Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes. - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

It was an early 4am start on Wednesday, typical of an airport run for at no time should anyone have to get up before the Sun, and leave to begin the day..
Esther took a 7am flight to Toronto after we spent our last few days together in Vancouver. People talk about 'quality time', but for us everyday we spend together is just that, quality, as it should be for all people. I was sad to see her go but know that Esther will have a great time in South America. I would love to have gone, but as my folks are meeting me in Boston I am off on Friday for the big train journey, maybe one that Micheal Palin has already made!
Last Saturday Jim took me, Esther and Peter up to Cain Mountain, I think that sounds better than saying Mt Cain, north of Campbell River, near Wos, in search of some Blueberries, and hopefully a bear or two. Of course most of the ride up the forest roads was uneventful in bear spotting, but we did see lots of bear crap! Distinctly purple and seedy it is easy to spot, but then so should a 6 foot, 300lb bear, you would think.
Mt Cain is well know to the locals as the next Mt Washington as an up and coming ski area. Some 5000 feet up the mountain it was a bit chili and once we found and started blueberries it didn't take long for our fingers to go numb.. It was the coldest I had been since leaving New Zealand. For all that it was nice, very 'fresh'. The ski area has a few rope lifts that go to the very top, but dotted in amongst the trees hidden from sight are numerous cabins, clad to withstand the worse of winter can throw at them. Jim and Peter did talk about possibly buying one and having it as both a summer and winter getaway, and why not. It is a beautiful place, as is much of this treasured island. I'm sure there were bears watching us,or maybe it was just the cabin owner doing some much needed repairers before the cold sets in.
We made a quick stop in at Rock Bay where Peters folks have a nice setup for the summer. It was at one stage set to be town that Campbell River is today, having had been settled before the turn of the 20th century. There is nothing I can say about Rock Bay that hasn't already been said about BC in general. It is such an awesome corner of Canada, the world in fact, that to try and describe it in words would be an injustice. You do have to come and see it. Everywhere you look, from sunrise to sunset, it's ever changing....
Anyway, we did see a bear that day... Just of the main highway as we headed for home. Not too bothered either at us jumping out with cameras blazing.. It just stood there chewing on some grass and them sundered off into the bushes. Sweet as.
And in case you were wondering, there is no sweeter a taste than the fruits of your labour, literally. Jim whipped up some yummy blueberry pastries for breakfast the next day.. He should be a chef, not a plumber!
So the question remains as we leave, do we come back to Canada and get to know it and all it's wonder better? Well I would like to think so.
But for now it's bags packed and bike ready to roll. I will be getting the bus to the ferry, another ferry ride, and then a bus to the city centre before catching the train east. I have to admit there is an air of exictment thinking about the trip.. the MP3 will be filled with songs, Richard Dawkins 'The Greatest Show on Earth' will massage my brain, and of course I will have my drawing supplies for more relaxing moments..

From Top Left - Black Bear, Rock Bay, Blueberries!, Esther, Jim & Esther, Rock Bay again, Esther, Peter & Jim hard at it, Mt Cain, Rock Bay, Relaxing, Centre - Peter, Jim, Jarlath , Esther

To all the people here we have meet and hope to see agian, I bid fairwell.... It's been real, more than you can imagine....