A year ago on July 1st, 2017 we arrived by bicycle at Mile 0 in Victoria B.C., having just completed our 7,021 kilometer ride across Canada over three summer vacations (
maggieandwallyswildride.blogspot.ca).
This year on July 1st, we were in Tofino visiting sister Janis and enjoying Tofino’s unique offerings. In the evening was a hip Canada Day performance by the choir group with which Janis sings. Nephew Fisher and his family camped in Tofino one night so we had a nice lunch together with Janis and the family at a ”tough-city” café (Fisher, Taylor, Marley5yo, Leo2yo and Tucker-pup). We saw shore debris art installations by Pete Clarkson, walked in the forest, and explored the beach to find stripped shore crab. We found a carapace on the first day out and three live crabs on the second day out – including one which appeared to have just molted.
In July and August we kept very(!) busy preparing our house, business, family and selves for our three months in SE Asia (Sep, Oct, Nov). We completed a much over-due garden renovation project that Yolanda had started in November 2017. This involved potting-up the plants from our extensive back gardens, digging in the soil 30cm deep and making a “lasagna” of leaves, soil, heaps of home compost, and a top later of organic store-bought compost. The final bed was completed on August 28th, just a day before we headed to SE Asia. The beds will sit and be weeded for a year before some of the harvested plants are put back and some are sold as a fundraiser for Target Theatre.
We also had fun get-togethers with pals – including a Random Ravioli class at our place with Dave & Clare Attwell (and South African cousins Anne & Pat); our Thursday walks with the Youngs (Jeremy, Svetlana & occasionally Misha); visiting Louise MacDonald & Mike Nugent at their new eco-house; and visits with pals the Adams (Jonathan & Stacy) to see their re-newed classic old stove; the Filan clan (Sean, Kari, Emery4yo, Brynn2yo and Brody-pup) including beach time with the girls; and Jim Norie & Diane Thorpe (to hear about their big driving camp trip through Alberta, NWT, and BC). In later August, we also met twice with neighbours Tony & Susheela Dason to plan some activities in SE Asia and what would be involved in staying in their rented place in Kuala Lumpur (K.L.).
Happily we had time to host brother Mike & wife Sue for dinner and we also went to Butchart Gardens for a pic-nic evening of music with sister Sonia & husband Tim. Of course, we also spent as much time as possible with little Francis Sandoz, who is in Kindergarten starting in September 2018, and with Yolanda’s parents.
Additionally, we took on sailing lessons Monday and Wednesday evenings through July, as there was a chance that we might do a sailing trip with pals the Youngs. The 2018 trip with the Youngs did not work out, but we are happy to have our Level 2 CanSail. Niece Christine moved to Montreal July 31st to attend Concordia for her BFA, so we helped a little with her transition from her Victoria apartment.
We also managed to do a bit of camping with Gr@y: mid-July at Little Qualicum Falls and the Parksville sandcastles after grand-niece Marley’s “Halloween in July” birthday and mid-August at Goldstream.
On July 30th, brother Mike & Sue hosted a long-table dinner with his catches of the day in fish tacos. It was a wonderful gathering to celebrate with niece Kathleen & husband Jonathan & chatty baby Andrew. The meal was fantastic and the evening was a relaxed outside visit, with pool time for those who were able to make it early.
On August 25th, Frances Reid returned for her 2nd year of Environmental Studies at UVic. On August 28th, Katy Salkeld moved in to be together with Frances, and to attend 3rd year of English Literature at UVic. We leave for SE Asia knowing our home is in good hands!
