We get a pleasant surprise today as marina guests stop by to visit. We are delighted to learn that these new friends are Linda and Tom, also on vacation in the islands.
Even more delightful is Tom's introduction of himself, "I led you through Dodd Narrows yesterday." It is so wonderful to meet the real person who was at the helm of Allure and who communicated with the northbound boat heading in our direction.
We continue our visit and share experiences, until they must return to their boat, and we hope to meet them again.
Later in the morning Herb and Jake take me on some trails they have found. This one is a rail-to-trail and passes by the marina.
Herb calls it 'the woods.' I call it 'the mystery walk.'
This section of the leaf-covered path looks little traveled, and Herb points out a different fork that we can take.
Ahhh, nature!
As we emerge from the trail and get to street level, we come to the Steam Donkey used in logging in the early 1900s and which remained in use until 1949.
We see cheerful banners lining the sidewalks as we make our way on into town in search of lunch.
The roses are still beautiful, even as some of the blossoms begin to fade in the last days of Summer.
Summer? Summer?
We are happy to find the Bean Time restaurant. We had seen a feature article in the April 2011 issue of "Pacific Yachting" which was written by Anne and Laurence Yeadon-Jones, the Dreamspaker Crusing Guide authors.
We have read and referenced several of their guide books on our PNW outings.
We tell the ladies who serve our lunch about the magazine, and learn that we are among several who have come here after having read it.
There is a cozy reading area by the fire.
A sign on the table invites us to 'Like' their coffee from the Gulf Islands Roasting Co. on Facebook.
One of my favorite menu items is chicken quesadillas -- this time with cranberry and cheese filling, complimented with peach chutney for the carrot sticks. Yum! Yum!
After a visit to the 49th Parallel Grocery, we take the rail path back to the marina and see a small waterfall along the way.
Back on the dock for his afternoon nap, Jake is awakened for petting by some sailors from LaPorte TX and Gabriola Island BC near Nanaimo.
Then a 'cousin' Golden strolls by and is not so sure she wants to visit with Jake.
But her owners do.
A lady comes by to visit with Jake and shows us her shirt featuring rescue dogs that her daughter works with.
We explore the social dock and, although we are kids only at heart, we look into the Kid's Viewing Dock.
The first thing I see is a spider web reaching across the viewing area, and then I see tiny fish swimming below.
Delights many a kid!
Herb takes advantage of the grills provided by the Maritime Society to cook our pork chops we purchased from the 49th Parallel Grocery today.
He says it doesn't get any better than this, as he relaxes in the lounge chair, while the grill does the work.
Willie of Willie's Tug,
and Walldog, Willie and Jake
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