A Day Away: Part Two

Coombs Rodeo Grounds-Western Weekend

Here's a small preview of the next post. C'mon back in a day or two for the story and more photos of the action from a fun-filled afternoon.

A Day Away: Part One

Coombs Country Market

We declared a holiday from boat projects on Saturday and ran down island to visit the Coombs "Goats on the Roof" Country Market (link) and check out the Western Weekend action at the Coombs Rodeo Grounds. Black clouds, intermittent rain squalls and wind gusts along the way threatened to spoil our fun, but the weather cleared before we reached the Alberni Highway turnoff. 

We missed the goats, they were still out in winter pasture, not scheduled for rooftop living until next month, but the market did not disappoint. Oh my, what a market it was, the size of a small village with various shops housed in separate buildings. I headed first to the greengrocers  to admire the gorgeous fresh produce and buy some apples for a lunch snack. 

Then we headed straightaway into the largest of the market buildings. Instant visual overload! Everywhere we looked there were treasures to tempt shoppers of all ages... really, everywhere... floor to ceiling! 

We circled the interior, wandered every aisle, gazed at every display and were stunned at the array of grocery goods, delicacies from around the world. Perhaps not all were delicacies - Guy Fieri sauces?! 

With too many choices and no shopping list, I gave up and settled on a jar of French grainy Dijon mustard, then headed off to the deli meat and cheese case. I found delicious sausages, spicy jerky, and maple-glazed smoked salmon bits that were altogether too appealing to ignore. Several more packages joined the picnic lunch box. An in-house bakery, visible through windows above the shelving bustled with activity, and the well-stocked pastry cases drew an enthusiastic crowd. Croissants, savory meat pies, sausage rolls, cookies and pastries, fresh breads and rolls - ooh, how I wanted one of each, please. 
  

RL enjoyed a waffle cone of peppermint cheesecake ice cream, but my icy fingers and toes declared it too cold a day for that treat. Plants in the garden shop showed signs of spring, but today's 40-something degree F. temperature felt more like winter. 

Forget the picnic idea, it was time to head to the rodeo grounds where we had spotted a sign advertising Texas barbecue. That should warm us up.

Wide Barge, Narrow Fairway

A lot of traffic transits Discovery Passage each day, ranging in size from kayaks and small skiffs to massive vessels like ferry boats and cruise ships. This passing parade offers distraction and entertainment, especially at high tide when we can see over the rock breakwater. Today it seemed routine when a barge with a tall derrick moved slowly south along the breakwater, until I realized it was inside the harbor. What?

Discovery Harbor's fairways are generous in size with plenty of room for us to pivot (carefully), but a barge?! The captain was accomplished, maneuvering his wide barge into position well inside the fairway without incident or any excitement for the viewing audience.

Tall spud poles held the barge in place for some piledriving activity. He made it look easy, but check out the photo below to see the tight quarters involved.

Piledriving action was just beginning when the downpour began, soaking me and spotting the camera lens. It was heavy enough to drive me back inside but the crew kept on smiling and working. 

I settled for watching from a distance, inside the pilothouse, while the new piling were installed at the ends of several finger piers. Modern piledrivers are surprisingly quiet. I certainly didn't miss the bone-rattling, headache-inducing pounding of older equipment.

Hmmm, I wonder what excitement tomorrow will bring?