Day 31: On Island Time

"On Island Time" is a local phrase to indicate that things happen when they happen, and not before. It's a measure of the slower and less frantic pace of life on the many islands between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. There's no doubt that the more relaxed approach to life is, well, relaxing, and we both enjoy soaking up the chance to do very little when we visit. This weekend we're off to Bowen Island, the closest island to Vancouver. We've been to Bowen many times, but usually just to meet up with the Black Sheep morris dancers (I'm only there to take photos - and maybe partake of a beverage or two... ;-) or to hike to the summit of Mt Gardner. But this time we're taking the time out to explore the rest of the island, and relax with some time at a small cottage on a farm.

The relaxation began after we missed the 12 noon ferry, the next one not being until 2.25 pm. Nothing else to do except find someplace to sit, eat and enjoy a glass of something in the sun. After lunch, we ambled back to the car along the short stretch of seafront in Horseshoe Bay. Next to the small tourist-information doubling as a coffee shop was a painted eagle sculpture. We'd seen a few in Vancouver when they were out and about as part of a public art project, but hadn't seen any we really liked. However, this one was in the perfect location, decorated with what must be said is a fairly accurate depiction of Anvil Island (only barely visible from this spot), complete with salmon-and-kelp undersea-scape. To my mind, it summed up the BC coast in one illustration. OK so maybe it needed an orca...

Howe Sound eagle sculpture