Thanks Mai! (June 10-12, 2012)

Our Anniversary Gift. 

A Marine Safari 

on the inside passage, 

between Mainland BC, 

and Vancouver Island. 

Sailing away from 

Horseshoe Bay, 

Vancouver 

in the background.

 Passing another Ferry.

The Wake.

Approaching 

Nanaimo, BC

Elegant Ferry.

Even the GPS knows 

we are on the water!!

Beautiful Drive 
to Campbell River.  

The Yellow are 
Broom Bushes, 

and evidently, 
not a blessing.  

When they get growing, 

they are hard to stop.

First Picture 
once on the Safari.

 The first wildlife 
we spotted.

A quick stop at 
Qudra Island 

to pick up another 
couple passengers.

I liked the little 
nest of cabins.

Humpback Wales 

playing for 
our enjoyment.

It's amazing how 
just the sight of 
God's creatures 
cheers the 
human heart.

Lovely Views.

The weather was boarder line about 30 minutes of light rain, not to hot and not to cold, a sunny day would have made the water appear a brighter blue, but we were just thankful it wasn't pouring rain, as it was Tuesday when we headed home.

Dolphins.

They like to play 
in the wake of the boat, 

What fun!!

Snow Capped 
Mountains.

Former Indian Village, 

"Church House" 

the Church has 
fallen down recently.  
But the people have 
been gone for 
about 60 years.  
This village was 
actually on the mainland, 
an arm sticking out 
between Raza Island 
and Stuart Island.  
We floated there in calm 
waters to have the 
lunch provided by 
the Safari company.

Hole in the Wall 

A small passage 
between 

Maurelle & Sonora 
Islands

Around the corner 
from Church House, 
we found this bear 
feasting on berries, 
and then he came down 
closer to the water, 
to dine on muscles 
that are exposed 
at low tide.  
Had his desert first.

The spot on his shoulder, is likely from a miss aimed gun shot.  Bear hunting season was just about to end, and the guide says it is not fair that hunter will come up in a boat and shoot a bear, and call himself a "Hunter".  Hunters should be out in the bush on the bear's turf, to call this a fair game.

Seals 
anticipating a sunbath, 
but... I think 
they were likely 
disappointed that day.

After the Safari, 
we rushed back to Comox 
to catch the last ferry 
over to Powell River.  
On the way, 
it was announced 
that Killer Wales 
were playing 
up ahead, 
so we got some 
glimpses of them.

Had a good sleep 
at my cousin Lynn's home, 
 on Monday she 
toured us around 
Powell River, 
showing us all her 
Treasured Memory Spots 
from her childhood days.

Part of the History 

of Powell River.

The Reason Powell 
River Exists.

Moving the logs around.  
This dozer boat bobbles 
all over the place, 
would't want to be 
prone to sea sickness 
if you worked 
on that thing!!

We just got there after a truck had unloaded his logs, but it wasn't long till another truck was there, and we got these great pictures.

Click on this link to watch the unloading.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbguk2ABKPs 

Some more lovely spots to enjoy, and a very nice day too!!

Drove through a 
First Nations 
Settlement.

This is Mile Zero of the 101 Highway.  It stretches 15,202 km all the way down to Chile.

This is an illusion, 

the wall is 
completely flat.

This animal carving is 3D, and completed all the way around, I think it has 18 animals incorporated.  

 A Really Neat Seat!

Very Clear Water.

In Lynn's Garden.

Lynn's Loving Home.

L to R:  

Beth, Lynn, 

and Lynn's Mom Ruth, 

who at 98 years old, 

treated 6 people 

to Lemon Pie on 

Monday evening.

What a 
Great Time 
we had! 

Thanks Mai, 

for the Safari tickets, 

Thanks Lynn 

for the Bed & Breakfast, 

the tour, 

and the great visit.

Thanks Ruth 

for the pie, 

it was delicious, 

and caused me to buy 

a package of pie filling 

to try sometime 

in the future!!

Love You All!!

...If I can ever figure out how to edit my video, of the whales and dolphins playing, I will add it and let you know when it is up.

What's that Noise in the Attic? (April...2012)

Maybe mice...  

Maybe birds... 

Well actually...  

It's Raccoon's!!!

When the rain started leaking onto the kitchen table, Hector went up to find out why the roof was leaking and he found about 5 holes up there, want to see?? 

So up the guys go... 

to cut a hole in the roof.

 The sound of that skill saw, scared the mother, right out of there, here you see her descending the tree, using the ladder that was conveniently placed there for her escape!! 

A closer look at mom fleeing the scene!

She was so freaked out she never cam back to move her babies, or to feed them, but we kept hearing them, and finally about 5 days later they went up again, and ripped up 2 sheets of roof sheeting, and found these little (now very hungry) babies.

 The next day the wildlife guy came and took them to where ever they take orphaned baby raccoon's.

 But not end of story.  The insurance company has been drying out our gyproc, and will be replacing some of it in our kitchen, and redoing the whole ceiling of the kitchen and dining room, and my office area.  It has been 8 weeks from the first leaking, and on Tuesday they will start the work inside, then after that they will completely redo the whole roof.  Looking forward to the end of all of this.