ....the bird life was amazing, and I just sat and reveled in the sounds and the colours.
After a farewell to our friends, we untied and set out for Sidney Harbour to meet Nora and Peter.