Queen Charlotte/Charlotte City/QC

I took a 'personal day' (in other words, played hooky) on one of the most beautiful days of the spring last week. And that's saying a lot cause the weather's been so beautiful. Just wandered around Charlotte, took a long nap, bought some groceries. Buying groceries is a major source of stress out here. The shipment arrives on Monday when the ferry comes in, which actually means only if the ferry comes in. By Thursday there is usually no dairy, very little meat (definitely no chicken) and only root veg left in the produce department. Now, for those of you who have eaten with me frequently you'll know that my diet is primarily dairy, chicken, tofu and non-root vegetables. Eeep. Also the grocery store is only open till 6pm, which is a problem when we're in class till 4 or so every day and then I have to hop on my bike, get home, drop off my school stuff, hop back on my bike and make it to the store. Double eep.

That whole grocery thing was a bit of a digression. I actually wanted to show you guys some photos of Charlotte, which I think I've raved about a fair bit but not really showcased here. Looking through the photos I took on my afternoon of wantonness, I realize I mostly focused on the view, rather than the beauty of the actual town (my classmates and I could dissect this and its relevance to my romanticized view of the 'wilderness' but one digression is enough for this post). But here she is. The rather recently incorporate Village of Queen Charlotte. My home :)

The inlet. You can't really see in this photo but the profile of the islands across the bay are a really interesting study in the logging fads of the past 100 years and the old and second growth that remains.

Looking east from the village. My house is in there somewhere.

The community engagement event is coming up in a week or so. Should be intense.

The snow-covered right-most cap is Sleeping Beauty. We're aiming to climb it in April.

Cool old barge thing that's beached on the west end of town.

K, admittedly not scenery but I patched my pants BY HAND. It took forever and I'm way too proud.

Up near Port. This is an old, partially carved Haida canoe, from around the time of the second smallpox outbreak. Abandoned because a family member died while it was being carved. The spirit of the dead relative goes into the canoe and the family has to abandon it and move on.