Raptors, Westholme Tea Co. and Gallery, Eve Provincial Park

... bear holding ceremonial mask ...

Moiya, Dave and I want to do the Pacific Marine Circle Route and we thought we would do the circle by heading up to Duncan again.

 We went to the Tourist Centre again.

 The second time there was even better than the first for this time we at least had a plan. We were already on our way around the circle route.

However, the manager of the tourist centre told us that it would be best to see Port Renfrew at low tide, which we were going to miss since the tide was already on its way in.

 We switched gears and went to see the Raptors Centre.

A hawk talk was going on just as we entered and shortly thereafter was the chance to see the raptors fly above us as we sat on some bleachers.

Gerard, one of the raptor trainers stood there as first a fledgling hawk was released for flight, then a bald eagle, and a turkey vulture, a horned owl and a peregrine.

 I would recommend this stop for anyone.

 The tours are at levels for every budget, the highest level being have a hawk land on your arm.

... fledgling eagle ...

I didn’t choose that one: $54.

 The birds are released one at a time for the show.

 The magic was that eagles began to circle above, one that were not connected to the eentre.

They could also see the prey below, either in the form of food or they could see some of the other birds who are their natural enemies.

 It was a thrill to listen to the trainer talk to his own hawks, coaxing them to fly by for the audience.

The bald eagle flew by within an arm’s reach of me.

...tea at the Westholme Tea Co. & Gallery...

The hawks stuns the fish and pick them up off the water, but the peregrine might dive for food, as deep as 5 feet into the water, so his legs are built with no feathers to get wet in the dive.

The centre has eagles, peregrines and owls, either raised by the trainors, or birds that have come in and now need a rest home.

One owl had been in an accident and caught in the front grill of a car for 5 hours.

That bird will never regain its full flying strength, but it is enjoying a good resthome.

 ... Gerard and a turkey vulture ...

The Westhome Tea Company and Gallery was only a short distance down the road.

They are a place that grows and sells its own tea as well as other exotic teas.

The couple have owned their place for 10 years.
 She pots and he grows tea.

 Well worth the time to stop here.

tea pot at the Westholme Gallery

The manager at the tourist centre also suggested Eve Provincial Park, a small gem missed by many, she said.

We went to find it and discovered why it is a tourist sight that is often missed.

The sign was so small we couldn’t see it.

... outside the WestholmeTea Co ...

A teen-ager gave us the best tip to find it – just go over the bridge and turn right.

His directions worked when we figured out that his right was our left.

Our trip home was along that same lovely Malahat, back through the doors of Costco and finally home where we prepared our evening meal and talked about how wonderful the day had been.

Arta