Well, I’m back in the tranquil island of Gabriola for almost six months. For those of you that didn’t know, I arrived in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island on November 3rd. My friend Ann met me at the airport to drive me to here home, the next day I collected the car I’d bought a year ago, it still cruises smoothly and effortlessly along the highways of British Columbia. It gets a little thirsty on the short yet steep hills of Gabriola with it powerful but heavy, 4.5 litre engine, good job the gas (petrol) is cheaper in Canada.
I’ve had a busy time since returning in Vancouver island, my first day back I drove the the 45 minutes to Coombs and Errington to visit a friend at their woodland home for tea and a catchup chat in her trailer situated in the back garden between the Tepee and medicine wheel.
On Friday morning I caught an early ferry for the 20 minute journey to Gabriola, here I visited my studio home and met my landlady to be shown the ropes, so to speak.
This is the studio I will be living in through the winter months, it is much bigger than it appears at first sight.
It’s very cosy with a small log burning stove and all the facilities needed to be comfortable for the coming months. Just a short drive from one of my favorite places, Berry Point and the coast road with its spectacular views of the snow covered mountains of the Sunshine Coast, these run north from the city of Vancouver. Having had a good look round my accommodation and discovered what was needed to know, I headed for North Road for a short drive to visit my good friend and wonderful cellist, Allannah. We drove back to the village for a coffee at Madrona’s ( my favorite Coffee shop). Here I was welcomed back by the owners, staff and coffee drinking friends, off to the post office, to be welcomed back by the post lady, then a visit to the new shops that had appears in the last few months. One very special and unusual alternative shop is called “Nature Spirit Earth Market” its a great place to visit with a wonder selection of its a great place to visit with a wonder selection of alternative products for every occasion.
www.naturespiritearthmarket.com
