The Belvedere, The Castle and Riverside Cannabis Larry McCafferty 2020-12-15 | Words... and some of the pictures too! .... stolen from Brenda Jordison....The Castle building’s history runs deep.In 1902 the space Riverside Cannabis occupies today was used as a horse stable and riding academy. The grand Belvedere Hotel stood atop the mountain behind our building overlooking the Sooke basin and river. Horses were provided for guests to do excursions such as hunting trips or used when guests went to visit places like the Sheilds Lake Cabin in the Sooke hills, the stable was a busy part of the area.In 1934 the Belvedere Hotel burnt down leaving behind not only the huge stone pillars that flanked the hotel entrance, but also stories of Royal guests, rumours of rum running, many hunting tales, memories of Emily Carr painting and selling her artwork, and so much more untold local history.The stable at the foot of the hill was also left standing after the huge fire, now without its original purpose.The land and stables were soon bought up by an investor and in 1935 the building was renovated into a Hotel and Beer Parlour. Prohibition of alcohol ended in BC on Oct. 21 1920, 100 years ago.It was a strange time after alcohol prohibition finally ended, similar to the end of cannabis prohibition on Oct. 17 2018 and the unusual laws/rules we are currently facing.In the photo of the Castle from the 1940’s you will notice a ‘Ladies’ entrance, single and escorted women had to enter here thru their own separate door, while men entered to the left.There was also a requirement that any establishment that served alcohol must provide accommodation, hence the Sooke River Hotels name that still stands today. In later years, as the laws were relaxed surrounding alcohol sales and consumption, the castle building was further expanded and eventually after the Rittaler Family purchased the property, they opened the first private cold beer and wine store in the Sooke area and at the time it was also the largest in BC.A strange rule from those times was that all alcohol leaving the store must not be visible and must be in a brown paper bag!The Rittaler Family also operated the famous Castle Pub that was a memorable local hot spot for many years. They acquired the first license in the area to sell hard liquor and also were the first to play recorded music on their premise too. Fun times were had by many in the pub and also playing bingo and other things like NASCAR in later years until it was eventually closed around 2012.Carrying on the families history, Riverside Cannabis was proudly the first legal cannabis retailer in the Sooke area. It was opened by ‘The Doobie Sisters’ Lori Rittaler and Lisa Taylor on August 1st 2019.Riverside is located in the oldest and original part of the Castle building, the horse stable.We are proud of our history and proud to be creating even more tales for future generations to follow!A piece of the old Belvedere Hotel still remains on display in Sooke as reminder of this incredible part of our past. The stone pillars you see as you enter Ed Macgregor Park were taken from the ruins of the Belvedere Hotel and donated to the community by the Rittaler Family.There is also an original stable door stored in the Sooke Museums collection.We look forward to sharing more of our families past on Vancouver Island.Did you know that the Rittaler Family owned a hotel in downtown Victoria before they came to Sooke and purchased the Castle and it’s land?Let’s us hear your ‘Castle’ memories!
If the sunrise wont come to you Larry McCafferty 2020-12-11 | Then to it YOU must go!When one lives deep in the woods that can become a reality! The sky lights up... but not quite the same!
Gordons Beach Left Larry McCafferty 2020-12-09 | Special Guest StarsSusan Telford and RastaCamaLSo that is my range... once it got to the point it lost signal! But that point the RTH kicks in!RTH is Return to home!It stats flying back toward you and the signal reconnects you turn off the RTH and just fly on your own again!2076 feet away it was!Susan Telford was a dream to work with too!And RastaCamaL Simply went where I told him to go! It was almost as if he read my mind!
Jordan River to Gordons Beach Larry McCafferty 2020-12-07 | Labeled!All the Roads I could find A few creeks that are there but you can't seePlus a near Blueberry pileup between the Albertan and the SurferAnd all the while...The sun kept shinning!
JR Break Larry McCafferty 2020-12-05 | When the sun peeks over the edge... You know you stood in the right place!
Some Boards Flare More Larry McCafferty 2020-12-05 | I don't know who this gentleman is but my hat is off to him!
JR After the sun rose Larry McCafferty 2020-12-05 | After the batteries die in the main camera it is time find an alternate view!As it turned out you got more view than I did! While flying the iPad just went to a black screen nothing brought it back... But I could still control the drone! I just couldn't see what it saw! By force of will I brought it back and landed it! Yay me!Turns out to be too many apps on the iPad! Cleaned out now ready to see what happens!
Drummer Drum Me A Tune Larry McCafferty 2020-12-04 | Mix an MRI machine and a Saxophone between a rock... ,And that little boy better get out of there quick!
Sun day Thursday Larry McCafferty 2020-12-04 | It was then anyway! But after that... I'm good for the day!
Good to be back in Larry McCafferty 2020-12-03 | Good to be back in anywhere! That Surely is the BestWith my friends everywhereThis is a Shirley Test!
The Poppy Larry McCafferty 2020-11-12 | The PoppyLike the SunMay not always Be in our sightBut we never forgetThat it is thereNor do we forgetHow important it isTo our way of lifeThe Sun may setBut the PoppyNever does.
To the Lighthouse as Fly the Crows Larry McCafferty 2020-11-11 | Due to technical difficulties... this only a one way trip!Nothing bad.... the crows just had other plans!
A Rad New to me Machine Larry McCafferty 2020-11-05 | A venture into the world of radiation!Not a feel sorry for me video...More of a... "What a cool machine" videoBecause I tend to mumble a bit... am going to put into text what I said! Hi thereThis is a video not to say that Larry‘s got cancer and that is that it’s a bad thing... it is a video to show you a couple of neat things. Not my... me without a shirt ... that’s not a neat thing.But the machine is. That machine is a radiation machine and it has different heads that do different things. The one over on the far side of me there, that’s called a photon machine and it sends photons through the body and takes out all the nasties. There’s an x-ray machine to make sure everything is lined up properly. The first day that I came in here they did a CAT scan and at that point they put these waterproof stickers on me to make sure that everything that I was in the right place... and now every time I come in they line up those stickers ... with... you see that star shaped thing in the ceiling ... that’s a laser pointer and they use that.. fortunately my cat’s not here .. and line it up there and I think there is also a way that they can go in from the sides to measure from there. the umm, there are also there is also an x-ray machine that that those that they can see the results out in the office which is where they run which is where they run away to when it starts rocking and rolling. It’s just awfully cool all the things that it does, and the and the rotation did it does.. and it doesn’t hurt, you don’t feel a thing when it’s doing it... it is just a matter of 10 minutes and you have to sit in and that’s what you do... you don’t have time ... maybe it’s not 10 minutes a - from the time that you go in the room it is 10 minutes- it seems like it seems like forever... but you get all lined up and it’s kind of funny to begin with they have technicians line you up according to your stickers by moving a sheet underneath you s...and you’re not allowed to move , you just let them do it and they and they will look after you. They are an excellent bunch here absolutely wonderful. But once it’s all lined up then you’ll see ... there’s ... in a minute here you’ll hear the table is going to make a couple of noises and it will shift a little bit and that puts me in exactly the right spot and they fire off the photons, some through the front and some through the back which I’m not sure if they actually shoot the ones from the back from the bottom...which means they’d be shooting through the table,- I asked today and yes they do-. I don’t know or if they just shoot down from the top and... I have no idea!But I know that I’m glad it’s here because it’s making some things feel better and now that it’s doing it’s thing I am able to carry-on and go do my thing! I have to do this five days five days in a row which is not bad because I’ve heard stories of people having to do 35 days in a row. That would get to be a long go!But this way I just come in here I do this when I go home and relax. That’s pretty much all you can do you don’t have much energy! But hey! I can do it!So I’m going to say from here health and light and I hope that you never have to do one of these things. I hope that nobody does! Be kind of nice if this was just to eradicate this stuff from the world! health and light. Thanks for coming along with my with me on my journey it’s nice to have the company see you soon h bye for now health and light to you
November Rains and Fog Horns Larry McCafferty 2020-11-04 | On a dark November night the rains fall and the boats go by fog horns horning! An hour of meditation is at hand!
A Foggy Run to The changing Face of Shirley 4 Larry McCafferty 2020-11-03 | The run to Shirley isn't so bad when it only takes 2 minutes!Fast school buses these days!Monday November 2 2020
Blue Then and Now Larry McCafferty 2020-11-02 | When you can't see the moon you loveFix the one you're with!I took video of the moon last nightAnd I took video of the trees last nightI also recorded the sounds from last night!I don't get to see the moon here, till way laterSo I did a little mixing and made time and space adhere to my wishes
The Changing Face of Shirley 2 Larry McCafferty 2020-11-01 | Thursday October 29 2020Another quick glimpse!
The Changing Face of Shirley Larry McCafferty 2020-10-29 | The 11 km stretch of highway 14 that is being redeveloped is making things look a little different!
Snuffle off to Sheringham Larry McCafferty 2020-10-29 | Practice Practice Practice!!! That is what they say...And that is what I do...I will have the distinction Of making videos unlike any other
Misty 27 10 Larry McCafferty 2020-10-28 | Someone said to me... what someone said to them... now I say to you...To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years, to see the running of the old eels and the young shad to the sea, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be.”Rachel Carson
Octostars Larry McCafferty 2020-10-25 | Except for me opening the door to see how things were going...I thought this turned out not bad!The light on the trees is the moon!There is even a shooting star!300 shots 8:31 till 1:12...I guess that will be a good thing about setting the time back...I won't have to stay as late!
Night Wings Larry McCafferty 2020-10-25 | The drone seems to be afraid of the dark!But with the right persuasion it can be sent aloft!
Jordan River to Sooke toot sweet Larry McCafferty 2020-10-24 | Now that you have seen the way it really looks... here it is in a more concentrated view!
Rain Deer and Foghorns Larry McCafferty 2020-10-24 | Put the camera out to catch the wonderful sound of the foghorns going by and find that the clean up crew are in as well!
Shirley still no drone to Sooke Larry McCafferty 2020-10-23 | Picking up where we left off in the last episode...We continue from Shirley through all the newly surveyed roadway down to Gordon's Beach and then carry on to Sooke! If you haven't been out this way in a while... there have been a lot of changes!
Jordan River no drone To Shirley Larry McCafferty 2020-10-23 | When a droning trip to Jordan River goes awry ...A dash cam saves the day!Of course the red light was gone on the way home..But what are you gonna do eh?You can see the effects of the highway 14 beautification program from Woodhaven to Shirley! They are also working from Shirley to Gordon's Beach!
Dont sit under the maple tree Larry McCafferty 2020-10-18 | The rainy season is upon us and so when the chance to fly comes along... I'll take that!The wind we had a few days ago managed to get some of the maple leaves.. but not all by any means!For right now things are rather calm...For now!
20 20 00 of 2020 Rain Larry McCafferty 2020-10-17 | There are those out there who like the rain...This is your chance to enjoy it and stay dry at the same time! Or just play the video and read a book!
Blueberry Turkey Vultures Larry McCafferty 2020-10-17 | At this time of year the vultures are searching for that perfect air current!The one that will take them across the straits without them having to flap at all! Hard to believe that these guys are capable of making it all the way to Central America! But they can! I doubt that they all do... but even some is amazing to me!
Todd Creek Falls Larry McCafferty 2020-10-16 | A small creek that makes one wonder why fish would even attempt the journey!Somewhere along the way, there must have been some who made it... making it so all their descendants had to go that way too! And boy, they must have been some fish!!I wonder if the ones who spawn in the lower reaches of this stream leave an imprint of the stream, just not how far up you go?
Jordan River Droning Larry McCafferty 2020-10-15 | Thanksgiving Monday ...Right about dinner time...Everybody should be home having turkey...Not so much!I think they were all here at Jordan River!But I did find this little spot that nobody else wanted...and thought why not?
A Day in the Life Larry McCafferty 2020-10-14 | 13 10 2020 has been an interesting day!It started for me with no powerBut once it came back on the wind continuedAnd then the rain began... lots of it!But from the rain there appeared some company!They spent the afternoon here!Deer friends!
Brave Like a Bunny Larry McCafferty 2020-10-13 | Bunnies are flighty things.. but as ferocious as they can be... they are plenty brave too! You can hear the sound of the drone as it passes... but as it gets quieter for you.... it gets louder for the bunny!I think keeping the drone low helps... it doesn't look as much like a hawk or an owl!But in the end... it is still a bunny!
Turkey Vultures and a Watcher Larry McCafferty 2020-10-11 | On a weekend when turkeys are being served all around our country... I found these ones looking for a snack of their own!My vulture hunting skills will require a little honing...But I have my bird tracker teaching me all he knows!And I am Thankful for that!Oh and the ravens don't seem to be overly happy about having the turkey vultures visiting!
The Reign of Shirley Larry McCafferty 2020-10-10 | The rains come every year and that is a good thing.It means I get to make a new video each year!
Vogel Over Larry McCafferty 2020-10-09 | Vogel's Slough is one of those places that just slip by as we zoom along our way. At this time of year it looks pretty dry, but the odd channel still makes its presence known. And very likely kept open by the otters that live around here! Come the heavy rains... and the geese and ducks will be right at home again! The red winged black birds thrive here then as well! In the spring the frogs take over and the place at night, is deafening!To know more about Harry Vogel... Elida Peers, Historian Sooke Region Museum had this to say...sookenewsmirror.com/community/a-businessman-and-a-bit-of-a-rake
Same Sooke River Different Holes Larry McCafferty 2020-10-08 | As I know that drones are not all that well accepted in public places...I decided to stop in a different spot... one with no people!It worked out alright! I first heard what I thought must be a bear downstream a ways... Turned out that it was salmon spawning! Next best thing! As I cruised up and down the river, which I would say is still pretty low, I found schools of salmon waiting for the rains to come... and some just going ahead anyway...As to the sound... I used a creek here in Shirley ... a runoff ditch if the truth be told! ... that I recorded one night... not entirely sure what kind of bird that is... but I thought it was soothing enough to leave it!
That Old Mars Chasing Moon Larry McCafferty 2020-10-07 | Mars is right next door these days, which is why it's so bright!Mars Close Approach is Oct. 6, 2020That is the point in Mars' orbit when it comes closest to Earth, this time at about 38.6 million miles (62.07 million kilometers) from our planet. Mars will be visible for much of the night in the southern sky and is at its highest point at about midnight. Oh and keep your eye on that one star in the lower right hand corner... it seems to be going the wrong way!
Ocean Words Larry McCafferty 2020-10-07 | A moment by the sea does a body good! So they say! Certainly didn't do mine any harm!
Off the Kirby Creek Bridge Larry McCafferty 2020-10-05 | Kirby Creek used to be known as Cole Creek... but you would have to be really old like me to know that... or at least sharp enough to read the sign that stands there and tells you! To save you from causing an accident trying to read it... it says...Because I am sure you are just dying to know...Coal/ Kirby CreekIn 1860 John Muir searched for coal in the creek; the name changed when Mr. & Mrs. Henry Kirby "Ma & Pa", made the valley their own. Early 1900s their farm house stood on the North East side. Son Austin mined copper at Jordan River & ran a motor stage; Son Harry worked at the river; Son Ralph was a steam engineer & ran a shingle mill in Sooke.Sooke Region Historical Society
The Forest is Full of Doors Larry McCafferty 2020-10-03 | Slowly I am finding that there is more to a forest than just what we can see... just over there, there is another whole world!A time will come when I can look further... but for right now I am still learning and this is it so far!
Lawn Day Larry McCafferty 2020-09-29 | I have done the lawn from many different perspectives... so this is just one more!I couldn't do the whole lawn this way as the drone was left to its own devices while I mowed! And you can see that there was a fair bit of wind!And the weatherman in me says... I don't think it will rain today!
Moon Over Shirley Larry McCafferty 2020-09-29 | All of you with cameras will already know this and will think me an idiot for not having figured it out a long time ago!All of you without cameras will just think I've finally made it out into the deed end!But I think I figured somet6hing out! The camera has different focal points... I've always chosen the centerweighted one as it seemed to make sense... But that will be why the moon isn't in the right focus at the beginning but as it gets more to the center the sharper it gets! There are 2 other settings so I will have to see what does what!After all that ... it isn't a full moon or anything... I was just out hunting clouds and thought it looked pretty nice... so I thought I would see what I could do with it!
A turn in the forest Larry McCafferty 2020-09-29 | A pleasant place to wander is in the forest. But when you are fat and lazy like me... wandering can be a little much! So I sent my drone to have a look!Just have to watch those branches!
