In my head.....

September 6, 2010

I'm having to keep my wonderful time in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon in my head.  My computer stopped, am getting a new one, will transfer my pictures to my new one and then I will unplug my mind .... and write. .

I'm back in Santa Cruz and on my sis' computer and finally ... in the fall .... there is a bit of summer.  It is quite beautiful this Labor Day.  Happy Labor Day everyone.

This winter I thought of not going to the Baja for the winter and have changed my mind.  For a few months, I was contemplating a trip to Turkey with some friends but have changed my mind.

The pictures below are from the CD of the Fraser River Rafting Expedition I did just before I left BC.  It was so much fun and I'm looking for my next rapids,.

I'm 2nd from the left...you got my back.

See you all soon.....gypsymama

To Hell and Back

 August 21, 2010

My friend, Helen, my dog, TaZzi, and I had visited with friends at Boston Bar the day before we went to Hell.  We journeyed along the Mighty Fraser River and crossed the gorge in the gondola you see in the pictures below.  Hell's Gate is rumored to be nature at it's most magnificent.  It is not just rumor.  I found out this day and the next.  You will find out why in my next blog.

It was TaZzi's 5th birthday and I was happy she was allowed to go.  She was a bit skeptical of the gondola.  It was very crowded.  So was the other side.  She didn't lighten up until she got her birthday present.  A cone of vanilla ice cream.  All the kids and some of the adults wanted to hold it for her to lick.  I guess because it was so cute.  She was so mannerly

After a refreshingly fabulous day of beauty, great food, and incredible memories, we headed for Hope River RV Park.

Parked by our RV was also this BC Railway Car...a nice touch.

Our yard....and no one was there so we had it all to ourselves; but for another couple.  We shared wine and appetizer's with them.

TaZzi loved the swing...it really was her special day!

The Fraser Valley~Bridal Veil Falls

August 21, 2010

You never know what you'll run into on the way to a destination.  We ran into Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park.  It was a very scenic area in the Fraser Valley where visitors can enjoy picnicking, hiking, and viewing the spectacular Bridal Veil Falls, the sixth-highest waterfall in Canada.

Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park is located at the site of the ancient village of Popkum, which has settlement records dating back to the 1700s. Popkum is a First Nations word meaning puff ball, a plant which grows abundantly in the area.  We didn't picnic but we certainly had a spectacular hike and view.

I didn't hike to Bridal Veil Falls; Helen did but I don't have her pictures.  She said it was beautiful.

Helen, posing with a very friendly family we kept running in to.

Boston Bar & Baja Friends

August 21. 2010

From the Baja, I had known that friends, John and Georgie, lived in Boston Bar but I didn't know we were close to BB on our way to raft...So I gave them a call and they said "Come on Up".  We did.  We just stayed for a tour, to meet their daughter, have a cup of tea, for a look at their "museum-type" home, to hear some of his jokes (Helen hadn't heard them) and the best part....for the Salmon he had caught and said ... gee I'd give you this Salmon but the refrigerator in your RV probably isn't big enough.  It was a big frozen salmon and of course my refrigerator couldn't have kept it frozen, but I said oh yes it is.  A frozen salmon has to thaw, right.  So we wrapped it in newspapers and towels and stuffed it in the bottom of the refrigerator.  It took several days to thaw...wish I had pictures of all we did with that salmon.  Best I'd ever had and I'm a connoisseur of salmon.  

  

Every year John and Georgie have a Baja Reunion for their friends from Canada who also go to the Baja in the winter.  We missed it but the signs were still up.  People just come up in their RV's and camp on their huge property.

They said we were welcome to stay and camp at their place but we already had reservations for an RV Park a bit closer to the Frazer River.  We stopped at The Charles Hotel.  It is a popular rest stop for  travelers headed to the Fraser Canyon...we stopped, we ate, we used their free wi-fi ... on our way to the Mighty Fraser to raft the next morning.

I took this picture because John was listed here as an employee of the Aerial Ferry.  He had done that job for a very long time before retirement.  I had never thought about what he'd done his entire life.  No wonder he has so many stories in so many different dialects and such a sense of humor.

From Powell River to Vancouver

August 18, 2010

After visiting good friends. Althea and Brian in Powell River, B.C., I said 'so long' and headed to Vancouver airport to pick up my good friend, Helen, from Santa Cruz.  Since I had to go through Gibsons, to catch the ferry to Vancouver, I decided to find Monty (Althea's son) and his wife, Stacy.  Had a good 2-3 days with them and .... he loves to cook as much as his Mama....so he did.  Had some fabulous meals and he gave me a first rate tour of the area.

Gibsons...the town where the TV series "Beachcombers" was made.  

t

Stanley Park is absolutely divine!

Next stop..Capilano Suspension Bridge

TaZzi got to go on the bridge; it wasn't her favorite thing.

"Take a Hike"

August 8, 2010

After a couple days of gloom and rain and wind, today, Sunday,  was time to get out....and take a hike.  Brian was able today, having almost fully recovered from his lawnmower fall (yes, I said lawnmower-another story) that almost killed him, to take me and TaZzi to the Willingdon Beach Trail.  We took it easy.  What normally takes 1 hour, took us almost 2....but that wasn't because we were that slow.  Brian was born in Powell River and he knows way too many people and runs into them wherever we go, we also had to see the first nations artifacts, and TaZzi had to pee at least 50 times and greet the other dogs..  

This trail begins here at the registration cabin for the Willington Beach Campsite and takes us to the 4,000 ft. waterfront trail.

If  I didn't have such a great place to park my RV (in Brian and Althea's personal RV space at their home), this campsite would be a very peaceful place to stay.

We were greeted by none other than Popeye and Olive Oil.....

In addition to gazing across the sweeping waters of Malaspina Strait, we admired the trees along the shore, reflecting the activity of the original First Nations inhabitants. We heard and watched gulls, cormorants, and harbour seals. 

Brian and TaZzi

Following are random pictures along this beautiful trail.

This tree has been broken many times.  When it breaks, it just grows back and this one was quite crooked.

Courtesy of the Powell River Forestry Museum, various pieces of logging equipment have been stationed along the trail, including a steam donkey, a bulldozer, and an antique fire pump. 

Pat and TaZzi

Brian and TaZzi

Wherever Brian is....TaZzi is ......

This stream was so clear and 'drinkable'

The trail has many access points that go to the beach where there is excellent swimming and places to picnic along the shore.  And Brian has many boyhood stories of the trail, some of which I could share.

 

Old friends, yes, they went to school together....Brian went to school with almost everyone he meets.

Another friendly dog and friendly group of hikers

This trail was once a rail bed used to haul logs to the Powell River Company Mill.  It is quite wide and easy to hike or bike.  We saw many hikers and bikers and dogs.. 

TaZzi says "get me off this monster!"

Our hike ends, I'm writing about it, TaZzi is sleeping, Brian and Althea went to the grocery store in preparation for another of  her gourmet meals.  I know blackberries are involved either tonight or tomorrow night.  She won's say; she likes surprising us.  And I love surprises.

Unfortunately, I will be gone before that annual blackberry festival is held in a few weeks.

Next week I take a few ferries to Vancouver to pick up Helen, my long-time friend from Santa Cruz  She has a one-way ticket and we will explore Vancouver for a few days, then head back to Santa Cruz ...... taking the roads less traveled......