Alpine meadows, mining, ski lifts, cave spa
Trip Start
Sep 01, 2005
1
8
10
Trip End
Sep 10, 2005
Courtenay,
British Columbia,
Canada
Thursday, September 8, 2005
We're doing the Alpine lake loop, the trail head is just down the hill from our condo. Starts out with a boardwalk thru the meadow and crosses a small stream then up thru the treeline to two pristine alpine lakes.
We're the only ones on the trail so you feel like you are away from the world. Then you get a clearing in the tree line and see all the condos on the mountainside. Reality sinks in.
After lunch all head off the mountain. Our first stop is Courtenay at the Natural Pastures Cheese shop for some sampling. The sampling turned into a major purchase for all of us. Delicious!!
Kary
Then on to Cumberland, a small old mining town south of Courtney. Cumberland is like stepping back into time. Many old building, WIDE streets. Seems a lot of hippies from Tofino ended up here for the lower housing prices. If you enjoy quirkiness, this is the place to be. We like it. The Cumberland Museum & Archives is a museum dedicated to the Mining industry and the lifestyle of the early 1900's
. The first floor exhibits are of Chinatown, a once thriving population in Cumberland. We forget just how many Chineese worked the mines in the US and Canada. And the lifestyles they led in their seperate community. The other major exhibit on this floor is the hands-on telephone communications exhibit from the 1900's.
The coal mine is downstairs. Not an actual coal mine, but a good mock-up of one. The mine's supporting wooden timbers and a coal cart are positioned in the "mine." A very interesting colleciton of old mining maps from the area, and a collection of batteries. These batteries were used on miner's hats. The Battery to Battery box was a saftey back up. If the battery was not returned at the end of the miner's shift, it meant that he miner was missing. After some browing we head back to the condo to clean up then down to the Kingfisher Resort for an unusual spa non-treatment.
We're a little early, so we walk aound the Resort, which has a great position on the waterfront. I'd stay here the next time for a night. We have use of the outside pool and jacuzzi as we wait. Since none of us have done anything like this before, we're anxious to get started
I said "there's the trail"
. The attendent takes us in the "Pacific Mist Hydropath." No cameras area allowed, so she "holds" mine until we are finished. First stop is the shower area which are mini-caves. The warm water comes at you from all angles. Everything is timed, so you know when to leave each area.Next is the Mineral Massage Pool where a "water massage" starts in your lumbar region and progresses to your shoulders. My back and shoulders have never felt this good.
Next stop is a "lap pool" which goes in a oblong trail. The water jets start at bottom of the foot, and while you are doing the trail, progress up your legs to your thighs. The water changes in diffent sections so you go from cool to warm. This really feels good. She says it's a Nepp? therapy that stimulates blood circulation. We spend a few extra minutes here.
The attendent comes over to point us to the next water area. Sea Mineral Soak. Oh this is the coolest! In the background is the sound of gentle waves lapping the shore. You sit on a bubble massage seat, or you can float in the cave pool. There are over 100 trace elements at a perfect temperature for the body to absorb (not a clue what that meant) but it's feeling good
On the morning hike
. Then comes the sound of light thunder and suprise.. it's raining. We were able to spend extra time in this pool also. Gary ran across and did the leg pool. Our last "treatment" is the Tidal baths, but should be called "laying in a dinasurs egg." Before you lie in your egg, you smear your body with a mixture of local seawead and mud. The guys are looking like...no way. It's good for you she says. Ok, they do it. We almost fall asleep in our eggs, but she comes back to point us to the showers. Disapointed that they are regular showers. I'll put that on the comment card. Then back to our dressing rooms and we have to leave, but not before purchasing a Kingfisher shirt. This is one experience I could do on a weekly basis. The price was only $50 per person for this unique experience. Back at the condo we're headed straight to bed.
