Fireside Books:  Fireside Books in Parksville now has a second location in Port Alberni, The Bookwyrm. Used books are just $5 or less. The Bookwyrm, on the corner of Redford and Anderson, opens seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fireside Books, at 464 Island Highway East in Parksville, is a book dragon’s dream come true. Browse their extensive collections seven days a week, or order online at firesidebooks.ca and pick up at either location. Ask about returning books for a book credit.

Eddie Van Haddock & The Rockfish:  In a little town by the sea, where the stories never end, lived Captain Dave and his crew, every child’s favourite friend. With a smile as wide as the ocean and a heart that’s full of dreams, he sails a Mellow Submarine where magic gleams and beams. Every morning at sunrise, when the world awakes anew, Captain Dave and his crew set sail in waters deep and blue. Through the ticking clock of time, where adventures come alive, they laugh and learn and play each day in their underwater dive.

Dave Graham: Captain Dave stood on the deck of the Mellow Submarine, adjusting the dial on his old marine radio. Static crackled and popped until a clear voice broke through, talking about a big renovation happening on the west coast of Vancouver Island. "Larry," called Captain Dave, "come up here and listen to this."

Larry the Lobster scuttled up from below deck, his clipboard tucked under one claw. "What is it, Captain? I was right in the middle of counting our barnacle collection." "Listen," said Captain Dave, turning up the volume. Dave, host of The Pulse podcast, was explaining that a television crew was coming all the way to Port Alberni to fix up the town.

They were going to renovate homes, help local businesses, and give the harbor quay a beautiful new look, including the old marine building right on the water. Larry’s eyes went wide. "Captain, did they say who's doing the renovating?" "They did," said Captain Dave. "A husband-and-wife team named Brian and Sarah.

They travel around renovating houses and such, and helping communities on their television show." Larry nearly dropped his clipboard into the water. "Do you think we could go and see them, Captain? I’ve always wanted to watch real builders and painters at work. Think of all the questions I could ask!"

Captain Dave stroked his beard, thinking. "Port Alberni is a fair way from French Creek, Larry. We would need to sail all the way around the bottom of Vancouver Island, out past Barkley Sound, and then up a long, deep inlet to reach the town." "That sounds like a proper adventure," said Larry, already scribbling on his clipboard.

Then he paused. "Captain, what exactly is an inlet?" "An inlet is a long, narrow strip of ocean that reaches deep into the land," explained Captain Dave. "The one that leads to Port Alberni is called the Alberni Inlet, and it is one of the longest inlets on this whole coast. Long ago, huge rivers of ice called glaciers carved a deep valley through the mountains.

When the ice melted, seawater filled it right up, and that is how we get saltwater reaching so far inland." "So the ocean just walks right into the mountains," said Larry, looking pleased with himself. "In a manner of speaking, yes," said Captain Dave, chuckling. "Now, let's set our course." Captain Dave pressed a series of buttons on the control panel, and the Mellow Submarine's engines hummed to life.

She slipped beneath the waves and began her long journey, gliding past Nanoose Bay, around the tip of the island, and out into the open water, where the waves grew larger and the current pulled stronger. "Hold onto something, Larry," said Captain Dave. "The water gets busier out here where the ocean meets the strait."

Larry gripped the navigation station with both claws, his clipboard wedged safely under one arm. "I am holding on, Captain, though I believe I've lost my pencil again." "That is your third pencil this month," said Captain Dave. "Yes, well, pencils and lobster claws were never meant to be friends," said Larry with a sigh.

"I will find it eventually. I always do." After sailing past the rocky shores of Barkley Sound, where sea otters floated on their backs, cracking open clams, the Mellow Submarine turned and entered the mouth of the Alberni Inlet. The water here felt different somehow, calmer and more sheltered, with steep green mountains rising up on both sides like tall, quiet guardians.

"Look at those mountains, Captain," said Larry softly. "They go on forever." "This is the traditional territory of the First Nations," said Captain Dave. "People have lived, fished, and cared for this inlet and its salmon for thousands of years. It is a very special place." Larry nodded and made a careful note on his clipboard, this time using a spare pencil he found tucked behind his ear.

"Found it," he said proudly. The Mellow Submarine cruised deeper and deeper into the inlet, the waterway growing narrower as the mountains pressed closer together. Eagles circled overhead, and here and there, a seal popped its head up to watch the yellow submarine glide by. "How much farther, Captain?" asked Larry.

"We're getting close," said Captain Dave, checking the charts. "Port Alberni sits right at the very end of the inlet, where the Somass River flows in from the mountains and meets the salt water. This is called an estuary, a place where fresh river water and salty ocean water mix together." "An estuary,"

repeated Larry, writing it down. "Ooh, that's good. I love a good vocabulary word." At last, the town of Port Elbernie came into view with its busy harbor, fishing boats bobbing at their moorings, and the wooden boardwalk of the harbor quay stretching along the water's edge. Captain Dave surfaced the submarine gently near the quay and extended her small landing wheels so she could rest safely near the dock.

"Captain, look," said Larry, pointing one claw toward the shore. "There is so much happening." Sure enough, the quay was buzzing with activity. Scaffolding wrapped around the sides of the old marine building. Workers in hard hats carried fresh lumber and cans of paint. A crane lifted a bundle of shingles up to the rooftop, and a crowd of townspeople stood along the boardwalk, watching and cheering every time something new took shape.

"It's like the whole town came out to watch," said Captain Dave, climbing up to the submarine's tower for a better look. "There they are," Larry suddenly burst out, nearly toppling off the ladder in excitement. "Captain, look, by the marine building. Is that them? Is that Brian and Sarah?" Captain Dave raised his binoculars.

Sure enough, standing near the scaffolding, deep in conversation with a group of workers, were the two hosts from the TV show. Brian was holding a rolled-up set of blueprints, and Sarah was pointing toward the roofline, explaining something to a carpenter. "That's them, Larry," Captain Dave said with a smile.

"Shall we go and say hello?" "Yes, please," said Larry, already climbing down toward the hatch. "Though I should probably leave my clipboard on board. I would hate to drop it in the fresh paint." Captain Dave and Larry made their way along the boardwalk, past children pressing their noses to the construction fencing, and neighbors chatting excitedly about how wonderful the quay was going to look.

When they reached the marine building, Sarah noticed the pair right away and waved. "Well, hello there," she said, smiling. "I don't think I've ever seen a submarine crew at a renovation site before." "Captain Dave, at your service," said Captain Dave, giving a small bow. "And this is my first mate, Larry the Lobster.

We heard on the Pulse podcast that you were giving the harbor key a new look, and we simply had to come and see for ourselves." Brian laughed and shook Captain Dave's hand. "That's quite the way to arrive. We're renovating the marine building here, along with some homes and a few local businesses around town.

The people of Port Alberni have been so welcoming, we wanted to give something back." "May I ask a question?" said Larry, raising one claw politely. "Of course," said Sarah. "Why fix up a whole town instead of just one house?" asked Larry. "That seems like an awfully big job." Sarah crouched down to Larry's level.

"That's a great question. A town is like a big family. When one building looks worn out, it can bring the whole street down. But when neighbors work together to fix things up, paint the fences, plant new gardens, and repair the docks, the whole community feels proud again. Everybody benefits, not just one family."

"Community pride," said Captain Dave, nodding. "That's something Larry and I believe in too. Whenever we visit a harbor town, we always try to leave it a little cleaner and a little happier than we found it." "That sounds like our kind of crew," said Brian, grinning. A young boy watching nearby tugged on his mother's sleeve.

"Mom, look, there's a real submarine floating by." Word spread quickly, and soon a small crowd of children had gathered around Captain Dave and Larry, asking question after question about the Mellow Submarine, while workers on the scaffolding waved down cheerfully. "Can we see inside?" asked one girl with pigtails.

Captain Dave glanced at the busy construction site, then at the eager faces around him. "I have a better idea. How about we let you come aboard, and in exchange, maybe we can lend a hand around here today. Many claws make light work, after all." Sarah laughed. "We would love the extra help, if Larry doesn't mind getting a bit of paint on his shell."

"I do not mind one bit," Larry said proudly, "though I cannot promise I will not lose the paintbrush at least once." For the rest of the afternoon, Captain Dave and Larry pitched in wherever they could. Larry, with his two strong claws, turned out to be excellent at holding boards steady while carpenters hammered them into place.

Captain Dave helped carry buckets of paint and even climbed a ladder to touch up a railing overlooking the water. Between jobs, Brian showed the crowd of children how the old wooden pillars supporting the quay were being reinforced so they could stand strong against the tides for many more years.

Sarah explained how they had chosen bright, cheerful colors for the marine building that matched the fishing boats bobbing in the harbor. "Everything on a quay has to survive the salt water, the wind, and the waves," Sarah explained to the children, "so we use special marine-grade materials that hold up to all that weather."

"Just like the Mellow Submarine," said Larry. "She has special coatings too, so the salt water doesn't rust her hull." "Exactly," said Captain Dave. "Whether it's a submarine or a building, the ocean asks a lot of whatever lives in or near it." As the sun began to dip lower over the inlet, painting the water gold and orange, the harbor key looked more beautiful than ever.

Fresh paint gleamed on the marine building. New flower boxes lined the boardwalk railings, and the whole town seemed to glow with excitement. The head of the renovation crew called everyone together for the end of the day. "Let's hear it for the people of Port El Bernie," he announced through a megaphone, "and for our two very unusual volunteers today, Captain Dave and Larry the Lobster."

The crowd on the boardwalk cheered and clapped. Larry stood up as tall as a lobster can stand and waved both claws at once. "Thank you all so much for having us," said Captain Dave. "It has been an honor to help out, even in a small way." "Come back anytime," said Brian, shaking Captain Dave's hand once more. "The Mellow Submarine crew is welcome at any key we ever work on."

"We just might," said Captain Dave with a smile. As evening settled over the inlet, Captain Dave and Larry said their goodbyes and made their way back to the submarine. Larry paused at the top of the ladder and looked back at the glowing quay, the busy scaffolding now quiet, and the happy townspeople still lingering to admire the day's work.

"Captain," said Larry, "I think this might have been my favorite adventure yet." "Better than the car show?" asked Captain Dave, raising an eyebrow. Larry thought about it very seriously. "A close second, but there is something nice about helping build something that a, a whole town gets to enjoy." Captain Dave climbed down into the submarine and began preparing her for the long journey home.

"That's a fine thing to learn, Larry. Whether you're renovating a harbor or exploring the deep sea, the best adventures are usually the ones where you leave a place a little better than you found it." The Mellow Submarine slipped quietly beneath the surface of the Alberni inlet, her lights glowing softly as she turned back toward the open water.

Behind them, the newly painted marine building sparkled under its floodlights, and the sound of laughter drifted out across the calm evening water. "Captain," said Larry, settling into his favorite spot by the porthole, "do you think Brian and Sarah will ever renovate an underwater house?" Captain Dave laughed as the submarine cruised past the dark shapes of the mountains rising along the inlet.

"Now there's an idea, Larry. Perhaps we should write to them." "I will add it to my list," said Larry, holding up his empty claw where his clipboard should have been. "Just as soon as I remember where I left my clipboard." Captain Dave only smiled and steered the Mellow Submarine toward home, the lights of Port Alberni fading gently behind them as the two friends began dreaming up their next great adventure.

Eddie Van Haddock & The Rockfish: When the night falls softly and stars light up the sky, Captain Dave tucks his crew in with a gentle lullaby. Dreams of whales and mermaids, of treasures lush and green, await each little sailor aboard the Mellow Submarine.

Fireside Books: There's exciting news for book lovers. Fireside Books in Parksville now has a second location in Port Alberni, The Book Worm. Used books are just five dollars or less. The Book Worm, on the corner of Redford and Anderson, opens seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fireside Books, at 464 Island Highway East in Parksville, is a book dragon's dream come true. Browse their extensive collections seven days a week. Order online at firesidebooks.ca and pick up at either location. Details available online. Ask about returning books for a book credit.