Campbell River

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A Zany Morning

Normally, my 10AM to 2PM shifts at the convenience store are busy, but mundane. Today, thought, was all about one thing after another. The following are the two best incidents of the day:

Today, a colleague accidentally threw away a key component of our coffee machine which resulted in my having to mop up a gallon of boiling hot coffee and then dig through a garbage can to find the missing part. Before I’d even had my first cup of the day.

Some time later, I witnessed something I have only otherwise seen in movies and tv shows. We have had a problem with our ATM for about a week now; it won’t print receipts. Today, for some unfathomable reason, it decided that those receipts had to come out. Receipt after receipt poured out of that machine like thick flakes of snow. There was no stopping the flood as customers looked on in awe. Finally, the storm ended and the machine rebooted. I assumed that the problem had fixed itself, but no. Two customers made withdrawals and were not given a receipt. Shall I look forward to a repeat performance by the ATM next Monday?!

Never a dull moment…

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Campbell River Water Quality

The thing I will remember the most about Campbell River is just how amazing the tap water is! It is so sweet and fresh; probably the best I have ever had and apparently some of the best in all of Canada. After so many months of truly horrible water, from the chlorine sludge of south Surrey to the sanguine nightmare pouring from the taps in the Yukon, being able to drink water straight from the tap is a dream. I really can’t understand why anyone would pay for bottled water here.

As an added bonus, the outside temperature means that the water coming through the taps is very cold. I usually prefer my water at room temperature, but this water tastes even better cold, just like that lovely glacier melt I savoured on my Chilkoot hike.

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The Museum at Campbell River

I spent a couple of hours this afternoon perusing the displays of the Museum at Campbell River.

Two exhibits made the $6 admission fee worthwhile.

The first is one about the local First Nations culture, including a spectacular show featuring a storyteller and carved masks. No photographs were allowed in this exhibit, so it’s really hard to convey just how great it was. It was a feast for the eyes to view all those colourful carvings and the mask show was a breathtaking journey to a world below the ocean. This appears to be a permanent exhibit, thankfully!

The second exhibit I liked was one of the three videos viewable on demand in a theatre at the end of the tour. The video in question is a documentary about the Ripple Rock explosion, which I’ve previously discussed in my post about Seymour Narrows. The video was comprised of footage of the day, that is from the 1950’s, which added an additional level of interest. I was amazed by the engineering feat that was the destruction of these underwater peaks. Tunnels were dug under the channel and up into the mountains and then charges were laid. Three times as many explosives as would have been needed in an open air project of this size was needed to displace not only the rock but also the water.

In between the First Nations gallery and the Ripple Rock video were galleries about pioneer life in the Campbell River area, a popular hotel, and the local salmon fishing industry. There is a final, temporary, gallery about climate change that I do not feel was sufficiently tied in to the history of Campbell River. A panel showing how climate change has possibly affected the fishing industry would have sufficed.

While I found the exhibits to be over all very well done and informative, I had come expecting to learn more about Campbell River’s general history and left feeling that I’d only been giving small snippets of it. So, I wasn’t entirely satisfied with my visit but do not feel that this is the museum’s fault; I should have checked my expectations at the door and enjoyed what was offered.

Be sure to walk the grounds before or after your visit; there is a wonderful native plant garden to explore!

a striking building

a striking building

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Boat outside the museum that was owned by a Japanese fisherman. The boat was stolen from him by the Canadian government during WWII. Our treatment of the Japanese during this war is one of the most shameful moments of our history.

Boat outside the museum that was owned by a Japanese fisherman. The boat was stolen from him by the Canadian government during WWII. Our treatment of the Japanese during this war is one of the most shameful moments of our history.

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torii seen from the museum

torii seen from the museum

Lord Vancouver, after whom a city and a whole island would be named

Lord Vancouver, after whom a city and a whole island would be named

Another shameful incident in Canadian history is that of the residential schools for Native children

Another shameful incident in Canadian history is that of the residential schools for Native children

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I was amused that the museum dressed up the pioneer cabin for the holidays

I was amused that the museum dressed up the pioneer cabin for the holidays

reminds me of my student days, only substitute a radiator for the stove

reminds me of my student days, only substitute a radiator for the stove

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check out the info on the plaque; this tree was more than a thousand years old when it was chopped down!

check out the info on the plaque; this tree was more than a thousand years old when it was chopped down!

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logging truck

logging truck

water pump outside the pioneer cabin

water pump outside the pioneer cabin

façade representing the third Willows hotel, a popular spot for vacationers to Campbell River at the start of the 19th century

façade representing the third Willows hotel, a popular spot for vacationers to Campbell River at the start of the 19th century

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my impression upon entering this exhibit was awe; I really felt like I was in a Victorian hotel!

my impression upon entering this exhibit was awe; I really felt like I was in a Victorian hotel!

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Being a huge fan of my bank (CIBC), I always note historical instances of it. CIBC came to Campbell RIver to handle payroll.

Being a huge fan of my bank (CIBC), I always note historical instances of it. CIBC came to Campbell RIver to handle payroll.

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I liked this exhibit tucked away under the stairs

I liked this exhibit tucked away under the stairs

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Those are big fish! (from days before we worried about fish stocks)

Those are big fish! (from days before we worried about fish stocks)

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I was also impressed by this floating fishing cottage. I really felt like I was on a dock by the ocean.

I was also impressed by this floating fishing cottage. I really felt like I was on a dock by the ocean.

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type of salmon canned by year (see next picture)

type of salmon canned by year (see next picture)

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this is what I apparently look like when driving a huge vehicle

this is what I apparently look like when driving a huge vehicle

that was my reason for studying history in university

that was my reason for studying history in university

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more about the Japanese fishing boat

more about the Japanese fishing boat

the grounds are lovely and feature a native plant garden

the grounds are lovely and feature a native plant garden

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Seawalk-ing, Redux

The popular Campbell River tourist attraction that will the subject of my next post is about three kilometres from home, of which about two follow the Seawalk. While it was a bit nippy out, hovering between 0 and +1 with the odd flurry, there was no threat of rain, so I decided this was the perfect afternoon for a six kilometre stroll that would allow me to photograph some of the things that I’ve only glanced at while zipping by in a car.

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Daybreak Park

Daybreak Park

this is the stuff I met on my last sea walk that I thought looked like Devil's Snare from Harry Potter!

this is the stuff I met on my last sea walk that I thought looked like Devil’s Snare from Harry Potter!

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it says HELLO on that brightly painted rock

it says HELLO on that brightly painted rock

Doesn't he seem to belong there? It is almost as though a man stood in that spot, battered by the ocean wind, until he was rooted there and turned to wood.

Doesn’t he seem to belong there? It is almost as though a man stood in that spot, battered by the ocean wind, until he was rooted there and turned to wood.

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that's a heron out on the rock

that’s a heron out on the rock

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that light...

that light…

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Campbell River lies on the 50th parallel

Campbell River lies on the 50th parallel

I just liked this roof :)

I just liked this roof 🙂

First time I see a sign with Segway regulations

First time I see a sign with Segway regulations

This is the most bizarre tree I have ever seen. It looks like a parrot.

This is the most bizarre tree I have ever seen. It looks like a parrot.

leaves from the parrot tree

leaves from the parrot tree

a seaside cottage

a seaside cottage

a torii (traditional Japanese gate)

a torii (traditional Japanese gate)

tribute to Nova Scotian miners

tribute to Nova Scotian miners

This wonderful sculpture is across the highway from the gas station and I had never seen it!

This wonderful sculpture is across the highway from the gas station and I had never seen it!

Close up of the details

Close up of the details

It even has whiskers!

It even has whiskers!

this magnificent totem pole stands next to the torii

this magnificent totem pole stands next to the torii

Post edited to add onto Donna’s comment about the parrot tree. It is an arbutus tree (Arbutus menziesii), Canada’s only broad-leaf evergreen. It is also known as the ‘strawberry tree’ and ‘Pacific Madrone.’ Thanks for the heads up, Donna!