Category: travel

Brant Geese in Parksville

On By Rick McIn McCharles family, travel1 Comment

Brant can be distinguished from Canada Geese by their smaller size; dark brown body with a black head and shorter neck and white collar. …

Brant breed in the north, in coastal Alaska and the Canadian Arctic on tundra and coastal islands. During winter, they are found along the Pacific coast and further south into Baja California, Mexico. Brant geese form long-term, monogamous pair-bonds and family units migrate together. …

First morning in Parksville, B.C. I headed to Rathtrevor Beach at dawn to see and hear the mob of several hundred. They are noisy.

Brant feed on coastal mudflats and only rarely come inland.

The Brant Wildlife Festival in Parksville/Qualicum Beach runs from March 5th to April 28th, 2020 — but some of the events have been cancelled due to COVID-19.

Farewell Bermuda

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, health & fitness, travelLeave a comment

I’m now back in Canada.

Same day Trudeau announced Canada is shutting the border to non-Canadian citizens, with limited exceptions, to limit the spread of COVID-19.

My flight Bermuda to Toronto was quite normal. I was asked to self-quarantine for 14 days when I get to my final destination. Just in case. No testing on arrival.

 Air Canada postponed my ongoing flights by a day claiming Government travel advisory. No compensation.

Sounds bogus to me.

But by luck we managed to complete the annual Bermuda Gymnastics competition on Sunday — before schools closed Tuesday.

Level 7 – 10 Bermuda Gymnastics Association gymnasts

The Gymnastics Club has now shut down, as well, for 2 weeks out of an abundance of caution.

There are still no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Bermuda.

 

 

cycling Europe on the EuroVello 6

On By Rick McIn best bike rides, cycling, travelLeave a comment

I’ve added this to my bucket list.

EuroVelo 6 (EV6), named the “Rivers Route”, is a long-distance cycling route that runs along 3,653 km (2,270 mi) some of Europe’s major rivers, including much of the Loire, some of the Saône, a short section of the upper Rhine and almost the entire length of Europe’s second longest river, the Danube — from the Atlantic coast of France to the city of Constanța on the Black Sea.

The EV6 traverses ten countries …

Lauren Pears went for a 3 month solo bike ride across Europe last summer – from London to Istanbul – whereby she used the EuroVelo 6 – Atlantic-Black Sea for most of the way.  …

Riding solo on EuroVelo 6 with Lauren Pears

Read Lauren’s Guide To Cycling EuroVelo 6

Crackling Pork Bellies – delicious

On By Rick McIn food, travelLeave a comment

Of many, many tasty dishes in Bermuda buffets, my favourite is the crackling pork bellies at Around the World in the Eateries food court in Washington Mall, Hamilton.

related – crackling roast pork belly recipe

Green Turtles at the Bermuda Aquarium

On By Rick McIn travel1 Comment

The Bermuda Platform is an atoll.

Our geographically isolated location, limited size, and the fact that sea turtles are completely protected make Bermuda an ideal site for study of the “developmental habitat” phase of sea turtle life history.

The Bermuda Turtle Project

I often wait for the bus while watching 5 giant Green Turtles on display outside the front of the aquarium in Flatts.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.