Sunshine helps Island bounce back from cold spring

CHEK

A gorgeous weekend on the coast and stretch of sunshine is helping buoy businesses drained by the cold, wet start to spring. Skye Ryan reports. 

Around Lake Cowichan,  the temperatures have soared to the hottest it has been all year. This has led Cowichan River to be filled with tubers, and patios to be full of people. 

Soaking in the sunshine on a Cowichan River beach they share only with butterflies, Terry Fleck and her daughter are convinced they’ve found paradise.

“Hot and beautiful,” Fleck said.  “Hot and beautiful yeah…incredible. It was magical.”

 “Hot and beautiful yeah…incredible. It was magical.”

The Town of Lake Cowichan nearby loves to hear those reviews, after a sun-filled weekend that businesses have been anxiously waiting for.

“The store was loaded, they were lined up out the door,” Deep Fried Ice Cream’s, Beverly North, said. 

 “Busy for breakfast and lunch, then busy at night,” David Sharrow, owner of The Cow Cafe said.  “The weather really makes a big difference in Lake Cowichan.”

 “The weather really makes a big difference in Lake Cowichan.”

In the wake of a cold and wet April and May, the weather is a welcome relief. 

“Yeah the good weather meant everything,” North said, adding that she sold out of her famous ice cream. 

“It’s perfectly crisp on the outside,” Lake Cowichan resident Katherine Worsley. “My mouth is drooling as I’m talking and eating and you know we were taught not to eat with your mouthful. It’s hard to do, mmm. ”

“My mouth is drooling as I’m talking and eating and you know we were taught not to eat with your mouthful. It’s hard to do, mmm. ”

The Island and all its unique flavours shined this weekend. While no temperature records were set, Port Alberni reached up to 30.6 C Sunday, Campbell River 29.6 C, and Nanaimo 28.4 C. Victoria recorded 24.5 C for Swiftsure weekend on Saturday.

“It’s incredible to me,” Fleck said.

“It’s God’s country. This is my home away from home.”

Skye RyanSkye Ryan

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