Collapsing crane vs. yachts? Crane wins

The marina down the road, Collins Bay, had a bit of trouble with their crane on Friday morning. A bit of bad luck, as far as I can tell; this facility is well-known for being among the most careful, meticulous yards around.

Here's the story according to the Whig-Standard.

Reports are that nobody was hurt when one of the crane's stabilizing legs gave way, but the boat it was lifting, along with one adjacent boat, are now in pretty rough shape.

Steveston, BC salmon fleet and market

It's not easy to make a living in the fisheries these days. But some folks refuse to give up. Steveston, BC is one place where the traditional commercial fishery continues to survive. It's a cute little town in south Richmond, an odd hybrid of traditional, contemporary and fake (there are movie crews shooting just a few blocks from the old commercial wharf).

Whale watching in Tofino, BC (Part 2: Boats)

Whenever there are boats around, I just can't resist firing away with the camera, analyzing various design details, and generally wishing I had hundreds of thousands of dollars to build up a fleet of my own.

We recently took a whale-watch cruise with Weigh West Marine Resort in Tofino, BC. A moment ago, I posted about the animals; now, here are the boats.

Whale Watching in Tofino, BC (Part 1: Animals)

One little indulgence Katy and I allowed ourselves on our Western Canada trip was a whale-watching tour in Tofino, BC.

On the recommendation of a family member who has lived on Vancouver Island for a few years, we booked a late-morning cruise with Weigh West Marine Resort. We weren't disappointed. The combination of good weather, a fast boat and a knowledgeable captain made the $80/person cruise well worth it.

But let's leave the talk to a minimum. Here's a whale.

Back from BC

There's a good reason why I haven't been seen here since the end of July. Katy and I have been travelling in western Canada and the northern USA.

Spending a few weeks on the road means there's a fair bit of extra work to be done before and after the trip in order to stay on top of things back home. And most of my time is currently taken up by writing, as I put together the various bits and pieces that will eventually make up my M.A.Sc. thesis.

We now have about 4100 photos to sort through, the best of which will find their way on here and on Facebook in the coming weeks.

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