Canadian Holiday - Our First Week with
Wendy and Bruce in Victoria
 |
Wednesday 4 June 97
Thursday 5 June97 Friday 6
June 97
Saturday 7 June 97 Week 2 with Averil and Dick in Vernon |
Sunday 8 June 97 Monday 9
June 97
Tuesday 10 June 9 Wednesday
11 June 97
Week 3 with Christine in Smithers |
Wednesday 4 June 97
Thursday 5 June 97
Andy
(aka our Sprog) drove us to Heathrow in good time to leave on Air Canada flight
897 on a 747-400.
Our pilot entertained us as we flew over Greenland. We had both a
commentary and extra good views of the ice caps as he banked the aircraft over
for us. Arrival at Vancouver was at 14:50 and we transferred to a Dash-8 for
Flight 1527 arriving at Victoria at 16:37 to a full Piercy welcome.
Wow! But that was only the start of it.
As we drove to Victoria from the airport, this is the welcome that
greeted us on a petrol station forecourt on the main road into Victoria from the
airport. Thanks, Jecks! And thanks, too, to Bruce, the man behind the camera.
Then when we arrived at Bruce's we found there was an E-mail to Bruce
from Andy. The contents will not be revealed - this is a family netboard, after
all.Friday 6 June 97
A
day for recovering from jet lag (Ann: - "Wot jet lag?"). I suspect
this photo was taken on Thursday, not Friday, but it gives the feel of things.
Wendy and Bruce's wonderful hospitality and the warmth from all the family. What
a family gathering!Saturday 7 June 97
Another highlight! We flew with Bruce and brother Maurice in his Mooney M20C to
Campbell River. Showers and
turbulence added to the fun! Bruce's touchdown was an absolute GREASER. I was
able to take the controls and found it great fun to be able to identify our
localities and landmarks having already "flown" the route on Flight
Simulator.
It seemed almost like home afterwards to see a Vintage Car Rally winding
it's way round the road at the bottom of the garden. To Jecka's in evening,
celebrating Erik and Ellie's forthcoming wedding and the opening of wedding
gifts.Sunday 8 June 97
Today was the highlight of the week - and of the holiday - Erik and Ellie's wedding at Deep Cove Chalet. This has to be the most romantic setting for a wedding. The reception was held in the hotel overlooking the cove.
The weather for the whole day was beautiful - warm and sunny. A glorious sunset to enhance the views in the evening as the wedding party boogied its way round the coastline on board the SS Beaver.
Marjorie showed us all how to really boogie into the late hours.
Monday 9 June 97
Down to Victoria
centre in the morning. Then to lunch with all the family at Bruce and Wendy's.
In the afternoon we lazed in the sun, mesmerised by the peacefulness of the glorious view to the distant Olympic Mountains over in Washington State.
More spatial dislocation when we saw London bus going along the road at the bottom of the hill.
Tuesday 10 June 97
During
the morning we again relaxed in the sun and saw our first humming-bird.
At 1300 we went whale watching - or were they watching us? Huge, glorious, intelligent creatures. A wonderful experience.
In the evening round to Jecka's to eat and party and meet the nephews and nieces.
Wednesday 11 June 97
In the morning we went to Victoria Museum - whaling exhibition detailing the history of the hunting of the whale. A deeply sad and moving experience after being so close to them in their natural habitat yesterday.
Gathered together to lunch at Re-bar, a vegetarian restaurant where the food was an experience - a joy to the eye as well as to the palate. The snapshot here gives an idea of the presentation of the food. One of the Japanese artist Hiroshige's late woodcuts of a bowl of sushi illustrates almost exactly the same picture - but he did it in the mid-nineteenth century!
Afterwards, back to the museum to study further the exhibition of the First Nation peoples. Again, very moving content excellently interpreted.
In the evening - guess! We ate again, at Spinnakers restaurant and microbrewery.
Tomorrow we go with Averil and Dick on the ferry and by car to Vernon for the second week of our holiday in Canada. Join us!
Home, James, and don't spare the horses.
Last update 14 Sep 1997