Hedley BC Canada

This is the first time I've been here in the Spring and it's beautiful.  I usually come to Princeton in the fall for hunting, camping or staying in a motel in town, then driving out here in the truck to unload the motorcycle or quad.  There's a zillion miles of trails out from Old Hedley in the Gold Mountain direction as well as north.
Gilbert and I drove up from Vancouver in the Ford F350 pulling the Rockwood Minilite RV.  There was snow in the forest in Manning Park where the campgrounds are all still closed.  Deer were out along the road coming down into Princeton. What a beautiful sight.  The town continues to grow with lots of evidence of paint and development.  Beyond Princeton I saw horses and cattle then some 20 ams on I was at Hedley.
On the way up I've been listening to Graham Greene's novel of the red shirt killing of the Catholic priests in Mexico.  Graham Greene is such a great writer. I took several stops which pleased Gilbert no end. There's a bit more strain driving pulling a house than just whizzing along in  a sportscar.  A bit like motorcycle travelling where it's nice to get out and stretch one's legs.  
Thankfully the Riverhaven RV campsite was open. They'd just turned the electricity on.  I was the first customer of the year. The owner, a very helpful and personal, good looking man, guided my RV into the parking space.  Now I've a love view of the Silmakeen River rushing below me.  There's a walkway down to a sand beach too.  Gilbert loved running up and down the beach.  "We like pets, " the owner had told me, "but I don't like picking up after other people's dogs so make sure you do."  He's got a little shepherd female who Gilbert has loved playing with.
I'm slowly moving about this morning after porridge and my second cup of coffee. I'm planning on going out with the Honda CRF 250 motorcycle to explore the backroads. The weather has been kind, cloudy but sunny with a sunny forecast for the next couple of days.  It's wonderful here.

Deep Cove Night Motorcycle Ride

Deep Cove is a sweet little town in North Vancouver. I motored up there in the SV Giri under the Second Narrows Bridge, and having the railway bridge raised to allow my mast to clear. I've gone up by boat a few times over the years especially loving that first adventure with the beautiful young woman I was married to then. I can't remember if we anchored that first time or moored. I do remember the great meal ashore. Deep Cove is known for it's fine food, the perfect little getaway.
This time Gilbert and I simply rode over on the Honda CRF 250 motorcycle, a splendid little drive along the shore line. In Deep Cove there's a park. We dismounted there and Gilbert had a marvellous dog time with fresh virgin territory rich in scent and unmarked by himself.
On the way back we turned up Mount Seymour parkway only going as far as the sign that said winter tired were needed until April 30. With Gilbert riding on the back of the bike I didn't want any slippery spills. We passed Parkgate Mall and another mall down along Dollarton. Great little local delights with specialty foods and shops. North Vancouver reminds me of when I lived in Marin County, San Francisco. Each little town and local that made up the area was distinctive. Deep Cove certainly has that flavour along with the area around it.
Great little night ride.


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Whitecliff Marine Park

I did some of my scuba diving training here at Whitecliff Marine Park. I remember most the night dive, being startled by the friendly alien seal while looking at the wonder of the phosphorescent shrimp on the sea floor. It was here too that I had to mark and swim a search grid during the day.
I've had a hankering to dive here again. I've had my BCG serviced and heard I can pick it up tomorrow. I'll do a swimming pool dive to check out my dry suit, weights, buoyancy and the serviced Octopus BCG. After that I'm hoping to get out for a dive at Whitecliff.
It's a beautiful spot. Gilbert and I drove up on the Honda CRF 250 motorcycle. I've only put 332 km on it since I bought it. He enjoyed the walk through the park to the beach but was a little miffed that no dogs were allowed down there. Otherwise it was a fine destination for a sunny March Saturday in West Vancouver.