Reciprocal invitation and exchanges ideas between Old Farm B&B in Cowichan Bay (Vancouver Island), British Columbia, Canada and L'Etoile Guesthouse at La Bastide-Puylaurent, Lozere, France.
Old Farm Bed & Breakfast Indian summer at Vancouver Island
Vancouver
Island is as big as Belgium and keeps the history in its atmosphere, history
born together with native people coming from forests and river banks. Are there
always spirits here? The typically american easy-going lifestyle seems to be
opposed; roads do not really match with the leaves in autumn colours. Can we
find the real tourism here? We should ask the native who lives in a mobile house
what kind of thinking we need to understand the context of this magic place...
If
we take the bus from
Vancouver to
Horshoe Bay and then the BC ferry to
Nanaimo, the
arrival to this giant island is soft and mild like the indian summer we
encounter here. Barbara and George Mac Farlane, since few years innkeepers of
the Old Farm B&B, welcome us with smile and simplicity. Both are relaxed and
make us feel at ease.
From the suite usually reserved for honey mooners, we have the view of the bay and the storage of logs ready for saw mills a bit further. Canada is pretty well present.
Above
the bottle of Cherry Point or Pinot Blanc Auxerrois, Barbara and George are
talking about their lifes and how did they come to
Vancouver Island.
Barbara grew up in Zambia in Africa where her father worked as an engineer in
copper mines and she left for Canada when she was seventeen. George came to the
western Canada from Toronto where he used to work as a journalist for an
important canadian newspaper.
Soon it's going to be 8 years since they have opened their B&B in Cowichan Bay. We appreciate their attention and disponibility in every moment of our stay at the Old Farm. Breakfasts are prepared with care and served on fancy tablecloths with silver cuttlery. At the age of 78, George remains young and very openminded, as the former journalist he seems to be interested in every subject of conversation, he looks distinguished and relaxed with a cup of coffee in his hand and sitting on the arm of the sofa.
A plan is raised(drawn up) on the table of the
dining room, a nouvelle cuisine in sight, better thought but which coutera dear,
very dear(expensive, very expensive). Barbara in dream already, George follows
and I I see " The Star " and the trap to invest(surround) too fast for a
dream...
Duncan is a small town 10 km further in the North of Cowichan Bay. It is the "totem town". Wherever we go we bump to the totem poles of all sizes which are well exposed in downtown. The cargo train overpassing 1 km is slowly crossing the town centre. We can hear its strong and long horn honk. It makes us think about the America of western movies.
As many Canadiens do to escape long and cold winters, the Mac Farlane's will soon leave to meet the sun and the softness of Hawaian beaches.
Following my jet lag I found myself in their
gazebo, sort of small, round and covered terrace, at 6 o'clock in the morning.
Watching the bay, an idea of berthing the conoe on the island comes to my mind.
Exactly the same picture as 20 years ago when I met my prospectors after 5 days
of walking. Eagle Creek, this tiny river lost in the Red Wood Forest in northern
California. Take the time to discover to do not loose any of the atmosphere.
Cowichan Bay Seaside Village
Cowichan Bay Village, a tiny fishing community
surrounded by fertile farms hugs a quarter mile of sheltered coastline across
the bay from majestic Mt. Tzouhalem. Once the hub of unparalleled fishing
opportunities for first Nation's people and then a fleet of picturesque
commercial fish boats, this quaint cozy village is electic mix of First Nation's
culture, industry, commerce and boating experiences of every description.
Duncan City of Totems
Originally a whistle stop for the E&N Railway, the
City really began to expand when a train station, now a national heritage site,
was built in 1887 attracting new business and settlement to the area.
There are over 80 Totem Poles erected throughout the City, each one a pictorial
record of the Cowichan peoples' legends, myths and family ancestry.
Old Farm B&B, Barbara and George Mac Farlane,
Cowichan Bay, BC, Canada
***
Old romantic Hotel with a beautiful park along the Allier River. L'Etoile Guest-House is located in La Bastide-Puylaurent between Lozere, Ardeche and Cevennes. Hiking trails GR7, GR70 Stevenson, GR72, GR700 Regordane (St Gilles), Cevenol, Roujanel, Margeride, Allier, Ardechoise and many hiking loops around. A mountain retreat in the South of France. The right place to relax.