Last Week - Part 1

In preparation for our return to Ontario, we arranged for the RV to go to the shop.  We wanted to have the bearings repacked and greased and have the brakes checked.  Well, those two items went smoothly.  However while checking the undercarriage the techs found a problem with our suspension.  Large blocks of rubber which absorb up and down movement are severely damaged.  We have parts on order and they should arrive later this week.  Pretty expensive repairs.  Better to find and fix the problem now then get stranded in the mountains.

We wanted to visit with Marilyn and Tom before heading out.  Since the RV had to stay in the shop overnight it seemed like a good time to visit.  We drove down after dropping off the trailer.  On Tuesday Marilyn and I sewed a bit and then we had a great bbq supper and rousing game of cards.  We play a fun game called Phase 10.

Wednesday was my birthday.  Thanks for all the kind wishes.  I got a sewing machine for my birthday.  Thanks Wayne, Mom and Dad. To celebrate my day we played tourist in Victoria.  We started by going to Denny's for breakfast.  Do you know if it is your birthday your meal is free?  And a great omelet it was.

Next stop, Capital Iron - a really cool store with three floors of anything you are looking for.  If they don't have it - you don't need it.  We bought new lawn chairs.  The director type with an attached table and built in cupholder.  My wine glass fits perfectly in the holder.  HaHa.  Wayne bought a new Muskoka dinner jacket, a waterproof jacket and a new baseball cap with a safari flap to keep the sun off his neck.  Marilyn and Tom bought a fire pit for their backyard.

We wandered around the inner harbour checking out the sights and getting very thirsty.   To ease our parched throats we had drinks in the Bengal Room at the Empress Hotel.  Wayne and I spent one night of our honeymoon in this hotel over thirty years ago.

Are we having Fun?  You bet!

The Empress

Bengal Room

I'm having a Bengal Tiger Cocktail.  Yummy!

While wandering around we came across a movie shoot.  A movie about the life of JK Rowling (she wrote the Harry Potter books) is being made.  They have dressed up the streets with british stuff like phoneboxes and buses.  It was very neat to see all the stuff needed to make a movie on location.  The caterers follow the crew around with a mobile snack truck.  The rv dressing rooms are down on the wharf harbourside. 

Supper was pasta at the Old Spaghetti Factory.  To finish our tour of Victoria we drove to a lookout point and through a very ritzy neighbourhood.  Then back to Marilyn and Tom's house in Sooke.  We christened the new firepit with a great fire.

Thanks Marilyn and Tom for your wonderful hospitality.  We had a blast.

Another Week - Another Trip to the Pub

Well, Wayne's napping and I'm tempted to join him.  We went to the Crow and Gate Pub with our neighbours for lunch.  We both had ploughman lunches - mine, cheddar and Wayne's bratwurst.  We also shared a bread pudding with a very generous serving of brandy sauce.  Heavy on the brandy.  For beverages we had  G & T (Kim) , Kilkenny (Wayne)  and tea.  After all this we need a nap and a walk.

Last week's snow has disappeared.  Now it is just raining.  However the weekend forecast is warm and sunny.  The island had a very bad wind storm on Wednesday.  Hurricane force winds with lots of power outages.  In fact the power was out at the pub today.  They were running off a generator.  Even the ferries to the mainland were cancelled for 24 hours.  The winds and bad weather didn't affect us but did hit areas both north and south.

Our time at Living Forest and Nanaimo is running out for this season.  We will be hitting the road on the first of April.  To get ready for the big trip, we have had the truck checked over and oil changed.  We had some work done on the brake rotors.  On Tuesday, we are packing the trailer up and towing it the the local rv dealer.  The bearings are getting packed and greased and the brakes are being checked out.  If all goes well we will be back in our site by nightfall. If new parts are needed we will have to spend a night in a hotel.

We are letting our food stocks run down.  I want to have the freezer empty and defrosted before the rv goes to the repair shop.  Won't be plugged in while being worked on.  We also don't want to have any meats or fresh fruits and veggies on hand when we cross over the border to the USA in April.

I guess that we will walk down to the grocery each day, buying just what we need.  Exercise and shopping in one easy step.

I've been cross stitching a hibiscus flower since we returned from Cuba last Feb.  It is finally finished.  I will get it mounted and framed after we return to Ontario.  The hibiscus is going to hang in our bedroom.  For a later project, I'm going to make a quilt in the same colours for our bed.  God I love retirement. Time for projects. (And naps)

Another Ocean View

Now I'm off to have my nap.  Keep safe and healthy.

The Weather Changes and a Trip to Chemainus

Nanaimo on Tuesday.  Motorcyclists out and about.

By Wednesday noon, our world had changed.  Poor little bird.

Today, Friday the sun is shining brightly and the roads are clear.  The temperatures are hovering around zero.  We went on a field trip to see the Chemainus Murals. 

First stop - lunch at the Willow Street Cafe.

Daily Special-Grilled ham, swiss, tomato and onion with pasta salad or pea soup.  Yummy!

Chemainus is a very interesting town.  Back in the 80's the town was struggling.  Someone decided that the town should invite artists to paint murals on buildings.  It was along the lines of "Build it and they will come."

Telephone switching building

Post Office

My favourite - Old time resident who built a garden for all to enjoy

On the Subway Shop

Chinese Immigrants

Lift that beam, Wayne

Three dimensional tableau outside of bakery

Doesn't this seem real?

Aren't these murals beautiful?  There are many more.  Chemainus is well worth a visit.  We had a great lunch, lovely walk and interesting views.  Life is good!

Chilly Hike Followed By Sunday Pub Dinner

We went for a hike at Piper's Lagoon Park last Sunday.  The trail goes between the lagoon and the strait.  It's low tide so no water in the lagoon.

You can take the boy out of Sudbury.  But, as soon as he sees some rock, let the climbing begin!

Check out the size of the logs that have washed up on shore.  It was low tide when I took this picture.  At high tide, the waves would be much closer to the logs.  It was very cool and windy but exhilarating.

After a quick trip home to warm up, we went to The Fox and Hound (another pub) for an English Roast Dinner.  You had a choice between beef or lamb.  We had beef,  Terry and Janet - lamb.  A good time was had by all.

Visiting Family in Vancouver

Last Thursday, we went to Vancouver to celebrate Amy's birthday. Donna and Bob (Amy's parents) were also visiting.

We caught the ferry from Departure Bay, Nanaimo and travelled to Horseshoe Bay, Vancouver.

Passing Ferry

View from ferry

Thursday afternoon we went on a tour of some of the sites in Vancouver. We rode on the sky train to the Science Center. We were going to catch the Aquabus from there. However it wasn't running. We walked for quite a while checking out downtown, eventually catching a bus to Granville Island Market.

BC Place - Building New Retractable Roof

Going Walkabout

Arriving at Granville Island

Deja Vu

A couple of years ago, visiting with Kathy and Daniela, we took a picture with this propeller. Today, the 2011 crew.

Amy, Ian and Donna

Wayne and Bob

After our long route march, we were very thirsty.  Quick solution - Beer at the Granville Island Brewery.

To celebrate Amy's birthday, we went for supper to a great Italian restaurant. I forgot to take any pictures. The food was great and so was the company.

Friday, Ian and Amy treated the parents to lunch. We went to another great restaurant. This time Greek.

The restaurant treated us to a special dessert - Bailey's Expresso Cheesecake and Sambuca shooters. The cheesecake was to celebrate Amy and Ian's engagement and the Sambuca is complementary with all meals. What a great place!

Friday evening Wayne and I went to visit Ethel and Keith.

Keith and Ethel

Moby Dick's Fish and Chips

Saturday we went for a driving tour including White Rock where we stopped for a fish and chip lunch. Another yummy meal.

That night Leeanne(our niece), Derek and their sons Seamus and Spencer came over. Ethel made a fantastic lasagna dinner. We had lots of fun, food and wine. No pictures as I forgot. (Too much wine, I guess) Wayne was playing hide and seek with the boys. Woop!

Thanks for the Valentine, Spencer.

Sunday morning we headed back to Nanaimo. This time we took the ferry from Tswassen. Not sure how long it would take to get to the terminal, we almost missed the 1245pm. Last loading at 1235pm. We arrived at 1233pm.

We're the last vehicle on the ferry.

View from ferry - I think Gabriola Island

This is the lighthouse with fog horn that sounds every 45 sec when needed located at mouth of  Nanaimo Harbour.

Gabriola Island Ferry sailing between us and a large freighter.  Nanaimo is in the background.

We had a great visit and a super mini vacation. Thanks to all!