Upside Down

In August the paddle club were supposed to do a huli practice, but they didn't so we arranged a huli today, we enlisted four of our regulars for a safety boat (OC-4) and managed to recruit six for our huli boat (OC-6) and paddled out to the breakwater and all agreed, at the same time, to turn that canoe upside down.

We upturned our outrigger canoe, tipped it back and then, one by one, climbed back into it. It certainly was not textbook, but we all managed to do quite well. Afterwards we discussed what was right and what was wrong with the huli with our (dry) buddies in the support boat, and agreed that we learned more from what we did wrong than what we did right, I think we all thought it would be beneficial to do it all again, but as a group wisely decided that the pub was a better venue for discussion and getting wet.

Great day, soooo tired (and now a little drunk). 

Thanks everyone.

No Contest

Whole Wheat Muffin : 25 cents
3 slices Canadian Back Bacon : 38 cents
One large Egg : 24 cents
Olive Oil : 11 cents
One Cheddar Slice : 14 cents
A squirt of HP sauce : 10 cents

Electricity : 10 cents
Walk to shops for supplies : zero cents

That works out at $1.32 (no taxes on groceries) which is cheaper than McDonald's, tastes fresher, better, less squashed than McDonald's and of course, all packaging in our house is recycled down at Gibsons Recycling Depot.

And we're still in our jammy's...

Monty Python (again)

FOURTH YORKSHIREMAN:
Who'd have thought thirty year ago we'd all be sittin' here drinking Château de Chasselas, eh?
FIRST YORKSHIREMAN:
In them days we was glad to have the price of a cup o' tea.
SECOND YORKSHIREMAN:
A cup o' cold tea.
FOURTH YORKSHIREMAN:
Without milk or sugar.
THIRD YORKSHIREMAN:
Or tea.
FIRST YORKSHIREMAN:
In a cracked cup, an' all.

It's funny, twenty five years ago, just before we came to Canada, who would have thought we'd be drinking Château de Chasselas while touring through Kelowna, near to where the "mighty rivers of British Columbia"  run and indeed, the lumberjacks rattle about. We remind ourselves that all this we see should never become commonplace, but we see amazing sights every day, we travel and paddle in amazing landscapes and the scenery never fails to impress. I thought of this while drinking this fine "Chasselas" from a Kelowna winery and it wasn't the wine talking when I realised that we have it all.

Red and White

Oy, get off my tractor!

Yes, farmyard impressions abound as we toured the orchards, played on the tractors and stuffed ourselves full of goodies. Oh, and there was honey mead too, but that really was not that impressive.

Uh-ho, must be nearly October...

Crazy Goat Lady

Yes, Karen was in her element, Goats, cheese, beer, overhead walkways.

Beer and Bowling

Oh yes, did we mention that there was beer, and bowling too?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

At the end of the wharf, past the hotels and the walkway, western painted turtles were wondering what all the fuss was about.

Lake Okanagan

Amazing, right at the shoreline of Lake Okanagan, fish the size of basketball players shoes, trout, carp and catfish, all running about as though it's all perfectly normal.

Joey Kelowna's

Yes, ten dollar jugs of beer, three dollar Bellini's and delicious flatbreads (and more) kept the pair of us at Joey Kelowna's for most of the nights out there.

Escaping Chorley

I think Karen's mum will get a kick from this, here, in the hotel in Kelowna, via the magic of Android and wireless internet, Escaping Chorley was read, while planning out the next days events...

Kelowna - Turkey Vulture

Karen insisted that we drive fifteen kilometers to find the best goat cheese that Kelowna had to offer, so of course, we did. As we left the place (with a bag full of various cheesey goodness) we noticed a turkey vulture on a lamp standard, sitting there like a pigeon. So, of course, photo's were in order...

Just one cornetto....

Here's a nice shot of my young lady, I'm jammed in at the back trying to maneuver the canoe while juggling with the camera, the dry bag and my paddle and fortunately, managed to capture a great picture as we drift slightly out of control towards the Shelter Islands along the shores of Keats.

Karen is crackers

Sorry, should have said "Karen is eating crackers" - here with Jess over at Plumper Cove on Friday.

Bear doing his rounds

I managed to snap this blurred shot of "our" bear in the back yard this evening, Karen shouted that he was out in the front yard and I raced down the stairs and of course, taking a photo through the downstairs back window, especially in the fading light of the evening, results in something like this:

He has an injured paw, was not limping as much today, which is a good sign and it is obvious that he is putting some weight on as he prepares for the winter. 

August Clean Up on Keats Island

Hanson Marine got involved with the big clean up over on Keats Island last month, quite a few of the larger items stayed on the float for a few days.

Townhouse Progress

The houses down at the base of Crucil are now pretty much completed, all they have to do now is sell them. We know they have sold two so far (there are four in the picture and eight in total) - they are a bit on the expensive side at just under $400,000 bucks.

Gnome Number Four

"I am NOT a number!! - I am a free Gnome!"

Half price at the Highway Nursery.

Android Computer

The latest project using good old wood is an Android computer based on a tablet that lost it's touchscreen while on a trip to Mexico. I've added a small amplifier inside, use an iPazzPort RF keyboard and mouse, unit has wifi and streams video and audio from the web.

Hey, that's our dock!

A heron decided to occupy the launch dock but scarpered when I came too close.

Not quite pensioners

As we rapidly approach the five year point, retirement appears to be working out reasonably well for the pair of us. The journey back to Gibsons was exciting as we paddled back into the wind with lots of whitecaps and of course, as it is a watersport, a good portion of wetness.

Sleeping on a log

In the quiet area by the shelter islands we watched a few lazy young seals as they watched us.

Apprentice

Here I am, sitting in the drivers seat. I've been steering for over a year now but still feel like a complete rookie at times.

Friday Paddle

Over to Keats with an OC-6 on quite a windy day, windy yet perfect.

Back to front, Yanira, Marjola, Val and Karen.