“Black Frank” was the pirate persona adopted by Frank James Ney, a former mayor of Nanaimo. A statue in his honour is in a prominent location by the sea wall at Swy-a-Lana Lagoon. When I took these pictures I noticed that someone had given him a scarf to keep warm and a yellow smiley face […]
It was a chilly -6 C (21 F) this morning when I set out to join my hiking group. We enjoyed a delightful 4 km walk around Buttertubs Marsh, a bird sanctuary in Nanaimo. As you can see, there is ice on top of the water and we didn’t see many ducks until we had […]
Whether you call them public conveniences, toilets, washrooms, or loos, these two in Nanaimo are a pleasure to look at. The first set of murals is by Van Charles Art at Maffeo Sutton Park and the second is by Don Richey at Brechin Boat Launch.
Here are some of the many shorebirds that I see when I walk along the harbourfront in Nanaimo. In these photos are gulls, crows, and some birds that I think may be either plovers or killdeers. I will appreciate identification from any birders who see this. They are always a delight to watch and surprisingly […]
All along the beach at Nanaimo are the broken shells of shellfish. The gulls and other shorebirds have figured out that the rocks are a great place to smash open these little calcium carbonate structures in order to feed on the inhabitants If you have seen The Lion King, you know all about the circle […]
After I read about a magnificent sculpture of a humpback whale made of driftwood, I was inspired to go out and take a few pictures of driftwood on the beach near me. There is a surprisingly wide variety of types of wood and textures, and some pieces look as though they have lived a very […]
Yesterday morning there was a fog that obscured the view. When I went for a walk at about 9:00 I saw that the mist was just beginning to lift. I also saw, for the first time, not one but two Great Blue Herons. They were too far apart from each other to get a picture […]
Next week there is to be a gathering of newcomers to Nanaimo at Bowen Park, and I am thinking of attending. Since I don’t know either this group of people or the park, I thought it wise to check out the location prior to trying to find it on the day of the meeting. It […]
I heard the gaggle of Canada Geese before I saw them. A goose’s call is very distinctive, and when there are many of them is it impossible to ignore. I saw the splashes as they landed in the channel beside the marina and then I watched as they paddled towards the shore between the docked […]
As I walk alongside the harbour, I greet other walkers at least a couple of dozen times in my 2k walk. I have been interested in the differences between “Hi,” “Morning,” “Good Morning,” and “Hello,” each said with varying inflections. I have also noticed that only people who make eye contact will greet me, and […]
You know what it is like when you visit a different country or culture, even if you speak the same language, there is so much you don’t understand? It is a moment, or a month, of realization that you are an outsider. When I first immigrated to Canada, I was bewildered by much that was […]
Yesterday it rained relentlessly, but today the sun shone and I was once again able to enjoy the harbour in Nanaimo. With no apologies, here are more pictures of this lovely place. And, get ready for take-off.
I arrived in Nanaimo, British Columbia, yesterday and then had the best sleep I have had in many months. I think it must be the sea air. This morning I enjoyed a walk along the harbourfront. It was windy and cloudy, but very enjoyable even so. I saw a lot of people who look a […]
While visiting Nanaimo, British Columbia this week I spent a morning at Departure Bay. The bay and the neighbourhood surrounding it were incorporated into the city of Nanaimo in the 1970s. The Trans-Canada Highway on Vancouver Island terminates at Departure Bay where the BC Ferry Terminal is located. The ferry connects the island to the […]
Snowbird of Paradise 