Sister Act Day Seven and Eight and a Quarter

Arrivaderci Campbell River and Mike and Sue.  On the road by about 8am after coffee and toast and headed south again towards Nanaimo and the ferry across to the mainland.  The weather was awful, water puddling on the highway and driving challenging.  None the less after just one fuel stop and relatively traffic free highways we arrived in Nanaimo with plenty of time to spare to catch the 1030 ferry.  The Queen of Coquitlam sounds like a drag artist but is, I can assure you a large hulk of a ferry.  BC Ferries are dab hands at boarding and we were all enjoying coffee in the coast cafe by the time the Klaxon sounded and we were on our way.

We sat in the comfy chairs facing aft and attempted the Globe and Mail Crossword.  Three clues escaped us but with the aid of internet two were solved later in the day.  Sitting in these comfy chairs and whiling away a couple of hours is a good time to reflect on some of the stuff put to one side with the week almost done.  Champ now has two very firm friends and the no sitting on the sofa rule has been disposed of.

Both ends of the sofa in the loft were now open season and the cats also muscled in on this flexibility in the animal control regulations.  But then as cats they would anyway.  Our property is open house for neighbouring dogs and it is not unusual for four dogs to be hairing round the yard together.  Ryker is a black boxer from next door left and Morgan and Gus are respectively a Mastiff and some kind of snuffle hound from neighbours right.  (I realise there is no such thing as a snuffle hound but there should be in my book).

So our ferry arrived at Horseshoe Bay at 1210 and we were on the road back to Mission.  Cherie chirped up that she was feeling a little peckish and suggested we should look for lunch.  It was a perfect opportunity to experience the classic Canadian Burger joint, so we pulled into A&W in Maple Ridge.  The burgers are delicious, the onion rings amazing and the root beer according to Manda, toothpaste!!  A very welcome stomach filler in any event and then to the last 20 minutes ride to home.  We called in at the Canadian Superstore to pick up a few bits and pieces and then up the hill home.

Of all the things to do on our list some had to fall by the wayside.  We just did not have the time.  The hot tub lid remained on; the firepit unlit, the ride on mower in the shed.  The air rifles owned by Reece and Marcus but left behind when they returned home last year for obvious reasons came into play and both Manda and Cherie took pot shots.  Very much a tradition drawn from the Burnt House Farm days as is so much of our life at home here.  If I were honest, of the things we missed the firepit and that smell of woodsmoke would have topped my list.  Had the weather been slightly warmer we might have cooked dogs over the fire and shmoors.  Hot dogs I hasten to add.  Next time perhaps.

Last night for the girls and obviously thoughts are to packing and adding goodies and gifts collected through the week.  We had gotten into the habit of giving in the week and the list of exchanges; the two way traffic was fun.  The girls are now both equipped with 52 survival strategy playing cards, Cherie has the Beer Can Chicken Kit and we will return to the store to get another one for the next visitor.  Two magnetic salt and pepper pigs have been exported to Wallington and Manda.  bed presents were squeezed into stretched cases.  Spike Milligan is on a new journey despite being dead for some years.  I told you he was ill!  Its his book I refer to. 

Being able to give the girls their own rooms and drawer space for the week was useful, being able to turn in when you want to rather than when the house dictates is a plus and when it comes to packing its easier.  Most folk would argue that 7 days is too short a time to stay when the flights each way are about 10 hours; the lag might prove that to be the case but in terms of getting plenty in we achieved so much.

The material stuff was all great fun but underpinning all of that was the family reconnection.  I'm sure we all took so much out of our time together and recharged.  Certainly we quelled some of the storms that had blown through our family in the past couple of years.

The evening was a farewell treat from Kim and I and dinner at the Mission Springs Brewery Restaurant.  We had an excellent meal; a number of beers and a very special visitor........Who's name will remain a secret at this point in time. 

A UK based press release is expected soon so watch this space.  We cabbed home; watched a couple of episodes of the hilarious Mrs Brown and then retired for the night.  The next day agenda very much about safely returning Manda and Cherie to Vancouver Airport for the flight home.

In the morning Bob Boast called in to bid a farewell and we then headed to Vancouver via the Laity Pumpkin Patch which was absolutely teaming with visitors.  I find the rise in popularity of this annual event a little disconcerting and perhaps a measure of how material our world has become.

The girls were delivered to YVR and hugs all round were the order of the day and to sustain us until the next time....and there will so be a next time, we have so much more to do and say..........Manda had the last word leaving a card and a book in our top drawer.  Serious Senior Moments...I happened to comment on the book earlier in the week and lo and behold here it was.  Guess I better read it before I have my own.....

Sister Act Day Six

Before we get into day six of the girls visit, it's important for me to relate an event from earlier in the week.  Sheridan the shrew; long time resident of the basement and gutsy rodent in general, passed away.  Manda and Kim discovered his body; arms and legs stretched out in rigour.  His BMI exceeded normal shrew health limits and we know , because he was caught in the act, that he climbed into the cats kibble bowl to feast.  The gutsy is a reference to his exraordinary courage and the size of his stomach.  When disturbed he ran for the pantry but could not squeeze under the door.  I had to open the door to let him waddle onward.  Why he chose to expire in our underwear bag is not known.  Perhaps death like life for Sheridan was just pants!  RIP Sheridan.

Our day six started reasonably early with coffee, toast and muffins.  We had a planned walk on the seafront at Salmon Point and needed to be on the road by 9 to ensure we got back in time to change and head out to a restaurant for lunch.  Manda opted to spend some time with Mike catching up on family histories and the rest of us 'intrepid explorers all' drove down the coastroad to Salmon Point to go Yomping (military term for hiking).  I caught Rafa smiling at the prospect.

The walk from Salmon Point out to the Oyster River and then back along the beach is lovely and each season is so different.  Cherie had a chance to chat one to one with Sue and Kim and I moved ahead with Rafa flipping in and out of the undergrowth left and right.

The walkers that regularly use this trail are a community.  Most of them are dog owners; pleasant greetings are exchanged as people pass by.  The most interesting story related to the walk is the small tree next to the trail that is decorated each Christmas.  Additional decoration is provided by berries impaled on the barbed wire strands on the fence.  The picture shows the effect better than my description can.

The walk is a noose....i.e. long trail leading to a circular walk which takes in the beach before rejoining the trail back.  The fresh sea air and the wildlife feed the spirit. 

After the bald eagle no show earlier in the week we finally got to see this magnificant bird of prey.  He flew over us and into a nearby tree. 

Immediately before that a giant heron doing some Karate Kid stuff on a wooden post.  Both there for the Salmon.  Campbell River, just as an aside, is the Salmon Capital of the world.  Famous regular visitors included John Wayne, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russel.  Interestingly Harrison Hot Springs boasted Clark Gable as a regular.

We completed our walk headed back to Willow Point, Campbell River and picked up Mike and Manda before going back to the Salmon Point Restaurant for lunch.  Manda and Cherie's treat, a lovely meal and again on the seafront.  There is something in my being that feels complete when I am by the sea; I know Kim has similar feelings.  Cherie also stated the same.  Where Kim and I are concerned its interesting just how much the sea features in our pasts.  Both of our natural fathers were seamen and both did time on trawlers.  The traditional holiday for British kids is the seaside and we had years on very happy holidays in Bracklesham Bay and in East Wittering Sussex as well as holidays in Cornwall.

Our evening was a carefully preplanned surprise birthday party for Mike K.  The dress code was pyjamas to commemorate Kim and Cherie turning up at Mike and Sue's home in Maple Ridge in PJ's 25 year previously after a night on the tiles.  Kim had bought party hats and blowers as well as a mirror ball and this picture is Mike showing his approval.

A Pork Loin dinner preceded hours of chatter and hysterics.  Relaying tales from our childhoods and hilarious family stories put us away for the day and we were in bed pretty early that night.  Probably just as well given that we would be up early next day to head back to Nanaimo and the return ferry to the mainland.

Sister Act Day Five

Day five was more like day four and three quarters.  It occurred very early and it required a significant jolt for me to get moving.  This was our holiday within Manda and Cherie's holiday and a trip to visit Mike and Sue Kirkland on Vancouver Island.  The significance of the visit manifested on a number of fronts.  First, Cherie has long standing connections with both; second Manda is actually the god-daughter of Mike Kirkland and is seeking backpay of pocket money and compensation for the lack of any divine interventions.  Finally, Mike Kirkland and Mike Franklin senior (Our father who art in Ipswich) were best buddies back in the 1950's.  This trip would join many circles.

5.45 and we were on the road.  Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver our first port of call and where the Ferry disembarks for Departure Bay Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.  Our drive to the ferry would take an hour and a half and the weather was overcast but dry.  Breakfast was a mobile affair with home made Banana, Walnut Muffins to follow the coffee quaffed before leaving.  The weather changed as we arrived at the ferry terminal and the clouds opened.  Not to be undone I post a view on a clearer day....In other words I cheat!

The rain was to share our company for the duration of the 1hour 40 minute crossing but that did not detract from our enjoying being a captive audience.  We saw no Orca and no Dolphins and yet that also really didn't matter.

The trip across the the Island is fantastic as we leave the mainland and the sunshine coast (rainfall coast) and weave through the smaller islands and towards the San Andreas earthquake fault line.  Word has it when the San Andreas plates really collide the Island could disappear.  No sense worrying about things you cannot change I say.

Nanaimo and the weather brightened.  We started our two hour drive north to Campbell River and our planned stop off at the small town of Coombs.  Coombs is a curious place with shops with grass and the roof and better still goats eating the grass on the roof.  The stores are a mix of clothing, souvenirs, fudge factory, fruit store and a massive farm shop and bakery.  The farm shop is fantastic and both Manda and Cherie found numerous items for their 'recyclable goat on the roof bags'.

Next stop was lunch and we followed the coast road to Qualicum Beach the home of the sand dollar, or at least one of the homes of these extraordinary shellfish.  Every self respecting bathroom should be in part a sand dollar graveyard.  We found a beachfront restaurant and the food was very good and patently home cooked.  Manda opted for the burger, I ordered a steak and mushroom pie and Cherie and Kim had whatever and I am senile and can't remember.  In any event the food was very good and we would certainly call in here again, if I can ever remember the name of the place.  I can see it in my minds eye but a name....? No chance.

 On the road having had an ample sufficiency as my mother used to say.  Stuffed and content I say.  Another hour and we were chez Kirklands in Campbell River.  This is a place that quickly captivates you and I hanker for the sea and reasanably priced real estate.  This is it.  During our two day stay I'm sure Cherie had been similarly captivated.  If the Island is going to sink into the sea then so be it.  Grab a glass of your favourite tipple; grab your dearly beloved; two deck chairs; face the Tsunami and then do whatever takes your fancy, but quickly....if you don't mind.

Mike and Sue were perfect hosts.....We unpacked the car and made ourselves instantly at home as is the house rule here.   We were tired but determined.  A six hour journey will do that to you.  We walked over the 'Oh No not you Again' welcome mat and in.  Mike and Sue have a sea view; granted you need a telescope to see it but it is there as sure as eggs are eggs.  We spent the rest of the day reconnecting and in a state of constant chatter.  We congregated round the kitchen table and once placed returned to these seats for the duration of our stay.  Rafa the house dog and American Spaniel was exceptionally well behaved and he maintained that standard for the two days. My guess is he was briefed to demonstrate good behaviour ready for his stay chez Mike and Kim next February and March while Mike and Sue enjoy Barbados. 

Bed presents were given to Manda and Cherie and UK gifts given back.  Mike's face lit up when he received a book on Isembard Kingdom Brunel.  His nose was in at an instant and extrication was a demanding task.  We talked and talked; laughed and cried and just had a good time.  An afternoon snack was followed by a dam good chicken and vegetable curry; more Merlot came into play as did a selection of Granville Island Brewery beers.  Could have brought them direct from the brewery as we were there a couple of days before.  Chewing the fat in good company and with many decades of catching up to do we had a riot.  Then we slept like the dead.....

One thing that all four of us noticed having crossed the Strait of Georgia was how much colder vancouver Island was.  Many degrees and bloody chilly let me tell you.  Our next day we emerged in stages to good coffee and set for a good walk at Salmon Point but I am now getting ahead of myself; that is tomorrows story.........

Sister Act Day Four

The format for day four was out of our direct control initially and the backing up toilet from the day before took charge.  Logic suggested that the ceptic tank had filled and would need pumping so Kim called the ceptic dude and he managed to commit to an appointment to call early that afternoon.  Kim, who is the love of my life immediately handed in her day pass to Harrison Lake and volunteered to stay behind.  She is an angel.

Manda , Cherie and I headed east this time through the Fraser Valley and the farmlands gently protected by the surrounding mountains.  The day was bright and reasonably warm.  The drive to Harrison Lake of 51 kilometres is actually shorter than the length of this massive lake which at 40 miles long is something to behold.  Construction traffic held us up at Hatzic Bench for about half an hour and a sleepy berk in the pick up behind nudged my back bumper as he dozed at the wheel.  I plumped up and expanded before climbing out of the car to check fo any damage.  None but had words with the guy who spewed numerous apologies.

We drove out through Hatzic, Deroche, Nicomen Slough, leQuamel First Nations Reserve and eventually arrived in Harrison by about 1130.  The sun still bright gave the girls great views of the resort and beaches.

Harrison is a very popular resort during the summer and sits in the centre of Saskquatch Territory; Yes, this is where Harry or Harry and the Hendersons actually hails from.  Manda, Cherie and Kim all have Sasquatch buddies named Mike Henderson, Simon and Harrison respectively.

We toured the resort and souvenir shops.  Harrison has a quality about it and no kiss me quick at all.  It is a real gem and so close to home for any visitors.  I remember all the kids being here with Kim and I back in 2005.  38 degrees; and the sand almost too hot to walk on.  The glacier fed cold lake to swim in prompted Samantha at that time to buy a swimsuit and take a dip.  Before that she didn't swim.  We visited a small shop that Kim and I always call in on when here and tasted wood smoked and candied salmon and tasted numerous flavours of locally grown hazelnuts.  Local Honey tasting was also on the agenda.

We grabbed a coffee in the Resort Hotel and visited the Alice Well Hot Springs which is where the resort got its name.  The 147 degree natural hot water is pumped into the hotel pools where visitors can poach themselves at their leisure.  The hotel is another favourite haunt and does midweek packages including dinner dance in the stylish Copper Room to the Jones Boys.

We left Harrison and stopped next at Weaver Creek which is a man made Salmon Hatchery with meandering channels and terraced jumps which the Salmon have to leap to get to the spawning grounds.  We arrived late in the season and the Salmon were by this time either too knackered to make the leap or content to expire further downstream.

Next stop was the Church of the Blues or the Old Dewdney Pub so named because it was once a church and second because Sunday is live blues and jazz.  We had cold beers and a large plate of Nachos for lunch.  A real treat.  Late lunch but well worth the wait.  This a real rural local farm boys pub and a jewel.  Food always very good.

The ceptic man meanwhile had been announcing to Kim that the ceptic was not in fact full.  This caused immediate concern because it meant the problem was elsewhere and home movements would have to remain on hold.  The ceptic man, however, through years of experience, felt sure the issue was a block in the waste pipe from the house,  He duly dug a large hole sweating and swearing profusely and located the pipe and cleared it.  The loos flushed in joyous harmony and ceptic man gave the extra service on the house.  He told Kim she had a warm heart.  I naturally hastened home to protect her chastity.  Don't really want poo cleaners ogling the wife do I?  Kim's update advised all in hand so we then headed to our last port of call, Westminster Abbey.

The Abbey is a Monastery and Seminary in the back of Mission and is a place of real peace.  You don't have to have any religeous inclination to feel confortable here.  The Abbey windows can only be seen in their glory from the inside.  Each area has different colours and I have selected the blue to purple for the shot.

A short walk through the grounds of the Abbey takes you to a lookout point that takes your breath away.  On this day and in the late afternoon sun the view was as good as I think I have ever seen here.

In the foregound Mission East then the Fraser River; next the farmland from Matsqui to Abbotsford; then Sumas Mountain and in the background Mount Baker is Washington State USA.  We all paused to soak up the view.  A couple of weeks earlier when Jamie Franklin was with us we did the same thing, only on that ocassion a hooded priest sat on the supplied bench puffing away on his pipe.  He had unusual eyes the kind that move independently so he gave us a sideways glance and still looked out ahead at the same time.  I'm sure his tobacco brand was Three Nuns.  His glance also insinuated that we were all destined for the fires of hell.  Amenable chap not methinks!

The evening saw us return to Merlot, Cider and Beer for a change and a meal shared with Bob Boast.  Marinated Ribs, Butternut Squash and Rosemary grilled chips. 

A different Canadian dining experience each night.  The day faded; the loo flushed and bushed we retired early.  Our next day would be starting very early.  5am as I recall......

Sister Act Day Three

So to Monday morning and preparations for our drive into Vancouver.  In my haste to post these blogs I for got one key event from yesterdays happenings.  We lost our water supply.  Suddenly and without so much as a by your leave, the water stopped and the pump mechanism began clunking and grinding with terminal volume.  Manuals were checked and the water softener was regenerated but to no avail.

So what do you do if you have a crisis of this type?  Call Bob....and if you are very fortunate you'll get two Bobs at the same time.  One of whom is a qualified electrician.  I turned off the mains and the grinding stopped and that was before we headed out to Hayward Lake etc.

The Bobs stared at the mechanism and I turned the power back on.  The sound of water flushing through the system was a huge relief.  We were back on the supply.  I maintain that the mecanism faced with two Bobs simply staring at it simply conceded and went back to work.

So back to Vancouver or almost......Another sudden crisis.  The basement toilet decided to back up and wash the floor.  An hour later and after substantial baling we opted to face that crisis after our day out and left.

First port of call in Vancouver and at Cherie's request was Granville Island.  This complex is a mix of public markets and retail outlets on the inlet and quite remarkable.  Cherie had a specific task to find a soft toy for a small mouthed dog on Granville Island.  The toy, unusually, was designed to lay soft toy eggs when gripped by a dogs mouth.  We found the store with no effort at all; it simply appeared in front of us.  The picture captures the egg pooping soft toy moment of discovery.

Next up we toured a childrens toys emporium.  A real throwback to the old style toy shops I remember in the UK before IT games and videos took over.  It was nostaligic.

The public market is something to behold.  A sea of colour and products not often found around these parts.  A Cornish Pasty with a flavour reminiscent of home for the first time since being here.  Sausages that actually looked as though they might deliver.  We had a light snack and coffee's and then headed out to the water front and the bright sunshine. 

The scenery is amazing. We took a few pictures and posed a couple of shots for the family album. An older man called Jim who was loitering with intent volunteered to take a picture of the four of us. "Hi, I'm Jim and you are?" Cherie replied, "Manda, Cherie, Michael and Kim", he repeated "Manda, Cherie, Michael and Chimp". Poor Kim had that name tag for the rest of the week. Jim has no idea how much amusement he caused.  We wet ourselves continuously.

From an initially cool Granville Island we headed across Vancouver and to Stanley Park.  We drove through Robson Street (Vancouver's own Oxford Street) and the downtown and into one of the nicest parks I've ever seen.  The Totem Poles were a highlight as was the view of the most familiar features on the Vancouver Skyline.

Lunch proper was a coolbox of chicken and cheese rolls and after a bit of fresh air even the earlier snack on Granville Island couldn't prevent strong appetites.  Our next stop was the Pan Pacific and the cruise liner moorings.  We parked on Level P2 for some strange reason and had a bit of a walk to get to the street.  The sails are something to behold.

Gastown and the old heart of Vancouver. Dozens of souvenir shops and curios. Manda and Cherie shopped; we stood by the Steam Clock a legacy of Gassy Jack and listened as the tubes played the same tune that emanates from Big Ben in London.  We then wrapped our our day with dinner at the Spaghetti Factory before returning exhausted to the car and then home.

Sister Act Part Two

So to Sunday morning and the girls both having slept and probably better rested.  Its always hard having a 32 hour day when you first arrive in British Columbia and just making it through to about 9pm BC time can be challenging.  So all abluted and outback suited we took on fresh coffee, croissants and cereal and headed out for a tour of the yard.

Manda and Cherie both took advantage of Wellingtons from the deck chest and this was to prove significant later in the day on more than one ocassion.  The weather had brightened and although dewey we enjoyed a trip around the place; leaves, trails, gnomes, workshop; greenhouse, firepit, hot tub, big momma...

..the Bougar (supposed to be a carving of a cougar but is definately more bear), and the woodshed where we spent a while reflecting on a remembering our brother Mark.  While in Tralee for his funeral I spotted a registration plate with his name on it and bought it not knowing at the time what I would do with it.  It is now attached to the woodshed which is in a peaceful but busy part of the garden and coming and going from that place I often pause to chat.

Our day going forward included the local area around Mission.  We are surrounded by beautiful mountains, forests and lakes so no shortage of scenery to take in.  We headed out past the Golf Club and climbed up to Hayward Lake.  Climbed as in the car climbed while we sat in it!  About 5 miles later we crossed the Hayward Dam and parked at the Lake.  This is where Chas swam most days during the Summer and me with him...A lovely lake with a 17 kilometre circular trail.  We visited the dog beach and paused on the way back for Cherie to pose as a cover girl for Littlewoods.  Little woods because I noticed a little wood and things catapulted from there.

The day continued to be bright despite the forecast for rain the previous week; this trend continued for most of the week to come and in October in BC that is close to miraculous (Moriarty intererence methinks!).  We then drove down to the lower dam at Ruskin and another favourite walk.  Allouette, Stave, Hayward and Ruskin River are lake steps each seperated by dams down to the Fraser River.  Our hope was that we would see dozens of bald Eagles in the trees and feeding off the Coho Salmon in the Ruskin River as they headed back to their spawning grounds.  What we saw were hundreds of Salmon but no Eagles.  By all accounts the salmon feeding in Northern BC and Alaska was still good and kept the birds in those areas.  One unforgettable experience though is the smell of dead Salmon.  hard to describe so I won't try.  Ask Manda or Cherie.  A bald eagle was to appear later in the week.

Wellington boot catastophes one and two came together while Manda and Cherie were wading through a short water crossing.  Holes sucking in lots of lovely water.  Cherie demonstrates the gravity of this event.

On the way back from Ruskin and on the back road we meandered through to a natural spring and hauled our water containers out of the trunk (boot).  Our well water at home is fine to drink but natural mountain spring water is something else.  Better even than Peckham Spring water Del Boy!

Home again and getting the wellies off Manda required surgery and sacrifice.  Scissors and side splits required for removal.

After that we were preparing dinner and awaiting the arrival of Paula and Dave, Kim's sister and her husband.  Home made Merlot greased the chuckle muscles along with Molson Canadian Lager and Little Rock Cider.  The barbecue was again called into action this time for Fresh Sockeye Salmon cooked in a special Soy sauce and on water soaked cedar boards.  The taste of wood smoked and cooked Salmon is awesome.  Tarragon Chicken was the second main and the meal was accompanied by a dish similar to cous cous but the name escapes me, plain rice and roasted peppers and vegetables completed the table.  We had proscuitto bake appetisers and a berry pie desert kindly provided by Paula.  It was a fantastic evening; an evening of reconnecting and new connections all strengthening the family ties from both sides of the pond.  We generally find as do most in our family that we migrate to the kitchen to chat and chunter.  Our Island hosts many such gatherings.

So another day done and minds starting to think ahead to our trip into Vancouver tomorrow.  Would the weather hold? Vancouver when the sun is shining and the skies are clear is a spectacular city.  We'll see.......