The last couple of weeks of November were pretty routine...the usual chores, errands, laundry and walks, etc. Just biding the time as we wait until the end of the month because we have travel plans...that involve taking an airplane! (Stay tuned for that adventure!)
We met Earl and Allison for breakfast Saturday morning (Nov. 15) at the Early Bird Cafe and enjoyed a delicious breakfast with them. Always good catching up! Although it was a misty, foggy day, afterwards, Steve and I decided to go for a hike at Nymph Fall Nature Park. We've taken a kazillion pictures there but these fungi were very unusual...
Sunday (Nov. 16) ended up being another foggy cloudy day but we decided to get out for a walk anyway. On our way, Steve missed the turnoff to our usual parking spot, so we decided to go to Mark's, Walmart, and Canadian Tire for a little shopping first. This is where he figures he picked up a "bug" because a couple of days later he started coughing. He said he felt fine but had an annoying chesty cough.
Monday (Nov. 17) was a much nicer day with broken clouds and sunshine off and on. For a change of scenery, we decided to drive up to Campbell River. Along the way we stopped at Miracle Beach Provincial Park and went for a walk. This is the pathway down to the beach...
A short 34 second video...
We took the trail down to the Black Creek estuary...
37 second video...
Our hikes were followed by lunch at the Riptide Pub...(yes, that's water we're drinking!)
We were kept busy the rest of the week with the usual chores, errands, walks...just the usual everyday stuff. I must have slept wrong because I woke up one morning with a very stiff neck...so that, along with a sore lower back was fun. I went to a Physiotherapist who found the reason for my sore lower back was 2 frozen or locked vertebrae. After some painful massaging, he managed to get them moving...what a difference! He tried to help with my stiff neck, only making it worse, so I ended up going to my chiropractor who said I had torticollis or wry neck. A few appointments over the next week fixed me right up! Steve's cough also continues.
Saturday (Nov. 22) Steve researched more local parks and trails to explore for a hike and found Tsolum Spirit River Park. With the help of Google Maps, we made our way to the park, parked and headed out on what was supposed to be a loop trail.
A section of Wood Stave water pipe was on display in the parking lot without a story board...
Sunday (Nov. 23) ended up being a beautiful sunny day...so nice after all of the rain! So we had a lovely morning walk along the Courtenay Airpark pathway.
We were back to rain for the next 4 days...so they were pretty much inside days, especially for Steve with his cough. Lots of TV watching and knitting for me! Mind you, I did drive down to Bowser Wednesday to visit Don and Rhonda (my brother and sister-in-law)...Steve stayed home because of his cough.
It was a very cold start to the day Friday morning (Nov. 28) with our first heavy frost this season. With all of the rain we've had the last few days, followed by the sub-zero temperatures, Steve had to wait for things to warm up outside because the locks on the shed and truck were frozen. He ended up having a very busy morning getting the truck ready for it's new owner. Brad was coming over from Squamish on the mainland this morning. After trying to sell the truck ourselves for over 2 years unsuccessfully, last July we listed it on the Iron Planet auction, a division of Ritchie Bros Auctions. Iron Planet has reserved bids while Ritchie Bros is unreserved bids. At the start we had a couple of ridiculous bids and nothing since until this week. After discussions with our Iron Planet rep we decided it was time to cut and run so we could get on with our lives. We reluctantly accepted the bid taking a huge loss! Steve had noticed similar trucks to ours on the auction site were also not selling. According to our rep there isn't much of a market for specialty assets.
Steve wanted to take final advantage of the truck compressor to fill the trailer tires...since it has been sitting for over 2 years. He also checked the truck tires, taking off the tire temperature/pressure sensors too.
We picked up Brad from the bus stop at 12:20 and took him to get insurance...which took awhile due to the truck being sold via auction at Iron Planet. But just after 2:00 we took final pictures as we said goodbye to Buster...
We were busy Saturday morning (Nov. 29) getting packed and ready to head down to Rob and Angie's. We are going down to spend the weekend with them before flying out of Victoria Monday to Leduc, Alberta near Edmonton.
They spoiled me with an early birthday celebration! Bryce presented me with a bottle of wine and some 'Set for Life' lottery tickets which he helped me scratch, winning $10. Not the main prize but better than nothing! Thanks guys!
Sunday morning (Nov. 30) we met our good friends, Rob and Nancy for breakfast at the Spitfire Grill. They just got back from 2 weeks in Cuba. We spent a wonderful couple of hours chatting and catching up...always good to see you both! We even remembered to get a picture!
That afternoon, Steve and I packed for our trip tomorrow. We borrowed a larger (than ours) suitcase from Angie that we will share. Thanks, Ang!
Monday morning (Dec. 1) I was up at 4:30 so that I could have my shower, followed by Steve and finally Rob...so we would be ready to leave at 6:00. Rob is dropping us off at the airport on his way to work. One thing about where they live (and where we used to live) is that they are close to both the airport and ferry.
Of course, we were plenty early for our 8:40 flight but I always like to have extra time, just in case something goes sideways. But all went well...we grabbed a coffee and snack at Timmie's and then went through security. They sure checked out Steve's CPAP machine...and I was taken to another scanner because of my 2 knee replacements.
As you know, they load the plane by 'zones'...well we were zone 9, the last to board. Steve and I had the window and middle seat so I was wondering who would be beside me in the isle seat...well, what a surprise! There was Millie, an old co-worker that we hadn't seen forever, sitting there! She had been at our wedding over 43 years ago! It was so wonderful to spend the hour and a half flight catching up with her! What a coincidence that she would be on that flight and in that seat!
We arrived at the Edmonton International Airport in Leduc at 11:20. Dave and Leslie had invited us to LA...which sounded much warmer, and then we found out it was Leduc, Alberta LOL!! So we arrived to light snow falling, and -3C/26.6F temps...and a little snow on the ground. It was -23C/-9.4F here yesterday! After we picked up our suitcase, we found Dave and Leslie parked in the passenger pickup area. After big hugs and hellos, we were on our way for lunch at Blackjacks Roadhouse...
After showing us through their new place, we got settled in our bedroom downstairs. It doesn't look that big from outside but has a full finished basement. The homes are called condos but terminology is a little different there... here in BC they are called townhomes or patio homes (we consider condos as being in apartment-type buildings) so share a wall with their neighbour.
Unfortunately Steve still has that nasty cough. He's able to control it fairly well with Benylin Cough and Chest Congestion and lozenges, but he has spells...especially at night and early mornings.
Tuesday (Dec. 2) we had a nice relaxing start to the day...so nice hanging with Dave and Leslie (and watch Cash Cab on TV)! We had a light breakfast because we are going out for lunch today. At 12:45 we met Steve's Uncle and Aunt, Gordon and Esther (yes, they are the folks we have travelled to Mexico with many times...well, at least 3 times...and don't forget Africa too!). Blowers and Grafton, Authentic Halifax Street Food was a spot Dave and Leslie suggested and one that Gordon and Esther knew well and loved it...good choice!
You may remember a game that we played often when RV'ing with Dave and Leslie...a lot of games played during our many happy hours together! The game...10,000! Well, we're not in sunny Arizona but that didn't stop us from playing! Their huge rec room downstairs worked perfectly!
We paired up...guys against girls. Dave taking a turn...
Steve...
Happy Birthday, little buddy...looking forward to seeing you at Christmas!
The Keg always presents the birthday person with a free piece of Billy Miner's Pie (mocha ice cream, chocolate crust, fudge, caramel, almonds). It was huge! I think they expect it to be shared as 4 spoons were also delivered with it...
We took a break so that Steve and I could go upstairs to have a video call with Chris, Angela and Isaac. Today is Isaac's birthday...7 years old already! They were having a family dinner at Angela's parent's place and Isaac's gift is from all of the family, including us, so when it was time to open gifts, we were "there" too. He was so good, reading the cards out loud...and then he opened the gift and he was SO excited! It was a Switch 2 Console. He screamed so loud that he fell back and almost passed out...LOL!
Wednesday (Dec. 3) was a wonderful day as I received so many messages wishing me a happy birthday...I still find it hard to believe I'm 70! After another lazy start to the day, Dave and Leslie made a delicious breakfast of sausages, eggs and toast and then we got ready to head out for a walk on a trail they had discovered - Battery Creek Trailhead. It follows the cliff above the North Saskatchewan River...
A 26 second video of the North Saskatchewan River valley...
We had a fairly short walk but it was long enough for Steve because I think the cold dry air didn't help his cough.
By this time, it was going on 2:00 so we thought we'd go for a snack since we are going out for dinner at 5:30. We decided on the Rig Hand Distillery...and brewery, a spot near Dave and Leslie's old acreage that we have been to on previous visits.
Back home, we chilled for a bit before it was time to get ready and leave for our reservation at The Keg Steakhouse. We had an absolutely fabulous dinner! Everything was perfect...
Wow, that was an absolutely excellent meal, complete with red wine! Thank you so much, Dave and Leslie for treating us...a wonderful happy 70th to both Steve and my birthdays.
If you've got the time Steve took a 13:39 video of our drive through the lights as best he could from the back seat...
Thursday (Dec. 4) was a quiet day for Steve...he hasn't been sleeping well with his cough and he is just getting worn down. After a lazy morning, we left Steve at home resting while Dave, Leslie and I went over to Leslie's daughter's place to pick up their 2 dogs. They will be looking after them for a week while Richard, Sam and the kids are in Mexico. We had a visit before heading back home. We had planned on getting out for a walk, but never made it. Instead, the four of us went to Leduc Brewery to try their brew...one final outing before we head home tomorrow.
Back home, it was downstairs for more 10,000. Leslie and I hadn't been doing very well in our games against Dave and Steve...some very close games but they always managed to win. Not tonight, though! Les and I finished our game playing winning the last 2 games!
Friday morning (Dec. 5) we were packed and on our way to the airport by 7:30. We really lucked out with the weather the last few days, with temps hovering around 0c/32f...it had gotten quite slushy yesterday and the temperature had gone down to -10C/14F overnight...which meant icy roads. Leduc temps were going to be in the minus teens all next week!
After big hugs, we said goodbye to Dave and Leslie...thank you both so very much for a wonderful time! It was awesome seeing you...and a great way to celebrate my birthday! Thanks for the invite!
Before takeoff the planes have to be de-iced. Quite a setup they have...
A 44 second video of our plane being de-iced...
And were off...
We had an uneventful flight to Victoria, taking off from Edmonton at 10:00 and landing in Victoria at 10:55, but there is an hour time difference.
A 1:03 minute video of the take-off from Edmonton and the landing in Victoria...
Passing by the Martin Mars water bomber static display at the BC Aviation Museum...
We were unsuccessful in getting Steve into an Urgent Care to see a doctor, so we made the decision last night that we would just head home Saturday (Dec.6). We had planned on spending the weekend and then going to visit Ray and Deb in Lake Cowichan for a few days but Steve just wanted to go home. The cough is definitely wearing him down and he is also having shortness of breath. He needs to get checked out by a doctor.
Upon arriving in Courtenay, we went straight to the emergency department at the hospital...it was 2:00. Unfortunately ER visits are long and you are triaged based on the severity. So I left him there, went to gas up the car at the nearby Costco and then home to unload the car and unpack.
Steve was taken right in for a chest x-ray but then he waited and waited. After 3 hours he was taken to a separate room. He figured the doctor would be seeing him soon, so I decided to go back to the hospital. Well, I ended up continuing the wait with him. After sitting in the room for 2 1/2 hours the doctor finally came in and said Steve's chest x-ray was fine...listened to his lungs and said he has a bronchial infection, gave him a prescription for antibiotics and an inhaler. Luckily the doctor said he wasn't infectious. 5 hours and 40 minutes after getting to the hospital, we were on our way to the drug store and then home!
The next few days were rainy...good weather for Steve to stay inside, take his meds and recover. I, however, needed to go out shopping for groceries, along with some errands.
Hopefully Steve gets rid of the infection/cough soon...it's been 3 weeks! However, a pharmacist told me that the cough quite often lasts for 6+ weeks...ugh!
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