A rainy day in Gibsons ***** note to ignore all photos on right side, left over from past trips:)

It says sunshine coast but that wasn't the case today. No problem we had a great day in spite of the weather.
Started our day with a breakfast of yoghurt and fresh fruit, rhubarb muffins and strawberry custard crepes with bacon, tea and coffee. With that amount of food we should be biking! Evelyn picked us up at 9:30 and off we began exploring the area. First we checked out their new house. They have a really nice, quiet and relaxing home at the end of a cul de sac. Good choice. Next we headed into the town of Gibsons checking out some beaches along the way.



Here we are with a giant stump on Secret beach washed ashore in a big storm earlier this decade, and Norman, Evelyn and Rozanne picking their favorite rocks.


Not quite beach weather but still fun exploring. We got back in the car and found some unbelievable and fascinating places. The first one had objects made from all sorts of recycled machines or any bits of metal, from bike chains to shovels to old gear wheels. We were speechless looking at the amazing metal folk art created by artist Axel Stenzl from chains, car parts, broken machinery, old garden tools, wrenches, even deceased propane tanks. There are hundreds of these placed amid the cedars and firs of his property, and we've seen nothing like them anywhere else.














There were so many it is hard to describe or do justice with photos. We were impressed.




Next we toured a garden equal to Butchart Gardens but on a smaller scale. Unbelievable amount of work done by mostly one woman, Olga Towert. She says this is her last year at Creekside Gardens, but has said that for the past ten years.
Of course being in Gibsons Norm had to see the home of the Beachcombers, a show he loved to watch with his kids for years.






For those not a fan of the show, this is Nick's log salvage boat from the show. Bring back any memories? It was the biggest thing to hit Gibsons, and they still play up the town's connections with the show, two decades since it ended.
We finished our tour by having coffee at Roberts Creek, a walk along Davis Bay and a drive through Sechelt and back to Gibsons for a yummy salmon burger at Gramma's.
Tomorrow we will be back on the bikes taking the ferry to Horsehoe bay, biking Marine Drive to the foot of Lonsdale in North Vancouver to catch the SeaBus across Vancouver harbour, then the West Coast Express commuter train -- yes, they take bicycles -- to Mission, Mary's hometown out in the Fraser Valley. Stay tuned to see where we go for there.

Location:Sunshine Coast