Birthday's, Anniversaries and

A Coyote

Sun April 28th

Jack was distinctly unimpressed by the lunchtime visitor,
the Coyote was underwhelmed by Jack's objections

We were so preoccupied enjoying the first decent bit of snow this year when we went up to Whistler, that it completely slipped our minds that April 3rd was the 3rd anniversary of our arrival in Canada, and therefore didn't make the last blog.  

While in Whistler, we did go out to our favourite Creekside restaurant (The Red Door Bistro) to celebrate Fred's pending birthday and might have had an extra bottle if we'd remembered our Canada anniversary.  The reason for the early birthday celebration was primarily because there are no fine-dining restaurants on the Coast, and we like the Red Door Bistro.  

I am not sure quite why April 3rd passed us by.  Maybe it's because being here has become the norm.  It hasn't lost any of its beauty and we still marvel at our luck at being able to live here.  Whether its driving down the main highway in town with the backdrop of the North Shore mountains, wandering around lower Gibsons with Keats Island just across the water or exploring the forest trails up behind us.  It feels like home.

T3 LHR -  Easter Saturday -3rd April '21 !!!

April 3rd 2021 was the height of the pandemic, travel restrictions were in place and Heathrow was empty.  We needed to demonstrate we were allowed entry to Canada to an official from the Canadian High Commission.    The plane had about 40 people on it. 

This was the beginning of a six-month experiment to see if it would work out.  As the first six months came to an end and first grandchild expected, thoughts of returning back to the UK had gone.   

We were still in rented accommodation, but had started a search for a house and a further six months on we had sold Eastcourt House and bought where we now live.  The uncertainty that still exists about getting an invitation for Permanent Residence is in the back of our minds, but it's not stopping us trying to enjoy it to the full.

We hope to hear in October if we are finally successful in starting the PR journey.  If we don't get through we may need to start the whole application process again.  Frustrating, but we knew the risks.  In September we will head down to the States for a few days to be able to get our Super Visas stamped & renewed on re-entry, again!  Assuming we get another two year approval, we will embark on a trans Canada trip next Spring.  

We have already started researching RV's (sounds so much more interesting than 'caravan') and what we will need to tow it.  The Discovery Sport has been OK but has a 2 tonne load limit, and we need something that will do 2 - 3 times that.  The strategy is to get something that's towed as all the advice, is that it gives you more flexibility than a motorhome.   A base that you can explore from, rather than something with an engine that once set up on a site makes it difficult to pop in to town for a pint of milk that you forgot to get on route.  On the way back we'd like to come back via Hudson Bay and the Yukon, though there is no road connection between the two.

One of the possible routes

The idea is to go across to Newfoundland and back over two to three months and either let the house, or find a house sitter.  Anyone fancy a sabbatical and a modestly priced holiday exploring the Sunshine Coast?   We're only now starting to think of routes and places to see.  If we get used to the idea of 'caravan' holidays we may well find we spend more time exploring North America.

Some local friends from whom we often get crab, are heading off to Utah next weekend and plan to spend a couple of months touring around the area.  

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Closer to home, Sebby, who was two last week, is over for the weekend with Nick, while Lizzie is in Ontario visiting family.
  

The little fella goes to bed happy chortling to himself and wakes up happy doing the same thing. On one of his recent visits, BC Hydro were working on a power pole outside our house and as we watched the guy in the cradle waved at Sebby, he still hasn't forgotten it.  This time we have a huge CAT digger on a plot just a few houses down, which we have to visit at least twice a day.  He digs diggers!  

Our daily morning dog walk is now slower and shorter as he wants to walk everywhere and check everything out as we go along. Sebby's preferred pastime is to throw stones into the water down at the beach.   Jack usually ends up swimming.

Final rehearsals are underway for the Spring choral concert, with scores, and last week we took part in the Suncoast Performing Arts Festival.  Three choirs sung, each getting feedback from a hugely experienced mainland conductor and choral leader who acted as adjudicator.  More tutorial than competition.  

Since October last year, I've been working with a vocal coach in North Vancouver which has hugely improved my singing and breathing!  Having thought for years that I was a Bass 2 (I can just about get down to a F2), it seems I might be a high Baritone, possibly even a tenor as I am now getting to a G4.  Probably something I should have done years ago.  Lars is a composer, conductor of two choirs and former academic, who knows his stuff.

Yacht racing continues every Sunday morning and a fellow club in Gibsons, is now organising races early on Wednesday evenings.  

Last Wednesday we were first with a lead of some 8 minutes, not insignificant over a race that only lasted 70 minutes.  Must have been down to my helming.

Throughout the race a raft of Sea Lions were barking away non-stop just outside Gibsons Marina.  It's getting close to mating season apparently! 

I have started to see river otters off the beach, though last week one actually crossed the small cul-de-sac opposite us heading towards a near neighbour's pond.  We have creeks at either end of the road and we know otters live in the northern one.  

Bears have emerged from hibernation and though we have not yet seen one, the house at the end of the road is reported to have left food in the car, we assume unlocked, and they came down the following morning to find the inside of their car trashed by a bear.  We are making sure our cars are locked!

The other critter to appear recently was one of our local Coyotes who stopped at the bottom of our drive and stared down the road.  Jack, 'kicked off' on the deck and was ignored by the 4 legged vagrant, who then sauntered off down the road.  We've no idea what caught its attention.  Time for another glass of wine!

One of our competitors having a little spinnaker trouble

Sailing back into Gibsons after last Sunday's race.