September 2011

September--Life is good!

Not that every month in retirement isn't enjoyable, but there was something special that made this month so good. Keep us informed by clicking on the email link Larry and Glorine.


	Life in the Northwest and British Columbia is so unique, with all the ferries, boats, and seaplanes--to these folks it is commonplace. Here our new Ford hybrid is taking its first ride on a ferry between Vancouver and Vancouver Island.	We spent four days on the Island--two with friends Pat and Ardell Holden whom we first met in Ajijic. Here we are touring Nanaimo, the second largest city on the Island, and the closest city to their summer lake home.

	Along with sight seeing, and catching up, Pat let us use their canoe where we paddled for an hour or more. The lake was calm, the day was warm and sunny and the exercise was much needed.	Our next stop was only for a few hours but we found Chemainus to be a "must see". It is a quaint little village, but what made it so remarkable were all the murals. The sides of over 40 buildings were covered with enormous paintings depicting life throughout the 1900s.

	Victoria is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in Canada. And we agree. We arrived on the last day of a three-day Blues Festival, and partook in three bands and some mighty fine microbrew. It was on the inner harbor, where floatplanes and ships were coming and going.	The Royal BC Museum is said to one of the foremost cultural institutions in the world and we spent several hours touring the many expeditions on display. This one caught Larry's eye because it so closely depicted his early years on the farm--a cream separator which separated the cream from the milk and cartons of eggs (which his Mom used to buy a week's worth of grocery).

	One of the marquee exhibitions was John Lennon's psychedelic Roll Royce. It was the property of the Beatles until Lennon took possession and brought it with him when he moved to America. Eventually the car went up for auction and was gifted to the Museum.	After leaving the museum, we took a long stroll down to and along the seawall. Here is a picture of a sail boarder, and a ferry heading coming into Port Angeles, WA with the Olympic National Park in the background.

	The city built a tall and long seawall to protect boat traffic from the seemingly relentless waves coming in from the ocean. We walk out a ways until the gust started pushing on us.	From there we walked to the Fisherman's Wharf along the inner harbor and found a colorful floating village, with over 30 homes of varying designs and vintages. The homes have no motors and have to be towed in order to be moved to another location. Now this is a unique lifestyle!

	Victoria is home to several mansion--this one built in the late 1880s by a Scottish immigrant who made his fortune from Vancouver Island coal, but died before the house was completed. The home now a museum shows the immense fortune of the Dunsmuir family, reflected in the four floors of stained glass windows, intricate woodwork and Victorian era furnishings.	The Butchart Gardens is an international destination for nature lovers. It is located ten miles north of Victoria and opened to the public since the early 1900s. Todd and Jenny Inlet transformed an exhausted limestone quarry, into the Sunken Garden. Over the years, a Rose Garden, Italian Garden, and a Japanese Garden were added. This and the lead picture show the vast diversity of the gardens.

	From the Pacific Ocean to Prior Lake, Minnesota, it is Chase's third birthday and we have this tradition of making it to everyone of our grandkids birthdays. Here is Chase with his spaceship theme cake and all the kids saying "blow out the candle".	The playhouse is great to play in, and a great place to contain lots of kids for pictures. We don't know how many more years we can load this playhouse with kids as they get older.

	Watch out! The space rocket pinata is ready to take off. Well Chase tried, but one of the bigger kids busted the candy out.	One the most unique toys was this dense foam that all these kids could play on. It was like a roll up diving platform.

	We captured this family picture of Denise, Clara, Chase and Craig along side the space shuttle which Larry made for the fourth of July boat parade.	Time for school, Clara. Here she is giving Mommy one more hug before hopping on the bus.

	We packed lots into our ten day trip to Minnesota. Here Glorine is showing off her skiing skills.	It is thumbs up for Larry.

	And Denise slaloms with a special flair.	Craig must be six feet in the air having caught a wave with his ski board.

	Now that Clara is five years old, she decided it is time to take her trainer skis out behind the boat.	And last but not least, Chase is skiing as Craig provides the horsepower.

	From skis to skates. Yes, Chase's birthday present included hockey skates and a helmet. This is his first day on the ice, but as we have learned, he now skates on his own.	On to the Minnesota Science Museum where Clara and Grandma Glorine are making "play dough" from scratch.

	Chase would rather drive a bus or any other large construction equipment.	Chucky Cheese is always a kids pleaser, and the games a bit more challenging for Grandpa Larry.

	We learned that Glorine's sister and her husband were starting a kayak club on Lake Chapala. So we spent a Saturday morning in a class with the local Parks and Recreation. A bit cool, but enjoyable.	Another tradition is apple picking at a nearby apple orchard. We first got to sample from ten or so varieties then went out in the rain and picked a few bags.

	Clara used a special hoist--her dad, and got some big ripe apples from the top of the tree.	For the longest time, all we had were grand dogs--Pebbles and BamBam. Nearing 14 years old, BamBam started having health issues and the day we flew back to the Northwest, he died. He will be missed.

	While we were in Minnesota, thanks to Claudia and Lou, our new Ford hybrid was in good hands. After they picked us up at the airport, we all spent the evening with cousin Jerry Barnhardt and his wife Mary. After a wonderful dinner, and a couple hands of cards (the boys won). We spent the night in their apartment.	Back at the RV park, Lou showed off a trick he had learned. On the first day of spring and the first day of fall, (spring and fall equinox) you can set up a broom and it will stand on its own. You can do the same thing with a raw egg!!

	One day we spent the day exploring the beauty of the city of Vancouver. A must see is Vancouver Lookout, the second tallest structure where we enjoyed a 360 degree aerial view of Vancouver, billed as "the most beautiful city in the world".	Here Claudia and Lou are posing with the railroads and ship yards in the background.

	And us posing with the city skyline and the Vancouver Center in the background. We must of spent a couple of hours taking in the grand view.	Need gas? Out in the middle of the harbor was this floating gas station. With all the sea traffic, we are sure it does a fair amount of business.

	One of the tourist attractions is the Vancouver steam-clock, only one of two in the world. Every 15 minutes it hoots and whistles and steam pours out of vents at the top and sides.	Near the steam clock, is a statute of Gassy Jack, a Yorkshire seaman, who opened the area's first saloon in 1867 and soon became a general center of Vancouver's trade and commerce.

	After Claudia and Lou left, we took another ferry to Port Townsend, to take in the northern part of the Olympic National Park. Vistas like this were commonplace as we drove to the top of Hurricane Ridge.	Hiking the rainforest, we stopped to capture this waterfall. With as much water that drops in this park, we crossed many streams and babbling brooks. The Park Service does a wonderful job at creating and maintaining the trail system.

	Something we did not expect to witness was salmon spawning in the fall of the year. We always assumed it occurred in the spring. This stream ran thick with the struggling fish, determined to complete their journey to the exact place where they spawned, to die; and, although all in the same general area, the locations are very specific. Here is just one of dozens of salmon swimming upstream. It was a splendor to watch.	On our way back to the RV, we stopped by one of several lavender farms located on the Olympic peninsula. The season had already ended and the workers were preparing for winter and another crop next spring. Glorine bought several sashes as gifts. The aroma was magifiscent.

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September's web page includes September 1 through September 30.