About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Exploring the Sunshine Coast

Thanks, David, for the mention re POTD.

What a full day I had yesterday! Up at 6:15 and over at my friend's place by 7:30 to drive together to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry to go over to a part of the Sunshine Coast. The last time I was there was last November but just to look around for a couple of days with another friend and to "get away." This time, I had an ulterior motive...the area is in the running as a place to live in our retirement years. The Sunshine Coast is located north of Vancouver BC and is accessed by water or air and once there, you'd think you were on an island. However, it is attached to the mainland of British Columbia but there just isn't any road access.

I have lived in my little village of Ladner for many many years and came here specifically because it was a quiet little burb away from the hustle and bustle of noisy city living. However, lately it seems to be growing by leaps and bounds and we hear traffic, sirens, and children shouting all the time now. There has also been an increase in homelessness, drugs, and crime. So for our retirement years we'd like to live in a more peaceful location that suits our lifestyle.

My friend knows several people, including her immediate family, who live in Gibsons, Sechelt, Roberts Creek, Halfmoon Bay and other areas. The climate is mild, being protected by the outlying islands and there are more than 20 provincial parks, lakes, beaches, a lot of artisans, and great food. We visited 2 totally different Bed & Breakfast accomodations run by people my friend knows - one quite elegant and the other more laid-back/countryish with outdoor fire pits. Here are a few photos I took that might help give you an idea of the beauty of the region. Be sure to click to enlarge the photos to get the best effect possible.
































































So, two thumbs WAY UP for the Sunshine Coast. How could anyone say "no" to such gorgeous beaches where you can walk your dog and let it go swimming at any time of the year, the sealife, the sailing and other types of boating, its history, peace and quiet, all the friendly folks, and lots of the "Arts."
Of course, the Okanagan (namely the town of Peachland) is also in the running. But we won't know for a while as I think we both need to visit these places a few more times to make an informed decision.

16 comments:

Fi from Four Paws and Whiskers said...

Beautiful spot Leslie.. quite like NZ, apart from those purple starfish..

Maggie May said...

It is such a lovely place.
Could be Scotland!

mrsnesbitt said...

Looks wonderful Leslie!

Mimi said...

Magical place. Yes, I can see how you'd like this for retirement.
The last pic on the right looks as though the stars are coming out on the water to welcome you.

nancygrayce said...

It's absolutely a beautiful place! But if there's no road access, is there a ferry? Or would you have your own boat? See I'm always worried about getting to "town"!!!

Leslie: said...

Oh Nancy! The ferry just takes 30 minutes and they DO have stores and a hospital and everything else you'd ever need there. lol But if you want the big city living for a weekend or so, just catch the ferry. Around here there are scads of ferries - it's part of our way of life here.

Liz Hinds said...

It looks gorgeous, leslie.

Saz said...

love your new avatar photo...you look so much younger than the other on in it...

so tell me or direct me to the posts that explain your reunited love affair, l am all ears!!

saz x

Saz said...

lm back POTD contender, well done!!

Just noticed the new look to your blog too..lovely!!

ArneA said...

Beautiful.
Thanks for sharing

Mimi said...

Congrats on POTD mention!

Maria said...

I'd love to live in a place like that! And...congratulations on your nomination for POTD.....:)

Boozy Tooth said...

Glorious photos! Thank you so much for sharing them and your story! I'm so glad I followed David's link over from authorblog. Congratulations on your POTD mention. What an honor!

Everyday Goddess said...

I've never been to that part of the world, and I would love to visit someday.
Congrats on you POTD!

Brian Miller said...

wow. beautiful pics. the purple starfish are my fav! congrats on the POTD mention!

Lori said...

How beautiful! What a beautiful place to live...I can only imagine. I would love to visit there some day. Congrats on post of the day mention!