Expedition Canada

It's a Boy! Grandson no 2 has arrived, weighing in at a healthy 8lbs. Born 29th October, Laurence (Laurie) Alfred River is home, putting on weight and making his presence felt.  Grandson no 1, has assumed the role of big brother and after a complete indifference to his sibling's impending arrival, has proved to be a caring and gentle big brother.   Not sure how long this love-in will last; I suspect until the little one starts knocking over big brother's creations or 'borrowing' his toys. Mum, baby (and Dad) are all doing fine albeit getting re-acquainted with diapers and sleep interrupted nights. Cherubini's Requiem on Remembrance Day was a huge success.  Two packed and appreciative audiences, with the singers accompanied by a small orchestra, all brilliant musicians.  If you have not heard the Requiem, there is a great recording on  YouTube .      Rehearsals have started for Handel's Messiah which the Coast Messiah Choir and Coast Messiah O...

Summer's Over! There have been some stunning sunrises and sunsets It's been a month since we got back from our epic trans-Canada trip and memory fades quickly once you start getting back into a routine.  And we are definitely back into a routine.   If there is an enduring memory of the trip, it is that we now have a better, first hand, understanding of the sheer scale of Canada.   We have hardly scratched the surface of the country and there is a lifetime of adventure in BC alone.  Methinks planning for a Yukon trip next year will be underway shortly, plus bits of Alberta and BC. Renovated stairs Since returning to the West coast the focus has been helping Nick and Lizzie get the final phase of their renovation project finished, ahead of the arrival of Sebby's sibling in a few weeks time.  And no, we don't know if it is a boy or a girl.   My focus has been on adding an Oak veneer to the grotty old painted stair treads, cutting and installing ...

Home Sunrise in Hope,BC. Home that same evening We finished our journey as we begun, on the shoulders of Summer. Crisp, sometimes frosty mornings, hot days, and cool evenings. In between we were baked in 34c in the Kootenays and 38c in New Brunswick, drenched in torrential downpours in Quebec with accompanying thunder and lightning (one strike far too close for comfort) and endured the odd hazy wildfires day in Ontario.   On our penultimate day, we drove the Coquihalla Highway, where a few days earlier a wildfire had closed the road.  Charred trees lined each side of the carriageway, and isolated plumes of smoke rose from parts of a still green forest untouched by the initial inferno.  On the far side of the mountain smoke billowed from the fire 'being held'. No sign of the frightening flames rushing up the sides of conifers or water bombers or indeed other activity trying to suppress the fire. On the highway, incongruously, maintenance crews were renewing the w...

A few days late Sandbar Lake PP (Monday Sept 8th) was a lovely park and still lake, another one nighter after the previous stay at a campground which we booked in error.  The previous day's two sites were close together and had the same names, we looked at the website for one but called the other one, big mistake, it wasn't great.   We were glad to get to Sandbar Lake.  Not so glad to be woken by Jack singing at 0400 having decorated the trailer floor with output from both ends, including blood.  He was clearly not well.  The nearest 24hour emergency vets were 120km (in our direction of travel) so we woke one of them soon after 4.30am and he agreed to see us.  We ignored the one who used a 24x7 call centre, that was no help.  We left the trailer and got to the vet for about 0600, driving through thick fog the whole journey.  The vet was already there.     Jack not impressed or happy Not sure which charm school he went to (thoug...