Rain has stopped for now, I can go for a walk with Bosco. Oops, raining again

I do remember what the rains are like, but the last few days have been way more than desired. I like to get out at least once a day for a good walk, and Bosco needs a walk at least once a day too. Polly does join us sometimes, but she has been going to the Gym/Pool with her sister lately. We have walked around the golf course, and on the course, and all around the area. Beauty place to live.

I found another trail yesterday that leads to Roger creek, which is flowing more like a river now. I take the phone with me just in case I get a picture opportunity, and/or I want to document something. This time the shot was of a sign that identifies the location.

As we walk the rains start and stop a few times, and this is when I think of getting some decent rain gear, or that I should pack an umbrella, like the guy I passed on the trail in-front of Walmart. But then I think, Naw, I will be where the sun shines most the time soon, don't want to be too prepared for the rains... LOL

The trail starts at the end of the road between the casino, and the forest service office, and heads straight to a tee, then we go right, and get to an overlook of the creek, boy is it ever rushing with water now.. Then the trail heads down the edge of the gully, toward Rodger Creek Park I guess, will check it out next walk, as rains a coming again. We walk back, and end up by the SPCA. I remember this area as in the past this is where our town used to dump all our garbage, along with another dump at the south end of town, off the end of Anderson. I think to myself  how odd it seems now that we would dump all our garbage into a creek drainage, not thinking what this would do to the salmon, or the creek itself. We have changed how we operate now, but some places on this planet still do the same, even if they know what problems it could cause. When we were young we just took what ever we didn't want to the dump, and threw it outta the truck, or car and drove away, unless we saw something we could use. Then we would shop at the dump for awhile, and bring what others had discarded home.

Never saw a sign for a garage sale then, or so many 2nd hand/thrift store/pawn shops as we have now. Never saw storage units as we have now, so much stuff stowed for what?
How much do we need, and what will we do with what we have?

As we (Bosco and I) walk past the SPCA I remember getting another dog there such a long time ago, she was a real good friend, Libby was her name, she was such a beauty dog. Black Lab+Springer Spaniel I was told, but she looked all black lab, just a little smaller. She was just the dog our family needed at the time. Loved that dog. That was the last time I was here I think. I think to myself I should go in sometime and take a look, see what it looks like now, see what kind of animals they have in there now. I will.

The rains are on us now, and we keep walking past Canadian Tire, and I see the sign for the trailer park next to the SPCA, Lois lives there, we should stop in and say Hi sometime, but not now as no dogs allowed there. Will do later.

Now I get a little further and the rains stop before I get too wet. The Golf course is well covered in water now, and the Canada geese and Seagulls are there, along with a White Goose, and Ducks, and today a Swan. What a beauty place for us to end up this fall/winter.

As I write Polly say "Rain today, was raining when I was going to the store!" I say "Really" LOL we know this is OK, as we have booked a trip to Cabo San Lucas, and will take a short break before winter really sets in, and Christmas makes its way into our lives.

Memere's Birthday has past Thursday, was a fine day, she got in the wheel chair she doesn't want to go in, and the Handi Dart bus she has to use, and  made her way to the casino. Daniel helped her all the way. She had one of the best days, she got to gamble, with her kids, and she won, and she had all her family there for her birthday. Couldn't be better, she was so happy. Yesterday we stopped by, and she said remembering "we had a nice lunch" lunch, Memere that was dinner, She missed lunch, Casino was on the menu... LOL Glad she had such a fun birthday.

Life is so good here with Family, Friends, and Fun here in such a familiar place. Home...

Loving Life here in our home town. Looking forward to some time in the sun, pool, beaches...

Planned to add a few pictures here, but as I am challenged at getting the pics off the phone, I deleted some I wanted.  Next time....

Remembrance Day, November 11, 2017.

Been awhile since I have posted here. Given myself many reasons why I haven't, just know I do like to write, but have to be motivated, and lately I have been somewhat less motivated. Not sure why, but when Polly, Bosco and I travelled, I liked to write, and when stationary I seem to think there isn't much to tell.

Today I took to reading someones blog that had just started out to write August, 2016. I got his name from his father, whom I met in Toastmasters a few years ago, and met again at the pool in Port Alberni a few weeks ago. The blog is interesting, and has reinvigorated me to write again, not that I have anything earth shattering to write about, just that I remembered how much enjoyment I got from writing, or pecking as i do... I really do like this, when I am in the groove. And today I am in the grooove...

We have been in Port Alberni since August 12th, returning from our trip around North America. At first there was much to do, Visits with family and friends was top to start, and telling the stories over and over about what we learned, and what we saw and how much we enjoyed all we saw and did.

We parked In Memere's driveway for the first month or so, and that worked well as we needed to be close, as her full time care giver was going for a holiday, as her daughter was here for a month long visit. Polly would be busy during this time, and I was busy with our Grandchildren, and the summer was coming to and end, I wanted to enjoy the last few days, before they went to school again. We did, swimming, and having fun at the lake, ocean, and river. I like it best when we are busy playing, as this is fun times, and so do the kids.

After we spent Labour Day weekend at Arrowvale Campground, with Penny, my daughter and her children, Jet and Dax, (we camped beside each other) Polly's Daughter Catherine's, kids Taylor and Jessie came and stayed with us. This was the last hurrah for summer, and we thoroughly enjoyed this weekend.

Then after that we started in on getting some of our stuff done, stuff like selling our boat, job one, and it sold by the end of September. Thanks to my Brother in-law, who helped me with the repairs needed to the boat trailer. This was the plan we had formulated as we drove around the country, sell our share in the float cabin, and sell the boat. Part one done, now the cabin will get more serious about that in the spring. Focusing on our immediate and necessary stuff we need, and selling what will hold us back from doing what we want in the future.

Next we enjoyed Thanksgiving, as we were invited for the 3rd time (this time we went) to a camp out at the first bridge group campsite at Sproat Lake, and was that ever a blast. Made some new friends, and learned many things about the group camping. First, if weather is sunny and warm, all is good camping at Thanksgiving. Everyone has at least one dog... LOL and kids have fun no matter where you are... and so do adults who act like kids... lol

After the weekend we moved back to town, but to Alberni Motel and RV. This was a short time, as TV and Internet was not supplied, so off we went to The Hollies Golf Course where they have now developed an RV park, and we got a spot looking over the 9th hole. This fit us just right, close to everything, not too much traffic noise, and beauty views of the Beaufort's, and Mt. Arrowsmith. 

Life is good here overlooking the golf course as we regroup, now next job, get a storage unit, and move what we have in Memere's basement out. We knew that we would have to do this, and now we got a place just off the highway, and slowly moved most out that we want to keep, next to give/sell what we can of whats left, and then that small part of our plan is done.

All going well as we look out the window, snow, and cold rain, makes it's way down the hill and we now decide that a short trip south to some warmth is in the cards. So we book a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, also part of our longer plan, as would like to make a trip with our rig to the Baja Peninsula sometime in the future.  This will be a fun time away, and sun at a rather cool dull time of the year. Both Polly and I are really looking forward to this trip south, maybe next year we can make the trip and explore the Baja with Bosco, and who knows, others may want to make the trip too.

Last but not least, today is Remembrance Day, and we always go to the Cenotaph with many others to remember what happened in the past, and honour those that gave the ultimate, there lives so we could enjoy the freedom we have now. I am glad I never had to perform this duty, and great-full they did, so today we will make our way there and remember.

From the East to the West of Canada, Cape Spear, Saint Johns, Signal Hill

Blown away at Cape Spear

As I said will finish the trip later, and now is later. I'll continue from where I left off a month or so ago on our first day in Saint Johns, at Flat Rock, Newfoundland.

Our 2nd day in Saint Johns we took a look around the city at sights close to Saint Johns. First on our list was Cape Spear. We had heard that Cape Spear was the furthest east we could go in Canada and furthest east in North America, so we had to see what it was like.

Cape Spear is quite away's from the city, and on a winding road. When we got to the parking lot we met a couple that were riding motor cycles, and they asked, BC? as they read our plates, and yep we are. The conversation starts, and they say they want to go west to BC, and when we tell them of our journeys, they say yep, they want to do the same. Interesting how many people want to do as we are doing.

What a day we had, the wind was gusting to 70km's from the west, almost blowing us off this rock, we had a hard time just standing, forget about walking. Construction was taking place for a new, bigger, better place that would be the designated spot to stand and take the picture, so we walked toward the rocks.

Polly and Bosco getting Blown away at Cape Spear

Some of the info about how important Cape Spear is.

We made our way to what looked like the furthest on this point where many others had walked to check it out, and on the way we met a couple from Kelowna, BC. Wow that was cool. As we talked somehow we got talking about where we lived, and where they had been, and the place where our cabin is Canoe Pass, was somewhere they had been, and they knew people there we knew, and Toquart Bay came up, and they had been coming to the island for holidays for many years.... WOW, we were on the other side of Canada, furthest away from the furthest west we could be and meet someone and have a conversation about the other side of the country. This just blew us away, and the wind kept blowing too... We had a short conversation, and I got a picture so we could show people we knew there picture. Was a real surprise to us, and really made us feel like we are all connected, even if on the other side of the continent...

Furthest point east in North America

Couple we met from Kelowna

Wind on the water

Bosco in the winds

Looking out to see as the light keeper would

Polly and I in chairs we have seen all over the east

Round inside of the old lighthouse

Through the lighthouse window to the sea

After the moment, we said our good by's and off we went continuing our look around, we got close to the edge, but was so windy we went back, and up to the light house, and got a good look around up there. Met some more people, some from USA, some from Taiwan, and others, Polly always says I just meet people as I walk out the door. I like people, and is interesting to get to know them. I remember my niece said to me once, "I Know I talk too much, but I like to talk" right out of the blue, and then she went right back talking...
That stuck with me, and I guess I do that too. I do stop and let others talk, and I do listen, and on this trip I have learned much, but never did I think we would learn about Canoe Pass here at Cape Spear.

Kids running all around the parking

As we returned to our truck, there was a bus full of kids about to ascend the hill, good timing to get on with our exploring Saint Johns. We make our way back to the city, and find a place to park where we can leave Bosco in the truck, in a covered parkade. Now we make our way into the heart of the city. We walk down the main street a block off the harbour, and check out the shops, and look for a place for lunch. We find a nice pub Polly had been told of, Yellow Belly Brewery, and settle in for lunch. was center of the down town, and was less windy in town than at the Cape.

What we saw from Water street

After lunch we wandered around the down town, and looked at the old buildings, and store fronts, was an interesting place, much history here. I couldn't help but look at the ships between the buildings, they were huge, and just a block off the down town, this was awesome to see. we walked down, and looked around the main street, and walked back to the truck on the street where the ships were tied up, was hot out now and we wanted to get back to the truck, but the ships did get us to stop and take a look as we passed.

We made our way to the next stop at the Terry Fox Memorial, at the north end of the down town, we parked and took a look, and we didn't know exactly terry foxes foot would have been put in the water, as the area was all fenced now, and nowhere could you get close to the water. Th Memorial was smaller than I had thought it would be, and just not as spectacular. What was there was well done, just hmm, not as we thought it might be. We looked it over good, and spent a little time reading and thinking what he accomplished, was quite a feat, for someone with the big C.

Next was signal hill, which is close to the memorial, just up the hill, but no walking for us, we drove through the detours, as paving was taking place today.

Signal Hill

Saint Johns harbour

Hmmm long way home yet!

Just one of Newfoundlands huge Pot Holes

Signal Hill is at the north side of the mouth of the entrance to Saint Johns Harbour, and a very good harbour it is, big enough for huge ships, and well protected. The wind was still blowing up there, and we got tossed around there too, Bosco was having a time of it in the wind, being pushed around. Quite a view from this vantage point, no wonder it was such an important part of the area. After this last stop we were off to the trailer for a little R&R. Another beauty day learning about this place we live in, Canada.