Gordon Bay

 

Pedicures with Mom and Poppy.

Poppy is such a good girl.

It was a busy few days around here and we still managed to get ourselves packed and out to Gordon Bay.  Phew.  

Booking four months in advance has flaws.

It wasn't a great start here.  The people behind us are way over quota for people and there are a dozenish screaming kids and they are running their generator non stop.  Very unpleasant neighbors.  Sigh.  It happens occasionally.  It rained so hard through the night that a lot of people bailed and there are lots of empty sites.  I suggested to Eric he could move us if he likes.

I've come home with Luk.  I was planning to come home to stay with Jia because Fei is on night shift.  However Luk is behind on a project that is overdue by two weeks so he needed to come home and get to the homework AND his supplies that were moved to the Alaska trip were not put back in the trailer.  Shockingly, this is the 3rd time we've had to get him home from camping because of no supplies.  I will from now on and forever be grilling him about supplies and he hates me questioning him.  Consequences.

Luk sent me this.  They had a substitute on Friday ;)

We got some exploring in before the heavy rain hit.

Learning to skip rocks.

The sloth way of throwing rocks.

We made it to the cute little market by the park and the pie lady was there.  We had a big lunch out so I told Kai we could eat the pie for dinner.  He was pretty excited about getting pie for dinner.

Eric and Kai are on their own at the campsite tonight.  They're having hotdogs for snack.  It's a good Kai day.

Eric is home tomorrow with the boys while Mom, Lili, Fei and I go to Avery's baby shower.  I sure hope the rain stops for the garden party!  Then Lili and Fei are staying here with the kids while Eric and I head back to the campsite on our own to celebrate 33 years of marriage.  

Fei Got In!!

Lots of whooping here!

Such exciting news.  We're obviously so proud.  170plus applications, 14 seats and our girl GOT ONE.  She just got the notification this afternoon.

Lots of plans to make.  Fun stuff.  

First thoughts are that living in Victoria will make things easier and also keeping the smallest line possible at work so she can keep her senority and benefits.  

Power Line

 

Holly Hanna.

We made it.

It was advanced.  

We were NOT expecting that.

But, look at that view!!!

My owie on display.

I stayed home and quiet for two days.  At my desk.  Puttering.  Today we needed to get me out of the house.

Airing down.

The broom is invasive but awesome too.

Some parts were great.  The switchbacks at the top were brutal.  Eric did some stellar driving.

Oscar got more scratches today.

Picnic time.  Food tastes better at the top of the world ;)

This was crazy.  At times we couldn't even see the road.

And again, it's not lost on us how lucky we are to be having these adventures.

We had to motor down to get home in time to get Jia to work.

We found a bunch of new roads to explore on another day. 

Once home we got dinner in the crock pot and did dishes.  After dropping Jia and grabbing a couple groceries we took the really long way home via Crofton so we could enjoy the top back on Onyx and get me a Dole Whip.  Crofton was having a cute little Carnival.

Because today wasn't enough.

 

Taking care of his whiney, needy wife all day wasn't enough.  We came home and he enlisted Luk's help and they got the slide awning installed.

YouTube videos helped him figure out how to install the awning.

Fingers crossed this ends the leaking.

Things are all ok.

 

My wee surgery was today.

I haven't seen it yet.  The freezing was wonderful, and I felt nothing.  It's starting to hurt now but is manageable.  I was supposed to lay low.  I didn't.  It ended up being a busy day.  Relaxing and slow but I'm just getting to my couch now.

The new spectacles were ready for pickup.  It's been 3 years since I've had photogrey lenses.  I'm totally thrilled.  

This was for sale a few months ago and just showed up again.  Last time he looked through the fence, this time he kicked tires and opened doors and looked under it.  Then we talked to the salesman but Eric declined test driving.  He likes it right up until I say he has to sell Oscar.  Haha.  It has all the things added but it's an automatic so it's not quite the dream machine.

After my wee skin cancer was cut off we took me for my favorite meal at Montanas.  Apple, pecan salad. It was sooooo good. 

Luk was concerned about how I would wash my hair with a bandage on.  The bandage is only on for 24 hours and then I can get wet but no shampoo.  I told him greasy hair for a week was a-ok with me.  It's way better than keeping cancer cells.  The Dr was assuring me he did a good job with stitches to minimize scarring, I told him any scar was better than cancer.  The stitches come out next Friday.  Oh, and the Dr was quite confident he got it all.  I have no clue how long before we hear about margins.

Lunch at home after the cruise.

Whole grain, sugar free, low fat, low calorie.  All at the right temperature.  Haha.  Making myself feel better about not having cruise food.

Notice my new mug from the thrift store.  It was 25cents and I love the beaver on it.  

Oddly, I felt the movement of the ship for two days after we got off.  That's never happened to me before.  

This park needs serious attention.  You can't make out the petroglyphs at all.

You have to work hard to make anything out.

Every time we drive by this park on the way to Nanaimo I say we need to stop.  We finally made the effort.  It's woefully underwhelming.  Not much to see.  At least we finally know.

The plain church in Sitka is fancy on the inside.  Other passengers are posting pictures.

One of the black bears we didn't see because it was hiding from the rain.

Poser.

We hit the ground running here.  Back to appointments.  Kai had his yearly fasting ultra sound to check/measure his kidneys and liver.  I had some fasting tests for my Endocrinologist.  Kai needs to fast again for his Endocrinologist. Mom took Kai to speech today so that Eric could drive me to Victoria.  I've been chatting with staff at the Nanaimo hospital about Luk's chait tube change.  They don't know what it is, or how to do it, or where to get the supplies.  I put them in touch with Luk's team nurse from Children's.  There were lots of messages and updates while we were away.  As much as everyone wants Luk to move into island care it's just not working out yet.  So I am greatly relieved that the team has decided to just stick with Children's for this next surgery.  The plan is to make meticulous medical notes for the Nanaimo team for the following year.  Oh, and they want to switch from a chait to a Mic-key.  This will be unwelcome news for Luk.  More learning curve and all different supplies.  We're waiting for a date now.

I was just notified of iep meetings and left the blog to book two meetings for the boys.  

The calendar is kinda a little crazy.  

Home

 We're home.  It was an uneventful travel morning.  We dropped kids and luggage. Visited the pets and went back out for groceries.  They're all put away.  Suitcases are being emptied.  Kai is on his couch.  Jia is on her ps5.  Luk is gaming with friends.  Lili did laundry and grocery shopped with us so she's ready to head to her place.

Here's the thing....there is no one here picking up after us.  There isn't a huge selection of new foods to try.  We aren't getting a fancy dinner.  There isn't a huge dessert selection waiting for our perusal.  And there isn't a big live show for us to go to.  Home life just isn't as great as cruise life. Sigh.

Last day at sea.

 

Last night Eric stayed out late with Julie and Wendy.  He came in and noticed something fly by the balcony.  He went outside and tried to figure out what it was.  He decided ufo or drone.  A couple hours later he was up and outside in his underwear trying to get pictures and announcing they were back.  Haha.  I've never laughed so hard.  I saw nothing.   He took a lot of photos.  They didn't turn out.   In the end he thinks it was birds glowing orange in the moonlight.   It made for a long night.   Funny though. 

It's shocking how fast this week flew by. It's been a great holiday.  It wasn't very relaxing though.  We're looking forward to some down time at home to recover.  The staff were awesome.   We will definitely miss being taken care of.

Lili is already wanting to start sussing out the next adventure.

Prince Rupert

 

Orcas with breakfast.

They hung around the ship for a couple hours.  So fun!

Watching the catch being unloaded.

We had very low expectations for Prince Rupert.  We were all pleasantly surprised that we had such a great time.

Cow Bay is quaint. Very similar to our Cow Bay.

We went into an ecological display that just opened for the first time today.

Learning happened.

Barnicals are alive.  Haha. I've never thought of them as critters before.

He didn't move while I held him.  Apparently he did get the seaweed on as a hat on his own though.

Always the dictator.

Line up there for this view.

Said view.

There was a slight drizzle but it wasn't cold.

Right after this we watched a golden eagle fly right over our heads.

Getting Kai into position was funny. All of us trying to direct him with Eric posing his body.

Then to the museum.

It was nicely done.

The tiny piano?  Child's?  For travel?

The view of the ship from the totem room in the museum.

We were back on board for a late lunch.  Eric, Kai and I are in our room now for naps.  Luk is off being free.  No clue what the girls are up to.  We're meeting later for the 7pm show and then dinner at 8. Cruise life.

Knowing tonight's menu wasn't great for me I went down with Luk earlier for a snack.  He saw friends and ditched me.  So, I ate by myself.  This was huge for me.  Big step.  Haha. Perhaps I'll manage a movie theater on my own one day.

Eric's cousin Wendy and sister Julie.

Sad news from home is that my Jer-bear has passed away.  Sob.  I'm the only one that will miss him.  Just having a good little cry now.