Six days with Delia and John

Thursday 1 September

Jason, Bernessa and Elaine arrived at about 7 am to drive Elaine and I to the airport to start our epic journey to North America.

We weighed in well under the limit but, of course, further steps in our journey will require a lower weight anyway. Elaine also has a bag of things that Karinya has asked her to bring over.

Our wait at the airport was uneventful and we both purchased neck pillows. The flight was a bit late boarding and leaving. During our wait and the flight Elaine and I did our Rainbow Connection Quilters homework to write up some rules about how to “raffle” our quilts amongst ourselves next year. Having done this there was time to chat, read, watch movies and eat. Not much sleeping was done by either of us. The flight was very smooth and the landing excellent. It was the pilot's last flight and on docking the plane was hosed down by the fire trucks, a traditional farewell to pilots.

Unfortunately when Elaine collected her bags one was severely damaged so she spent some time traipsing around the airport to deal with it. Meanwhile we met Delia and John and waited a bit while Elaine continued traipsing without luck. She later made the following statement via email and we hope Karinya (Elaine's daughter living in Vancouver – www.getjealous.com ) will be able to get some compensation for her soon … 'When I collected my baggage from the carousel at Vancouver yesterday I noticed that the bag was broken in the handle area. I asked a security guard in the area where to report the incident. He pointed me to the information desk at the exit gate. They in turn pointed me to the Air Canada Care office who then said I would have to go to the baggage centre at the Domestic terminal. By this stage my connection transport had been waiting almost an hour so rather than delay further I rang your office when I had reached my destination. By this time the bag handle had completely come away from the bag and I am no longer able to use it.' We then took the long way home seeing a little of Vancouver on the way.

After setting in, admiring the house and view and having lunch we three girls drove up to Walnut Grove to have a lovely long walk along the track through parkland between the houses. Then we walked back along the main road to return to the car. Home again to have a snooze (about an hour each) before dinner.

 

A great surprise for Elaine was that Delia had arranged for her daughter Rebecca to meet up with Karinya and bring her out for dinner as well. What a great reunion it was. Dinner was delightfully British Columbian – fresh salmon (the last of the season) and corn on the cob (wonderfully tender and sweet) and other veges to go with it. Then dessert was stewed plums and yoghurt followed by a yummy grape cake.

Delia and John's daughter Joanna came over for dessert and after a lot of chat Delia, John and Elaine drove Karinya back home and I collapsed into bed after only about 2 hours sleep in about 36 hours.

Friday 2 September

After an incredibly good sleep I woke at about 6:30 am much refreshed. Coffee, email and breakfast followed.

At 8:30 am we left for our drive to Whistler. It was amazing to drive along past Vancouver with mountains on one side and the bay on the other side. The recent Olympics has apparently led to an upgrade of infrastructure up to the Whistler ski slopes (about 150 km from Surrey where Delia and John live). Www.whistlerblackcomb.com

We arrived at Whistler in time for a quick coffee before buying our chair lift tickets. We were surprised to find out that the tickets allowed access to all the connected lifts operating all day but once we came down again we could not go back up. We were able to get seniors tickets and Delia had a discount voucher for us so a total of $63 got us onto two gondola rides and three chair lifts for as many times as we wanted (about 14 km of rides). At the first chair lift Elaine and I took a bit of time in the air working out how to lower the safety bar but got it down before we'd gone too far up.

We only really had time for one ride on each available lift but what fantastic and breathtaking views we had all day! There was a cute little chipmunk at Blackcomb.

We didn't get down off the mountains for lunch till about 3pm, by which time I was feeling a bit like jelly. Had a good lunch at Milestones even if the service was a bit slow.

We were then treated to a Cows ice cream (www.cows.ca ) before heading home. On the way home we stopped at a lookout over the bay then at Shannon Falls (335 m high). We took a detour through the township of Horseshoe Bay and saw the ferry terminal and further down the coast to Vancouver again.

We arrived home at about 8:30 pm after a wonderful day.

A quick snack of cheese, cake and a yummy nectarine sufficed for dinner. After diaries were written and important emails attended to we were in bed by 10 pm exhausted but happy.

Things I learned today …

Arbutus – trees with red-orange bark that are continuously deciduous

Western Red Cedar – coniferous tree with 'flat droopy hand' of short needles, stringy bark

Inukshuk – group of standing stones in shape of a person

Saturday 3 September

This weekend is a long weekend and the last weekend of the summer holidays for schools. I slept in till 7:30 am then breakfast.

This morning Delia took Elaine and I to the Museum of Anthropology (www.moa.ubc.ca ) via Jericho Beach.

 

We went on two guided tours at the museum. One about the first nation peoples and their totem poles and use of Western Red Cedar timber. We were also introduced to the work of Haida sculptor Bill Reid whose work is the centrepiece in the museum, is on the $20 note and also at the airport. The next one was an outside tour of the buildings including a Haida House and Mortuary House. I recognised cornflowers in the grassland. We also saw some Inuit work. I especially liked a chess set made by an Inuit artist. The chess set was made by Inuit and all the little pieces were tiny stone carvings of various Inuit figures - bears, seals, fish, people etc. It was in the museum and unfortunately they did not have a cheap plastic look alike in the museum shop. They are missing an opportunity there. The museum was fantastic!

 
While there Delia had a phone call from Joanna who suggested we meet her at Granville Island Market for lunch. Eventually we found parking and Joanna. Elaine and I shared a serving of perogies and pancakes, a Ukrainian dish popular in Vancouver. They were like a pumpkin filled ravioli sort of dish.

We wandered around the market amazed by the cheap prices of beautiful summer berries and fruits. There was lots of fresh produce and meats, fish and cheese.

Then there were a few artisan shops and some kitch shops. Even the kitch was different to Sydney kitch. One of the artists I did really like was Hilary Morris www.beaver-pond.com .

Heading home from the market we drove through Stanley Park. There we parked and took a walk around the point and Delia was glad that we were able to see Mt Baker (in Washington State, USA) so clearly. There was much activity on the water – cruise ships, sea planes and numerous other more regular craft.

The park is a very popular place for families, cyclists, walkers and there was even a wedding. We saw a grove of totem poles and even a raccoon at Prospect Point.

On our way home from the park we were able to tick off a few more 'must sees' – a group of laughing statues at English Bay that Elaine knew about, a flock of Canada Geese and then a 218 flavour ice cream shop (www.lacasagelato.com ). Of course we all had ice creams (mine was Baileys-coconut and Hazelnut fudge) then headed home.

Sunday 4 September

Up at about 7 am and spent some time downloading photos from all our cameras and putting trips into Google Earth. Delia and John went to church and arrived home mid-morning.

Elaine and I did a load of washing and we completed our tour of the house – an amazing place! We picked some fresh figs and ate them too.

I tried unsuccessfully to photograph a bumble bee – they don't sit for long in any one place. Part of our tour was to see Delia's fabric stash. She gave us both pieces that will be useful for coming projects and a great memory of our visit.

Karinya rang to say hello and we all ended up meeting her at the west end of the Skytrain line and continuing on in the car to Steveston, a fishing port south of Richmond. Delia bought a whole salmon for dinner and we had fish and chips for a very late lunch.

We then spent time browsing through the craft and produce market. I bought a new pencil case from a craft worker, Shirley Fedoruk. It is just the size and shape I need.

Then the long drive home, dropping Karinya back at the station again.

Delia and John live about 35 km(?) out of Vancouver centre in an unfinished but quite workable 5-bedroomed house. The whole of the basement is John's offices and workshops. The entry level is the living and bedroom area and upstairs is a sewing landing (looking over the loungeroom void) and another sitting/play room cum extra bedroom (making 6). They have 5 acres on a very long block down the hill to the blueberry farms on the flats below. We often hear the noise guns scaring the birds off the crops.

Monday 5 September (Labour Day Public Holiday)

I didn't get up till 7:30 am this morning and enjoyed a lovely long shower before breakfast. I went out the front gate and picked blackberries for breakfast from the hedge. I had noticed them yesterday as we left the house. There are lots I cannot reach but still got plenty and there will be plenty out there for tomorrow as well.

Joanna rang to suggest a walk along the Fraser River on the Fort to Fort walk. We met her at about 10 am then walked west for two hours until my back suddenly gave way and I had to stop. The others walked back to the car then came to collect me at Derby Reach parking area. I had actually thought my hip-back-leg was doing really well! Bummer!

We then went to Fort Langley for lunch at Beatnik's. It was a lovely crab salad.

 

This I followed with an icecream. We went for a stroll along the tourist shops then headed home, dropping Jo to her's then stopping for fuel and fruit on the way. So now we are sitting on the deck in the shade (about 30C out inn the sun) eating delicious nectarines, grapes and cherries.

Mt Baker over the border in Washington state has been prominent on the horizon and the weather has been hot and clear, giving a great view.

Dinner was seafood soup (excellent!) then John and Delia drove us south. First to find Elaine's cousin's house (Kay, who is away at the moment) where she will be staying when she returns to Vancouver. Then to White Rock to experience the beautiful evening by the beach looking over to the USA. Lastly to Peace Arch and the border crossing. The traffic queues coming back to Canada were huge as there is cheaper shopping just over the border.

Back home to collapse into bed to allow my poor sore back to recover – I hope.

In all we've had a fantastic week and just love Vancouver. Thank you so much Delia and John for a wonderful experience.