Flying into Istanbul

Nothing better than flying business class when you are facing 20 hours of flying. We turned left as we boarded our flights from Vancouver to Toronto to Frankfurt and then to Istanbul. Turning left took us into the business class section of the plan with lay flat seats, a choice of meals, noise-cancelling head sets and a wonderful selection of movies.

Traveling again

Looking forward to our next trip. We are leaving Vancouver December 3, 2015 and flying to Istanbul, Turkey.

We have been saving Aeroplan points and have enough to fly business class.

On December 10 we are then flying to Nice, France to stay with family in Menton.

Watch this space!

Persimmons

I was given a persimmon tree for my birthday in 2013 from my class. Now, in 2015, I have my first crop of 15! I have to figure out when to harvest. I'm really looking forward to tasting them.

Thanksgiving

Turkey, family, friends and a little mishap with the pie. The "fist pie" was a hit. We plan on having another one next year.

Grouse Mountain

A view of Vancouver from the gondola

Grouse Mountain towers 4,000 ft (1,200 m) over Vancouver and offers winter and summer activities.
On this trip we had a 4 year old photographer.

Waiting to take the gondola up the mountain

Lunch at the top. The view is amazing!

He took a lot of pictures of the trees

Passing another gondola car

The photographer resting in an owl carving

Fawn, with her spots, and mother

Grinder or Coola?

Grizzlies, Grinder and Coola, were found orphaned in 2001 and relocated to the Wildlife Refuge at the top of the mountain. At the bottom of the mountain we saw Alpha, the timber wolf. 

Summer activities

Greater Vancouver Zoo

Grizzly bear

Gardening

Cascade Falls hike with my class

Cascade Falls, Mission, BC

Lunch at Tanglebank

A stop for dinner at Harrison Hot Springs after a kayak paddle on the lake.

Ice cream cone at Harrison

 A hike at Browne Creek Wetlands

Enjoying the company of my niece and grandson

Having fun at Dinotown at Cultus Lake

Pony ride at the Abbotsford AgriFair

Fishing for rainbow trout at the local u-catch

Backyard visitor

This barred owl came into the yard to do some hunting. Listen to his "Who cooks for you" call.

Who cooks for you call

Sunshine Coast Camping

We left Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal at the end to August, bound for Langdale terminal on the Sunshine Coast. We were over height and over the standard 7 ft length, so we reserved our spot on the ferry. The reservation cost $15.00 and the ferry fee was $254.50 payable at the terminal. Sounds like a lot, but the return ferry is free.

Loaded up and ready to go

We stayed at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park on two sites to accommodate the whole family.

Having booked this months in advance and with the high temperatures the province had been experiencing, we expected a warm and sunny week away. What we got was rain and cold temperatures. I definitely didn't pack for the weather we got.

We got out for 2 hikes;

• Smuggler Cove Provincial Park Trail accessed from Hwy 101. Heading north, turn left onto Brooks Rd, 1.4km north of Half-moon Bay. The trailhead is 3.3km from Hwy 101.

The trail is 1.5km and takes about 20 min each way, if you don't stop to play along the way. The forested trail leads to the secluded anchorage of Smugglers Cove and then to a spot with views across to South Thormanby Island and north to Texada Island.

Boardwalk over the beaver ponds

Smugglers Cove

• Skookumchuck in Egmont

The hike takes one hour each way and you need to plan on being there at the best viewing times which depends on the tides. 

Skookumchuck means "Strong Water". Tidewater is forced through Skookumchuck Narrows and forms the Sechelt Rapids. The difference in water levels between one side of the rapid and the other can exceed 2 metres (6.5 ft) in height. 

The hike is 4 km with some elevation change. Our "best viewing time" was 6:25pm so we had to hike back in the fading light.

Extreme kayaker

We got out in the kayak once and saw jellyfish, an eagle, seals, and spawning salmon.

Jellyfish under the kayak

Visiting Gibsons, BC

On our last full day of camping, we drove to Gibsons. It was named the Most Liveable City under 20,000 in 2009, but is most famous as the location for the CBC TV series The Beachcombers which ran from 1972 to 1990.

Molly's Reach was the hub of activity on the Beachcombers

Tugboat used on the Beachcombers
Persephone

We had a bear visit in the middle of the night at our campsite. He knocked over the bar b q and climbed a tree when we came out of the trailer. We had tried to burn off the food waste in the bar b q but guess the bear wasn't discouraged by that. 

The trailer is home now and we are already talking about where the whole family will camp next year. 

Next big trip is to Nice, France in December. In the mean time, I'm going back to work next week after a great summer break.

My upcoming trips

Summer is the time for camping and this year the family is taking the trailer and tent to the Sunshine Coast of BC at the end of August.

Dave and I will be flying to Nice in the south of France for two weeks in December to meet up with our son and his family who will be spending 6 months there. 

Check in later for info and pictures on these trips.