Goats On The Roof

Last weekend a friend and I took a little road trip down to Coombs. I try to visit this tiny community at least once every couple years. Only 45 minutes away from home and you can have an afternoon strolling in the sunshine and taking in all the tourist sites. Coombs has the most unbelievable country market. The shop has a grass roof with storybook huts nestled at the peek and occupied by goats. Inside you will find the most amazing bakery, imported and local foods, an ice cream bar that is always crowded and an odds and ends shop of assorted Asian products.
Not far is a strip of shops geared for the tourists from clothing to pottery, jewelery to mystic stones and Chinese furniture to local produce market. The courtyard is filled with massive granite statues. Usually there is someone playing some sort of music with their instrument case open.
There is even a shop catering to the pleasures of British Colombia's #1 crop. From hemp clothing, cookbooks, rolling papers, bongs and almost anything you can think of related to it.
I was lucky enough to have one of the goats come right to the edge of the roof and she stood around posing for all the photographers!
We had a wonderful afternoon wandering the streets, people watching, eating waffle cone ice creams and coming home with a couple boxes of delightful products. Click through to the links and find out more about this quaint little place.

http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=49

http://www.oldcountrymarket.com/

A Walk In The Park

The Filberg Festival takes place every B.C. Day long weekend on a beautiful nine acre waterfront park in Comox British Columbia. The acreage and Filberg Lodge is a designated heritage site. Over 120 artists partake in the festival, from painters, potters, jewelers, toy makers, quilters and milliners. Usually you can count on a few returning artisans and they bring in their loyal shoppers. Soap makers, candle makers, metalworkers, photographers, weavers and sculptors peddle their wares in one of the most beautiful parks in the Comox Valley. Amy and Keira-Anne
Steve

Park Caretaker and Friend
The Park overlooks the harbour and mountains.
The Gardens
As well as the many booths peppering the park, there is a designated food area with everything from Chinese, Greek, Vietnamese, Mexican to Hungarian dishes to sample. Bear paw donuts, moose tracks ice cream, mango on a stick, monkey tails and so much more! Fresh squeezed lemonade, burgers, smokies, donairs and even a sit down outdoor cafe serving ice cold beer. There is something for everyone!The kids have their own entertainment from the lego play area, face painting, craft workshops to Meeks Family Circus and a petting zoo that included pigs, goats and a donkey. I saw many happy children among the crowd!

Two stages on opposite ends of the park are active with performers for the whole of the four day festival. The lineup of musicians and entertainers is impressive. Past performers included Bruce Cockburn, Barney Bentall and Sylvia Tyson. This year they brought in Spirit of the West and Murray Mclauchlan and a dozen or so more. A perfect chance to see our fine Canadian artists!

The day starts at 11:00am and ends around 8:00pm. That give you a good 9 hours to wander nine acres, enjoy the ongoing entertainment, eat an abundance of food, shop to your heart's content and view the gorgeous vistas throughout the park. So what do you think that's worth?

$15 well spent!