Well, we have had a pretty busy time over the past 11 days! On Tuesday morning (April 21) we packed the truck up and hit the road heading south to catch the 12:45 sailing from the Duke Point Ferry Terminal over to the mainland.
Boarding the ferry...
Westshore Terminals and GCT Deltaport at Roberts Bank...as we approach the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. The freighter on the left is taking on coal and on the right they are taking on or off shipping containers...
As usual, the traffic was crazy as we made our way into Coquitlam and Chris and Angela's place. We had a wonderful greeting from them and Chris and Isaac helped bring our stuff into the house.
We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and evening catching up with them.
Wednesday morning (April 22) we saw Angela and Isaac off to work/school and transformed Chris's office from a bedroom back to an office so he could work. We had a relaxing morning and after lunch we headed out to Mission to drop the truck off at Load-it Industries. Chris generously lent us his car so I followed Steve on a drive that took over an hour, especially with the road construction slow-down.
Glen at Load-it Industries will have the truck for the day tomorrow installing the rear boat loader system. We will pick it up Friday morning.
Thursday morning (April 23) was a repeat of yesterday and after Angela and Isaac had left, and Chris was working, I headed off to take advantage of being in the "big city" and check out the malls. I am looking for a dress to wear to a wedding we are attending in June and figured I'd have better luck here. Hmmm...no such luck...oh well, I'll have to check out the stores here in Courtenay. I was gone for a few hours leaving Steve to relax.
Friday morning (April 24) Steve and I made the long trek back out to pick up the truck at Load-it Industries. We'll post pictures once we get home and have the tonneau cover on...so keep reading 😁
That evening Chris and Angela had a date night, while Isaac, Steve and I enjoyed pizza for dinner, followed by a couple of games of Jenga. Grampa and Isaac played first. Isaac is really good at taking blocks from the bottom. Grandpa won this round...
Steve took at 45 second video of us...
Time for PJ's on and bedtime reading...Grampa tried to get Isaac to read his favourite book to him but Isaac just wanted to read it by himself. 'Captain Underpants'...too funny! Very much like his cousin, Conner, Isaac is an avid reader and reads very well.
Saturday (April 25) was a big day for Isaac. He is receiving his first Holy Communion along with his other school mates. He attends a Catholic school where his Mom also teaches. We are not Catholic but wanted to support him on his special day.
A picture of him all dressed up before we leave for the church...
The whole family! From the left...Marc (Angela's brother) with Dorothy in front of him; Luigi with Lucy in front (Angela's Dad and Mom); Joe (Angela's brother) with wife, Amanda and daughter, Olivia in front of him; Chris, with Angela and Isaac in front; and finally me and Steve...
It was a wonderful day of celebration for Isaac!
After five nights, it was time to head home Sunday morning (April 26). We were all packed and on the road back to the Tsawwassen ferry by 10:45. Thanks so much for your hospitality Chris and Angela...always wonderful spending time with you all!
It was a beautiful travel day with lots of blue sky!
Monday (April 27) was a busy day of shopping for me...but first, I helped Steve put the tonneau cover back on the truck. It's all set for the boat now!
My brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Suzanne, from West Kelowna are arriving Tuesday (April 28) late afternoon, so I spent a good part of the day preparing lasagna and layered salad for dinner. Steve helped clean up inside and then went outside and washed the truck...it had accumulated a lot of squashed bugs on the front after our trip to the mainland!
Our company arrived around 4:30 and we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening catching up. Dinner turned out well...but no pictures!
Our plan for Wednesday (April 29) was to go watch the The Snowbirds practice... officially known as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, are the military aerobatics flight demonstration team of the Canadian Forces and its air command, the Royal Canadian Air Force. The team is based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Every April the Snowbirds come to the Comox Base to practice for a few weeks before starting their summer season of air shows.
We could not have picked a better day! The weather was perfect...clear blue sky and lots of sunshine! We decided to take Dennis and Suzanne to Air Force Beach...Air Force Beach in Comox, BC, is a 2 km sandy, family-friendly beach on Kye Bay, operated by 19 Wing Comox. It is highly regarded for its scenic, shallow waters, tidal pools, and large driftwood. Open to the public, it features a campground, restrooms, and a summer food kiosk, making it a popular spot for relaxing and watching planes.
Our timing was also excellent...we got there, paid the $5 parking fee, just as car after car continued to pull in. No "official" time that the Snowbirds will be flying is posted but they generally go up 3 times a day...early morning, noonish and later afternoon. Judging by the number of cars arriving, we must be spot on timing wise.
We found a spot and set up our chairs overlooking Kye Bay...
The Aurora supports a wide variety of roles, including operations management, maritime and overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, strike coordination, and search and rescue. It can also assist other government agencies to combat illegal fishing, pollution, drug trafficking, and more.
We took in the sights as we waited for the show to start. This lady had her own island...
The rescue boat was on standby for the show...
And the show begins! The Snowbirds fly the Canadair CT-114 Tutor first used as a trainer for the RCAF in 1964 so these are very old jets.
A 5:36 video Steve put together...
What a fabulous show (well "practice") we watched...they never disappoint! Now it was time for the picnic lunch I had packed...
Next on our agenda was a hike, so we packed up our chairs and cooler bag and headed to Seal Bay Regional Nature Park...
What a fabulous day!
Thursday morning (April 30) after a bacon and egg breakfast, we went to Nymph Falls Nature Park for a hike...
Back home, we relaxed for awhile and then Dennis and Suzanne headed off around 12:30. They are heading to my brother, Don's, place in Bowser for a couple of nights before continuing down island to visit more friends and family. Great seeing you both...safe travels!
Steve washed and waxed the boat in preparation for loading it onto the truck tomorrow.
Friday (May 1) we finally got a chance to put the boat on the truck. Load-It Industries did a great job on the install as it worked perfectly!
At 4:30 Earl and Allison picked us up and we drove 60 kms/37 miles to the Black Bird Schnitzel Haus just north of Qualicum Beach. We enjoyed a fabulous meal with great friends...thanks for the invite!
And that wraps up the last 11 days. We are actually into a warming trend for the next week with temps up to 26C/79F...amazing temperatures for late April and early May!
