Gibson's Landing to North Van

We stayed at "Camp Too", at Soame's Point with Betty, Bruce and Patty. Betty lives right on the beach with a view across the water to the Sea to Sky Highway and Cypress Mountain. Looking to the left about a kilometer away was the Langdale ferry terminal. It is a beautiful place to live. A couple of kilometers away is Gibson's Landing, the setting of the TV series - "The Beachcombers".
It was drizzling rain on and off, so we headed into Gibson's to have a look around. We all took off in different directions to explore the town. Some headed to the shops, while I headed for the the harbour area. I can imagine that this would be a hive of activity in the summer. There are harbourside restaurants and oyster bars that are pretty quiet at the moment, and a great little sheltered harbour.
After lunch we decided to brave the weather and take a hike to the top of Soame's Hill. Bruce, Patty, Bridget, Daniel and I got into our wet weather gear and headed for the hill. The start of the track was in rainforest with spruce, birch, fir and cedar trees. As we climbed the ferns became fewer, and the top was more exposed and rocky. On the way up the breeze picked up and we were hit by a hail storm. Bruce suggested that a hail storm usually comes at the end of a storm and is followed by clear weather. As we got to the top the blue sky was appearing and we got some reasonable views down the coast and across to Vancouver Island.
Paula and Kerrie had a great time chatting with Betty, who is 84, and was brought up in Churchill, Manitoba. That is on the shores of Hudson Bay and in polar bear country. Her father had been a fur trapper. She had some great stories to tell, and photos and relics to show. She also invited us to come back and stay, and suggested that the kids could even go there by themselves if they wished. All they would have to do is catch a bus to Horseshoe Bay, jump on a ferry, and then walk from the ferry terminal along the beach to her house. Maybe they will take her up on the offer in the summer. We needed to head off so we caught a late afternoon ferry back to Horseshoe Bay to complete an interesting, albeit quick circular trip around Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. At least we know some places that we would like to get back to again when we have more time.