beautiful rainy B.C.

On April 5th we drove to Toronto and spent the afternoon and evening with daughter #2 and family. At 6.30 the next morning we went to the airport for a 2 week trip to Vancouver . We had a good flight. We were told that no meals are served on planes now, unless you bought them so we ate breakfast before we left. They served breakfast so we just had tea. Our son Tom picked us up at the airport. They served a very good dinner when we came back 2 weeks later. The travel agent will be surprised when we tell her. It was overcast and a bit chilly. I had been watching the weather station but guess my brain went on hold as I figured there would be nice warm weather, at least that is what I have been told. Another time I will take my winter coat. The next day was overcast and chilly but we went shopping as well as looked our son's boat over and out for lunch. We went to the Granville Mall and looked around. As I am a Red Hatter Tom suggested that we visit the hat store. Lots of hats and they sell nothing else. There was a gorgeous red hat and I tried it on and it was beautiful. I quickly put it back when I looked at the price. After trying on many I went back to it and then Tom said "I'll buy it for you for Mother's Day. I objected but he said " I guess I can buy my mother a hat for Mother's day and he did. I showed it to many people, at the airport on the plane and anywhere else that anyone was interested. I can hardly wait to wear it. Will have to get a picture on here soon. We have one of those new digital cameras and still figuring out all the buttons and things. Don is doing very well with it and has printed some pictures but we have to get it hooked up to the computer one of these days.

On saturday we took the ferry to Bowen Island and walked around there. It has a lovely harbour and many nifty looking boats were docked. It was overcast and chilly. I had 2 heavy sweaters on plus a jacket but wished I was a bit warmer but a little chilly weather didn't hurt.

On sunday it was rainy but Tom and I walked to a shopping street, all uphill , as most of that coast is plus the islands. We were invited to a cocktail party in the afternoon which was a pleasant affair.

AS Don was in the navy and a few navy veterans live in Vancouver we called them and had lunch on Monday with one and the men had a great visit. We met another and his wife on Wed and had a good visit and took them back to Tom's home for more talking. One of our neighbours has a friend in Vancouver so she gave us his phone # and address and asked us to call him to say hello. We did and he insisted we meet him for lunch. They went to Queens University at one time. He was most gracious and had invited Tom along as well. Tom was off work for the time we were there so drove us around. It rained all Tuesday night.

Wed night the four of us went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. La Margurita. Talk about crowded and noisy but everyone was having a great time. Good thing we had reservations. They served Corona beer. Now how much more Mexican can you get than that.

On Thursday it rained all day. Regardless the flowers and shrubs were out in bloom and just beautiful. Some streets were lined with flowering pink cherry blossoms, the white blossomed trees were starting to drop their blossoms. The daffodils were blossoming all over as well as other plants. Just a picture.

On Friday we had cloud, rain and sun. The 4 of us left at 9.30 for the ferry to Swartz Bay to go to Victoria and then another ferry to go to Saltspring Island. Our neice, Nancy , husband and son met us at the pub there and we had lunch. It was good to see them. Down the road a bit from Nancy's is a bed and breakfast. They are builing a house in the woods and for now living in their trailer. As the lady at the B&B was in Belguim visiting her daughter Nancy was looking after the guests. The husband was there, a very nice man, but as we were staying from Friday till Monday we had the use of the house. What a lovely place and it overlooked the water and we could watch 3 ferries going and coming. The man of the house is an architect so the house is beautiful.

On Saturday it was rainy and windy. We went to the town of Ganges as there was an outdoor market and we thought we should spend some money but it was downright miserable so we didn't stay long . Tom drove us to the home of another navy buddy and as Tom and daughter-in-law went to an art show we had a lunch and a good vist with the navy again.

On Sunday we had SUN. Nancy took Don and I to visit a friend who was buillding a house high up on a hill, Mount Taum. The man was there and we were talking and we told him where we lived In Picton and he said he had a farm for sale about 10 miles from Picton. Small world.

On Sunday we had a delicious lamb dinner, we all pitched in with the food and invited the man of the house to join us and he was most happy to. 8 of us sat down to a good 2 hours of eating, visiting and having fun.

Monday was windy and cool but Tom and Christine left before 6 a.m. to catch a ferry back to Vancouver and we left at 10 for Victoria. Friends, more navy, met us at the ferry terminal and took us to their home , lunch and a visit. These navy fellows review the war all over again and tell mostly of the good times during that time.

On tuesday a former neighbour and a co-worker during his and Don's working days, picked us up and we went to his place and he had us back to the ferry by 3 for the trip to Vancouver. Tom met us at the Vancouver Hotel and back to their place.

On Wed Tom took us up to the town of Squamish and it was raining. After lunch we drove to Cypress,a ski place and there was at least 7 foot of snow. The ski lift was not being used that day but no doubt would be by the weekend. Whistler was a bit too far to drive to that day.

On Thursday we went for a walk then left for the airport at 11.30. The staff at the check in counter were not busy so they had a good look at my new red hat. As I have a sore knee I took a cane with me. Now a cane will surely get you a fair bit of attention. We were hustled to near the front of the check in line and through the zapper, which I set off. My watch and artificial hip. The lady with the zapper asked if she could feel my hip, maybe she thought I was packing a 6 shooter. Then my purse caused a bit of trouble. The man said there was a pair of scissors in it. I didn't remember any and it went through the Toronto scanner OK. My purse has 4 compartments in it. He emptied that purse 3 times and even put it through the scanner after he had everything out and it showed a pair of scissors alright. In one of the compartments is a wee pocket and that is where they were, a 3 inch pair that I have no idea when or where I got them. I did have a pile of Kleenex in that purse.

We had a good trip back to Toronto and our daughter picked us up at 10.30 p.m. We enjoyed that holiday more than if we had gone south. When we got off the plane and a staff member saw me walking with a cane she had us sit down and soon had a golf cart and took us to the baggage carousel , which was a long way. That cane again.

Tom phoned on Sunday night and said that after we left the next 2 days were warm and sunny. Toronto had been warm and sunny while we were away but was windy and rainy when we got back. There is a message somewhere there. We drove to Picton on sunday, 140 miles in the pouring rain and lots of traffic , the wind blowing the spray and it was cloudy. Were we ever glad to see old Picton again.

Enough for now