Recent ferry fare increases have prompted us to offer assistance with ferry fares to visitors who pre-book and pre-pay their accommodation. Upon receipt of payment (postmarked at least ten days prior to your stay), we will mail out a BC Ferries "Experience Card" that is loaded with sufficient funds for the visitor's trip to Bowen Island, whether by car, or as a foot passenger, which provides a reduced rate for ferry travel.

Finally, holidays have arrived for me with time for my own pursuits, for attempting to tame the garden, and most of all, enjoy ocean swimming. Pebbly Beach is deserted by 5:30 in the afternoon, which is when the tide is best for a swim.

 

 

 

Blackberries promising a good harvest 

 

 

 Deer finding good stuff to eat.

 

 

The 6:30 ferry pulling into Horseshoe Bay with Bowen (Finisterre), Gambier and Anvil Island (l to r) and the Langdale ferry in the background.

That is what it felt like this month when we finally experienced some warmer weather, with flowers blooming and the birds singing. The hummingbirds finally discovered our feeders and the frog has returned. On the long weekend I went for my first swim of the season and have been going to the beach regularly, sunshine or not.

 

 

 

Cats sleeping endless hours, woodstove going every day and wearing hats and gloves - all signs of winter. Yet, there are signs of spring: bushes are blooming, hummingbirds dart around - and we are hoping they will find a way to use the new hand-blown glass feeder. Soon, our new sign will be mounted, making it easier for visitors to find their way to our place.

 

Due to conflicting schedules we had an early Easter egg hunt with our neighbour and the children, explaining that the Easter Bunny could not possibly distribute treats to all children on Sunday and the bunny would be passing through our area on Friday already. All treats were found and none were taken by ravens!

We enjoyed the company of family and friends throughout the weekend. Some even slept in a tent, the earliest time in the year anyone camped out at our place. These eggs were the result of some craft activities.

 

Seeing the low tide on returning from my walk to Snug Cove I decided to return home along the shore. It is a bit of a hike, climbing over rocks and boulders - a good challenge to all senses. At one point I turned around to see who was following me and saw a deer, which came along at a good clip, passing me as if we were in a race. The deer, sure-footed, did make quick headway until it came towards a group of kids looking for eels and crabs. It disappeared from my sight until I saw it looking down from high above the beach on someone's lawn. My bounty from the shore included a bunch of pussy willows, harbingers of spring.

None of our spring bulbs are in bloom yet and the forsythia has some ways to go. But these tulips in the vase bring a sense of spring. Horst brought me this beautiful bouquet, which was given to him by someone transporting buckets of tulips on the ferry.

 

Tomorrow is February 29, a day that happens only every four years. Can you imagine that you were born on that day? One of my aunts supposedly was born in the early hours of Feb. 29 and her birth was recorded as Feb. 28.

In January, the moss in the forest seems greener and shades of brown seem more intense under the grey cloud cover and mist in the trees. Is it because of the lack of vibrant colours?

 

Maple tree trunk covered in licorice ferns. 

An earthworm I almost stepped on, but no slugs yet.

With the beginning of 2007, it's about time to leave a post here. It was a pleasure to share a little bit of Bowen and its history and our memories and being hosts to those who came here to experience nature or slow down for a couple of days. We sent our visitors to try Cocoa West's fare of chocolates, coffees and gelato, after exploring the Killarney Lake trail or venturing as far as Cape Roger Curtis or climbing the peak of Mt. Gardner.

In this new year, we are looking forward to meeting returning visitors and those who are new to our island. Best wishes for 2008!