Another Wonderful Thanksgiving

This year we lucked out when it came to Thanksgiving feasts.  We had a fantastic one in Muskoka hosted by Glen's cousin (see last entry), then Glen barbecued a turkey for our celebration with Meg and Mike, and last week, we again flew to Aurora to share the meal with Geoff, his family, and friends.

We arrived the Saturday before the big day to have time to enjoy the excitement of the grandkids, Elijah (7) and Miles (5).  We spent the weekend playing lego and football and getting groceries.  On Sunday, Geoff was on stage playing his violin for their Worship Team at church so we enjoyed their music and the thought-provoking sermon of the guest pastor.

Monday and Tuesday, the boys were in school so we followed that old familiar rhythm of taking them to school and picking them up.  The weather was so nice, it was not a chore to wait for them.  We also did some window-shopping for Xmas presents and ended up with a few ideas.

On Tuesday, Geoff had to head to Boulder to do a nitrogen fill of his 'little' magnet.  He also had some supplies to pick up which I helped with while Glen worked.  For lunch, Geoff wanted to try out a local brew pub called Twisted Pines Brewery.  It was early so we were one of the first customers.  The tap room had a rustic pine decor and a delightful mural of the beer-making process.  The menu featured appetizers, salads, pizzas, and sandwiches.  I had their 'Meditteranean' which had artichokes, mozzarella, and sun-dried tomatoes.  Geoff had a Philly and Glen, grilled cheese.  I think the sandwiches were made to order but Glen didn't get the extra bacon he asked for.

The brewery began in 1995 when Gordon Knight bought old equipment from the New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins.  He initially brewed 3 beers -- American Amber Ale, Honey Brown Ale, and Raspberry Wheat Ale.  A year later he sold it to his friend, Bob Baile, who owned the Peak-to-Peak Brewery.  He merged the two companies and added Red Mountain Ale and Blonde Ale to the line-up.  Now, Twisted Pines also brews Cream Style Stout, Hoppy Boy IPA, Espresso Stout, Billy's Chilies, and Imperial Porter.

Glen had Hoppy Boy IPA, Geoff, Cream Style Stout, and I enjoyed Honey Brown Ale.  I loved the distinct taste of the wildflower honey in this beer.  I was also curious about Billy's Chilies as it was made with a variety of hot peppers.  Later, we bought a variety pack but I never did get to the Billy's Chilies.

After lunch we headed to the local music store, Robb's Boulder Music to see if I could buy Geoff some violin strings for Christmas.  While he drooled over the Art & Lutherie guitars (made in Quebec), I got the strings he wanted.   We then hit Boulder Running Company for the Brooks running shoes I've come to love.

On the way home, we stopped at the local Aurora brewery, Dry Dock Brewery, to buy some growlers. These are large jugs of beer (~4 litres) that are returnable.  We bought two--Apricot Blonde and Vanilla Porter.  Both were excellent with a distinct flavouring in line with their names.  Dry Dock began in 2005 when Kevin DeLange who owned a home-brew store felt his customers might like to enjoy a brewery.  So he expanded his strip mall location with the help of home-brewer, Kevin Kellogg.  A year later, they won Gold in the World Beer Cup for their H.M.S. Victory EMS beer.

Wednesday, Geoff and I walked to Pioneer Park, a local playground.  Elijah and Miles rode their bikes.  I got caught up with photographing milkweed pods (they don't grow in Calgary) so was glad I remembered how to get to the jungle gym because the boys were way ahead of me.  We left Glen to work and Melissa to enjoy her bible study session at a friend's house.

Thursday was Thanksgiving so we were up early.  Geoff began making pie crusts for two pies--pumpkin and pecan.  The day-long football game began with a break for lunch and cooking sessions.  Everything came together when Geoff's and Melissa's friends arrived and we sat down to a wonderful feast of turkey, bourbon sweet potatoes, garlic and plain mashed potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce, gravy and dressing.  We all had much to be thankful for.  Between the meal and dessert, Geoff switched on the Xmas lights, a tradition we brought home to Calgary.

It's also become a tradition for Glen and Melissa to hit the stores on Black Friday.  While the boys watched Xmas specials, Geoff and I puttered about the kitchen.  The shoppers returned after a successful trip, bragging of the many bargains they scored.  It was date night so I made supper of Thanksgiving leftovers and we watched the boys play Wii Lego Star Wars while Melissa and Geoff had a fondue supper with friends.

Saturday, we got a lovely standing rib roast and Geoff created perfect Yorkshire puddings, a treat I haven't had in a long time (mine always look like gold hockey pucks).  Actually, all the meals we had at 'Casa Armstrong' were delicious as Melissa and Geoff shared the chores of preparing great meals.  I gained three pounds on chili, spaghetti, beef casserole with biscuits, stir-fry with homemade dumplings, and burgers to name a few of our dinners.

Sunday morning Glen wrenched his back pulling on his socks (it's a long story).  He also had a severe headache from a sore above his eye so we decided, it was best he stayed home from church.  Melissa made him a hot water bottle, I fed him Tylenol then he settled down to read.  Geoff had left early to set up the sound system for the Worship Team so we met him there.  Christmas carols were playing on the sound system as we entered the auditorium which really put me in the mood for the season.  The pastor of the previous Sunday returned and gave us an interesting sermon on Peter and his relationship with Jesus.

Geoff and Melissa had bible study that afternoon so while I packed, the kids played with Grampy.  We left around five thinking the holiday crowds would make security a nightmare.  Fortunately, someone knew the situation and so the many travellers were ushered through in no time flat.  We had hot dogs at a sports bar before reaching our gate.  The plane was so full that Glen couldn't put his laptop in the overhead bin.  We landed early which meant our gate wasn't ready, then it took over 20 minutes to unload our luggage.  We tumbled into our own beds around 11:30.  Monday morning, we missed our usual 7:00 wake-up call which involved flicking the bedroom light so Glen was almost late for an early meeting.

Whirlwind Ontario Adventure

All who know me, know I love Thanksgiving.  Last year for the first time, I celebrated both Canadian and American Thanksgiving.  This year our Thanksgiving festivities began with a wedding.

My nephew, Kevin, married his high school sweetheart, Meagan in Bath, Ontario on October 5th.  The date was the wedding anniversary of my much loved in-laws, Bessie and Jim.

I had accumulated some airline points so told Meg and Geoff they could join us in Kingston.  That was the first hiccup.  Turns out Air Canada ups the 'cost' of flying using points over Thanksgiving.  Geoff could travel from the States since it's not their Thanksgiving but not the rest of us.  So I booked him on United Airlines and scrambled to find cheap flights for the rest of us.  Meg ended up flying WestJet while we stuck with Air Canada.  At Thanksgiving, there are no such thing as cheap seats.

Due to work constraints, we couldn't fly out a day ahead to participate in the wedding golf tournament organized by the Best Man and our nephew, Christian.  A big disappointment for Glen and myself, not so much for Geoff and Meg.  So, I booked our hotel rooms in both Toronto and Kingston, and rented a car so we'd make the Friday evening nuptials.

All seemed to be going smoothly until the Monday before the wedding.  Our Ion (2003) and the one that had the accident this summer (See Beginning our Summer Holidays), was leaking fluid.  The assessment of the problem was not good--we needed a new the heater.  The replacement part was not expensive but to install it would cost twice what the car was worth.  We decided it was time to buy another car.

We did so the next day and are now proud owners of a 2007 Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon.  It has all the creature comforts including heated seats, a sun roof, 5 disc CD player with an MP3 port (7 speakers including 2 sub-woofers) as well as a glove box in which you can chill drinks.  The problem was we bought it quickly and didn't even take it for a test drive.  It was a private deal under the umbrella of a dealership so we felt we were safe.  But when we walked away, I realized we'd paid for a car we didn't even drive home.  Talk about stress!

The dealership promised to replace the cracked windshield the following day and we could get it then.  Trouble was the truck carrying the glass had an accident and the windshield--yes, cracked.  They let us take the car off the lot anyway.

Meanwhile, Glen got a call from his Hilton Honors program to say there was a problem with our reservations in Toronto.  His Visa card had been denied.  Could they have his card number and the security code on the back?  Without thinking, he provided the information only to realize after he hung up that he'd just received an email telling him Hilton Honors never calls to confirm a credit card.  He quickly cancelled his Visa card and cut it up.  For years, he's carried an Amex card for just such an emergency so he did have a back-up (always have two credit cards when travelling as you never know).

Meg got off work earlier on Thursday than expected so we headed to the airport and had supper at Montana's before boarding.  Our planes were due to leave within 20 minutes of each other.  In the end, we watched her plane take off as ours sat waiting.  Geoff also had issues with his flight so was late leaving Denver.  In the end, Meg, who was to land last, landed first so made her way to the Hilton while Geoff waited for us to get our luggage.

The next morning we picked up our car at Avis.  In the past, we've had minor problems with Avis but the good experiences outweigh the bad.  This time everything worked like clockwork and we were on the road to Kingston within 15 minutes.  What a lovely drive it was along Lake Ontario with the leaves in full fall colours.  I'd forgotten how much I love the red of sumac bushes.

Geoff is a fan of Tim Hortons but when we stopped for lunch at a highway rest stop, he actually had an A&W hamburger with Glen while Meg and I had a soup and sandwich from Tim Hortons.  He did buy a box of Timbits, 'for the road', so we enjoyed their tasty sweetness as we made our way to Kingston.

We had booked at the Travelodge La Salle so while Glen and Geoff did an errand, Meg and I began our wedding preparations.  I had much ironing to do.  As we left all rigged up in our finery (Glen and Geoff in their kilts), it began to rain.  Bath was a half hour drive away and as we pulled into the Loyalist Golf & Country Club, the skies cleared a little.  It was an outdoor wedding so this was a good thing.

A piper played as we sat before an island in a small lake.  Beyond was a fairways so we watched a couple of men golf.  Then the groomsmen appeared and walked across a small bridge to the island's gazebo.  All of them wore kilts.  The bridesmaids came next, each wearing a lovely shawl to warm their bare shoulders and bearing bright orange bouquets.  The bride was beautiful in a stunning dress with a neatly pleated bodice and flowing skirt.  Her veil wafted gently in the wind. Vows were exchanged and then Bronwen read an excerpt from Dr. Seuss' Oh The Places You'll Go.  During the exchange of their wedding bands, Kevin looked down to admire his which caused us all to laugh.  It was a happy event.

After the photos were done, the bride and groom had their first dance then food, wine, speeches and a fantastic DJ rounded out the celebration.  The dancing began with fathers and daughters together, followed by mothers and sons.  It was a great idea.  Glen was happy to let Geoff drive us back to the hotel.  Beer and dark country roads do not mix.

The next day, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast in the hotel's dining room (Meg asked why all the hotels in Ontario had stewed pruneson their breakfast menus) then had second breakfast (and elevenses) at Norma (Glen's sister) and Randy's place.  Randy ran his standard gauge trains (some had belonged to Glen's father) along the tracks around his backyard while everyone socialized.  We left in the early afternoon to make it back to Toronto.  We stayed again at the Hilton and after drinks, had a quiet supper in their dining room.

We were up early the next day (Sunday) to say good-bye to Meg and Geoff as they caught their flights home.  Once they were on the shuttle bus, Glen and I went back to bed.  After a leisurely breakfast, we headed north on Highway 400 (not before getting lost in Mississauga) to spend Thanksgiving with Glen's cousin, Lynn, and Fred at their cottage on Little Joe River in Muskoka country.  Alan, Lynn's brother, was there along with his son, Scott, and his new bride, Katherine.  After a tour of the cottage and it environs, we all piled into the boat for a ride around the lakes.  Seeing the changing leaves from the water was a special treat.

What can I say about our Thanksgiving meal?  It was a blast.  Seventeen sat down at two tables sharing stories, food, and wine.  Laughs resonated through Lynn's kitchen as everyone pitched in to cook, serve, and eat.  We all had much to be thankful for.  Both Lynn and Fred were gracious hosts.

Monday morning saw Alan heading back to Vancouver (via Toronto) and Scott and Katherine heading home to Ottawa (via Algonquin Park).  Fred had some chores to do so Lynn took Glen and me on a tour of the nearby Muskoka resorts.  The first, Clevelands House (photo) is reminiscent of a different time when tourists came north for their holidays and stayed in a resort.  Glen called it a 'Dirty Dancing' resort.  Monday, it was quiet as only a few guests enjoyed their Thanksgiving weekend there.  I went crazy photographing their famous Muskoka chairs painted in bright primary colours.

Next, we drove to the modern Red Leaves Resort.  It was also quiet but offered wonderful views of the lake and the fall leaves.  The decor was what I think of as modern/cottage.  Brass lamps made to look like tree branches complete with acorns and birch-bark-like tables with granite tops.  Lynn gave us the story of the hotel and the controversy swirling around it.

Finally, we visited a local cell phone tower.  What made it unique was the top was disguised to look like a fir tree!  Think of a fake Christmas tree and you have the right idea.  Glen said someone should string lights around it at Christmas to give it a festive look.

Supper was a wonderful spread of leftovers and we treasured the time we spent chatting with Lynn and Fred.  We were sad to leave the peace and tranquility of the Muskokas the next day.  Glen said all the stress of the previous weeks had melted away.  He wished he could stay longer and forget all the worries of home and work.

Our return to Calgary was uneventful except we almost didn't get on our plane because it was overbooked.  However, Glen's Prestige status saved the day and we even got seats together.  Bonus with being the last on the plane, your luggage comes off first so we were driving home in record time.

Camping, Golfing & Letterboxing

We were enjoying dinner with Meg and Mike over the August long weekend when we all lamented the fact we hadn't gone camping this year.  Calendars were checked and plans were made to go.  Rarely are our camping decisions made so quickly.

Glen and I decide to add golf to the our weekend trip.  We usually camp in Johnston Canyon about a half hour west of Banff so we figured we'd do the Tunnel Mountain course of the Banff Springs Golf Club.  We'd played the course three years ago so it was time to tackle it again.

We arrived at the campground at checkout time and got a site with smoke still rising in the firepit.  Obviously, the last occupants had just left.  We set up the tent, had lunch then headed back to Banff.  We don't usually visit Banff in the peak summer season but we used the back roads so missed most of the traffic.  We weren't prepared for the line-up at the clubhouse.  By the time we finished paying our fees, we could tee off.  One funny thing was the guy assumed we'd want a power cart but we rented pull-carts instead.  Walking a nine hole course isn't strenuous exercise.

We had a great round as we learned to use our our new clubs (our 40th anniversary gift).  Glen fell in love with his A wedge and I was glad to again have a 5 iron in my bag.  We did the round in about an hour and 45 minutes so didn't let the grass ground under our feet.  We had to remember to stop and enjoy the mountains as we were so focussed on playing the game we forgot we did so in a spectacular locale.

It was my night to provide dinner as Meg and Mike didn't arrive until after six.  Meg had requested burgers so I got off easy but fried up some mushrooms to make it tasty (Meg added bacon).  I had also made a pound cake which is a traditional camping dessert for our family.  The one problem we encountered was the mosquitos.  I've never seen so many in the mountains and they were voracious.  We set up a mosquito coil then lathered on Deep Woods Off.  That and the smoky fire kept them at bay while we enjoyed our meal.

Saturday morning, we were up early to tackle two walks.  The first was around Lake Minnewanka (name means Water of the Spirits) in search of a letterbox planted there.  Meg and Mike also indulge in this hobby and it's a good excuse to see new places.  In the 35 years we've lived in Alberta, we've never gone around the lake to view Stewart Canyon created by the Cascade River.   It is a pleasant walk and the views were incredible (see photo).

Arriving early turned out to be fortuitous as Saturday was the first day of the Dragon boat Festival in Banff.  The parking lot was almost full as dragon boat paddlers mingled with the spectators.  It was fun to share some of the excitement and see a few races but we soon left the crowds behind.

The letterbox was beyond the bridge over Stewart Canyon, hidden in a mossy area covered in mushrooms.  I had to have photos of them all so did that while Meg and Mike stamped in.  We decided to walk further along the trail until we came to a sign saying to hike beyond this point one must be in a group of four and carry bear spray (we didn't).  So we took a few photos of the canyon and made our way back.  We reached our camp site in time for lunch.

After eating, we headed up Johnston Canyon.  I've written several times about this hike -- Mountain Adventure, Photo Shoot, A Weekend in the Mountains and thought I had said all there was to say.  Not so.  Saturday afternoon on a nice day in August, the place was crawling with hikers, walkers, wheelchairs, strollers, dogs (on and off leash), kids, parents, and grandparents.  There was so much traffic, that you had to wait to pass the slower walkers.  When we reached the Lower Falls, there was a line up to get into the cave!  Having seen it before, we continued on to the Upper Falls.  We never reached them because the letterbox we were hunting was just before the falls and ice cream beckoned us back to the trail head.

Usually the little ice cream shack is closed when we hike this trail but on a hot summer day, it was doing a brisk business.  We treated ourselves to a cone then walked back to the camp site.  There was talk of napping but hot tents are not conducive to sleeping.  We all guzzled water (except me who should have) as we'd forgotten to bring water bottles on the hike.

Meg created a feast of filet mignon steaks, curried potatoes, and braised leeks.  Glen had a few roasted marshmallows before we tumbled into bed.

It's always sad to say goodbye to a camp site but we were looking forward to lunch at the Grizzly Paw.  Glen ordered Rutting Elk Red beer while Meg, Mike, and I had the Grumpy Bear Wheat Ale.  Meg ordered a personal plate of nachos from which we all ate then Mike and Glen had burgers while Meg had a pulled pork sandwich and I had a grilled veggie panini with my favourite Granny Bee's Roughage salad.

After lunch we walked to Safeway so Meg could get some relief from the hundreds of mosquito bites on her feet and I could find a letterbox that she and Mike had already found.  We then parted company and headed home.  Unpacking is easier than packing as all the clothes go into the laundry basket.  We then spread our tent and sleeping bags around the deck and back lawn to allow them to dry (condensation has always been a problem with our tent).

It was a great camping weekend and for once, it did not rain!

Final week

The first ferry leaving Swatrz Bay on Thursday, July 19th was quiet as bleary-eyed passengers softly chatted to one another.  Children were subdued and some older adults dozed in the comfy seats.  We headed to the front deck to catch the ferry action as each vessel began its day until a biting wind drove us inside.

We hit Tsawwassen just as the Vancouver rush hour reached its peak.  Once we merged onto the highway heading east, traffic eased.  Unfortunately, we missed our turnoff.  As it turns out, the next exit was a road we recognized and knew it intersected highway 10 so we followed that.  We may even have gained a few minutes with our detour.  The drive to Revelstoke was pretty much without incident although a RV did stop in the middle of an avalanche tunnel. We easily avoided it but it rattled us.

We made excellent time and arrived in Revy at 4:00 pm.  East End Autobody was next door to Thrifty's car rental.  It was nice to see the clean Ion waiting for us.  It was even vacuumed and you could have eaten off the engine block.  Glen was very happy.  We returned our rental then walked back to the shop.

After checking in at the Best Western Plus, we headed to town for supper.  We'd been told the burgers at River City Pub were the best in the area.  We enjoyed a couple of pints of Mt. Begbie Brewing's Kolsch then gobbled down chopped beef (Alberta) burgers with mushrooms and cheese.  As we were leaving, the car rental owners spotted us as they entered the patio and waved.  We felt we must have boosted the economy of Revy and money in their pockets.

We rose early Friday to a nice hot breakfast (free) at the hotel and then were off, Glen watching the engine dials and monitoring the gas mileage like a hawk.  We bought sandwiches in Kamloops but it wasn't until Chilliwack we finally found a suitable lunch spot.  We were on track to catch the 3:00 ferry.  It was 80% full at the Tsawwassen exit but it was iffy when we saw the line-up.  Holding our breath, we inched forward then were waved on board.  The guy behind us was stopped  but in the end, he also boarded.  We were on the truck/bus deck so it was a hoof to get up the stairs to indulge in ferry ice cream.

As we sat eating it, a couple on a bus tour struck up a conversation.  She was a good 85 and travelling alone and he was middle aged.  When he left to take pictures, she told us how hard done by she was on this trip in that the tour guide did not look after her.  I swear she was suffering from dementia as she couldn't remember anything we told her and kept asking us who we were voting for in the next election.  She obviously had no idea how to get back to her bus so we figured we'd have to look after her but her companion returned and took her down.  Glen said he was very glad he wasn't the tour guide.

Saturday and Sunday we spent doing chores and Glen painted our kitchen.  The first coat didn't appeal to me but when the second coat went on, I was sold on the modern colour.  Because I'd have to work around a chaotic kitchen, we decided to go out for supper and invited our good neighbours, Cynthia and Ray to join us at Christie's.  We told them to include their daughter, Caroline (also our neighbour), in our invite.  She is a good tennis player and was involved in the 125th Vancouver Island Grass Court Championship so wasn't sure she could join us.  As we left the building, we met her dressed in her 'whites' and she agreed to meet us at the restaurant.  We had a wonderful evening enjoying some good laughs and great food.

Monday was our golfing adventure at Cedar Hill.  It began looking like it would rain but partway through the 18 holes, the sun burst forth.  We did have to deal with wind gusts and errant balls but the rules are rather lax there so you play it where it lies even if it's on the adjacent fairway.  We played with James and Michael who may have been a Big Brother pair, Michael being about 16.  It's the first time we walked 18 holes pulling our carts and by the end, we were hot, thirsty, and exhausted.  I had cooked supper beforehand so we could relax afterwards as it heated up.  Glen got the only par of the game but shot 109 so was thrilled to be so close to breaking 100.

Tuesday was another workday for Glen as he toiled on a letter of intent for a grant.  I carved a letterbox stamp of the Last Spike picture (very stylized) and created a box to plant when we pass Craigellachie on our way home.  I also carved a stamp of Marcus Reno to plant at Little Big Horn, Montana (see Day Two--Where the Deer and the Antelope Play) before we decided perhaps that was too much driving to do in one summer.

Wednesday morning, we were back golfing at Mt. Doug, this time by ourselves.  Glen played his best game ever, breaking 40 for the 9 hole course.  He had 4 pars!  I had two pars but when another golfer hit into us twice, I came unraveled.  After getting groceries, Glen returned to writing his letter, I had a nap.  I woke up feeling much better.

Thursday, our good friend, Tony, went into hospital for surgery and we agreed to take Diane to have some blood work done.  Afterwards we went to Adrienne's Tea Garden which is very close to the Ridge golf course.  We'd always wanted to see what it was like and it was lovely, although I believe Glen and I were the among the youngest enjoying breakfast/second breakfast/elevensies.  Glen ordered coffee and a cinnamon bun while Diane had a latté.  I had chai latté and a blackberry scone with devon cream.  I was very disappointed when the cream turned out to be cream cheese.  However, the scone was tasty and the atmosphere lovely.  Later in the afternoon we battled Victoria rush hour to drive Diane to the hospital so she could visit Tony as his operation was a success and he was feeling better.

Yesterday was our last day golfing at Mt. Doug until Christmas time (if they are open).  We were paired up with Kevin and Michael, both excellent golfers.  One thing you learn about playing golf is just as you think you have nailed a skill, you realize you haven't.  Glen couldn't hit a decent pitching wedge shot and my sand wedge shots were pathetic.  We had a good time though, each getting one par.  Afterwards we headed to Sidney to have lunch at The Rumrunner Pub, something we haven't done in two years.  The patio has a lovely view of the harbour and the Dead Frog Nut Brown Ale is excellent.  So was their Crab and Shrimp croissant and Ahi Tuna sandwich.

This morning I spent packing and Glen did some finishing touches to his letter of intent.  We are off to visit Tony this afternoon, picking up Diane on our way.  Then tomorrow we'll do a full clean of the condo and head to Salmon Arm where we'll spend the night.  Monday will find us back in Calgary.

Third Week

Sometimes, you forget what you did the previous week as life settles into a routine.  But ruts are not for vacations so we're leaping out of ours tomorrow as we return to Revelstoke to pick up our battered Ion.  It is now fixed so we'll rise early, catch the first ferry out of Swartz Bay and boogie across British Columbia.  We hope to arrive before the body shop closes at 5:00 pm but with highway construction, this may not be possible.  We'll return to Victoria on Friday to enjoy our final week of vacation.

Last Friday, we drove to Cedar Hill golf course to check it out.  We like looking down the first fairway of a course to see if it scares us or not.  It didn't so we're ready to tackle 18 holes there next week.  Then it was off letterboxing.  First stop was Mount Tolmie.  It was a showery day so we figured there would be fewer people but we weren't the only ones enjoying the misty view.  We heard fog horns and ship horns sounding across the strait which was beautifully eerie.

Glen has a knack for finding boxes and he found this one easily once he brushed away the spiderwebs and their resident predators.

We then headed to a park which we'd never seen before.  Playfair Park is definitely a place to be when the rhododendrons bloom.  There was one mistake in the clues but we'd expected that so found the box with relative ease until Glen discovered it was guarded by a giant spider.  This one he used a stick to pry out the box as he felt the resident arachnid could have done battle with a tarantula and won.

Happy in my ignorance, I was able to stamp in and then we headed to Penny Farthing for lunch.  The patio was set up for large groups so we ate inside (it was still drizzling so that suited me).  We both ordered Guinness and shared a bowl of Island mussels.  They were delicious.  Glen then had fish and chips while I ate a seafood club where the layers were not bread but shrimp and smoked ahi tuna.  My caesar salad was laced with garlic but I had no reaction to it so now believe my illness in SFO must have been bacterial/viral.

Saturday I had reserved for shopping.  Yes, me the great anti-shopper forced Glen who loves shopping but not for clothes, went to Sears.  They were selling off their summer stuff so we got great deals on shorts.  Glen needed pants, socks, etc so the final tally wasn't cheap but better than expected.  We bought a pork roast for dinner and headed home.  My backpack weighed in at 13 pounds of clothes but they were lighter than my usual 3 bricks.  Glen carried the one pound roast.

Sunday, after going to the driving range, we went on another letterboxing expedition but this one was not successful.  Both boxes had last been found 5 years ago and the rainforest around one had made the path impassable.  Glen tried clambering over some of the fallen trees near the Elk Lake box (see above photo--he is in it) then plowed through the thousands of spiderwebs but the way became more treacherous so he returned empty-handed.

The second box was on Bear Hill.  This hidden gem would have been a nice hike had we known where we were going both in distance and time.  Turns out it was a moderate climb and took 20 minutes.  The view was of the surrounding farmland and ranches.  This box must have been buried deep in leaf litter and with obscure directions, we could not find it.  We should have brought a shovel as well as a lunch as it would have been a great place for a picnic.  Instead, we abandoned our attempt.

Monday was a work day.  Well, Glen worked while I did a laundry and caught up paying bills etc.  I had sprained my thumb at the driving range (no, not by hitting a fantastic drive but by having my falling golf bag pull my thumb back on itself) and I think my body needed to work on repairing it as I had a nap after lunch.

It was a great morning for golf on Tuesday and half of Victoria was at Mt. Doug.  We had to wait an hour to tee off and were paired with a grandmother, Pat, and her grandson, Caleb.  She was very worried we'd not be patient with Caleb but he turned out to be a pretty good golfer so she really shouldn't have.  We had a great round but it was long--2 hours.  I didn't do my best but I blamed my thumb and empty stomach.  Glen had a wonderful round with all his drives sailing out beyond 200 yards.  He also had 2 pars, one being almost a birdie.

Week Two of Holiday

I can't believe another week has passed and so quickly.  We've been busy but some days go by and you wonder what you did.

I do know we bought paint last Friday because I have the Visa slip to prove it.  We had brought home several paint 'chips' to see what might work well in the kitchen, using one of the decorated tiles as a palette.  After some discussion, Glen decided a creamy brown would work best.  This from the man who thought you could get whiter than white.

Saturday we were up early to catch the 10am ferry to Salt Spring Island.  We were headed to the Ganges market.  We got parked in our usual place and went to our usual food stalls.  We got a chunk of Montana goat cheese and some feta from Salt Spring Island Cheese and Tomme d'Or from Moonstruck Cheese.  Then we bought a loaf of Country Style bread from 'The Bread Lady' and broad beans from a market gardener.

On the way back to the car, we stopped at The Fishery Seafoods where we bought a lovely salmon.  So, with supper organized and in our cooler, we returned to the Ganges wharf for lunch.  We ended up at our usual restaurant but weighed the menus of the others before we did so.  The service at any place on market day is slow so we sat back to enjoy the afternoon sitting on the patio of The Oystercatcher.  We drank a couple of pints of Granville Island English Bay Pale Ale and then we each ordered a lamb burger with a green salad (which was topped with shredded beets so hardly green).

We then headed to Garry Oaks Winery to buy our usual case of wine.  Normally, I would buy our favourites then leave but Fetish is no longer made so I knew I'd have to taste the other red they offered. The man serving us told us since we were buying a case, he'd do a complete tasting for us.  In the end, we bought 2 bottles of Blanc de Noir, 2 of Pinot Gris, 4 of Pinot Noir and 4 of Zeta.  We had the Blanc de Noir with our salmon and it looks like a rosé but is dry and refreshing.

We arrived at Fulford Harbour to await the 4:00 sailing only to see the ferry approaching.  Glen was determined to have a cup of coffee so headed to the Rock Salt Café.   Turns out the ferries were running late because this was the busiest market day of the year.  We boarded and after spending a few minutes on deck went back to the van to recline the seats for a nap.

Sunday morning, we decided to hit the Blenkinsop Driving Range.  I thought I might get more distance from my driver if I didn't choke up on the grip.  Glen wanted to work on the speed of his swing.  That evening we joined Tony and Diane at their favourite pub, Smuggler's Cove.  We drank a couple of pints of Phillips Slipstream Cream Ale then ordered their special of roast beef and yorkshire pudding.  Our server asked us how we wanted our beef cooked--well, medium, and rare were our answers (Diane had Lamb souvlaki).  When the server returned with our food, the beef on each dish was cooked exactly the same way.  She laughed and said the chef was cooking it that way for everyone.  Why ask us, then?  Funny thing, the veggies were almost raw.  However, the dish was all about the yorkshire pudding.  It was huge!  Had it been standing on the plate, it would have been as tall as Glen's hand.  And it was tasty!  Glen finished with a lava cake while Tony and I had coffee.

Monday, Glen decided to heap some TLC on the van.  I swear the lube guys smell money when they see Glen coming.  Suffice to say, the beast is happy and so is Glen.  After lunch, we walked to Willows Beach so I could plant my last dragon tattoo letterbox.  We ended up walking back and forth along the beach before finding the right spot.  We also saw Black Oystercatchers which was a first for us.

Tuesday we were back at Mt. Doug golfing, this time with Kathy and Brian.  They had been golfing the same number of years as us and obviously worked on their game.  We could have been the Bobbsey Twins for Glen and Brian often hit close to each other and Kathy and I did the same.  At one point, Glen and Brian's drives were 18 inches apart.  We had a good round with them.  That's the nice thing about golfing Mt Doug, everyone is there to enjoy themselves and no one takes themselves seriously.

Yesterday, Glen declared he had to work.  He'd been answering emails and taking conference calls over the past two weeks but he needed to do two reviews and that meant having the whole day dedicated to the task.  I thought I'd get some writing done but ended up doing my mid-month banking and creating a cipher for the Willows Beach letterbox.  I sent it to Melissa and her friend, Joann who is a cipher whiz, to try and decode.  Joann not only did so in record time but pointed out some of my typos.  Not good having a code with mistakes.

Today we got a call from the garage in Revelstoke.  They needed the keys to the Ion so they could test the new parts they'd installed.  We had to find the Purolator store then head off to Mt Doug to golf.  Most old folks get to Mt Doug before ten and we arrived at 10:30.  We played by ourselves for a couple of holes before two ancient ladies joined us.  Elsie and Marge were very sweet but they sure could kick butt on the golf course.  I had my best game ever and I owe it to them.  I didn't get any pars but once on the green I was two-putting instead of my usual three. Glen also did well with two pars.  In the end, we had the same score.

As I write this, Glen is back at work.  As he finished one of the reviews yesterday, two more came to him via email.  It's a good thing we have the printer now so he can then read/critique them easily.

Week One of Holidays

Last post I focussed on the car accident but we did do a fun thing in Revelstoke to make a 'silk purse out of a sow's ear' as the saying goes.  After Glen rose from his nap, we went letterboxing.  Yes, there were two to be found planted by a couple from Washington and titled, Gateway to the Rockies.  One was on the bridge over the Columbia River.  We have never walked over this bridge but Glen feels he is finally in BC when he crosses this river.  Due to rain and snow-melt, the river waters were high.  The second one was planted near a small park.

The first box was metal and had rusted shut but I managed to pry it open whereas the second one was covered with sow bugs (both were planted last year and I was the second person to find them).   The latter was just off a bicycle path and I was about to stamp in when a 'muggle' came over for a chat.  I quickly covered the box with Glen's jacket as the guy told us all about working for the railway and never seeing the river this high.  Little did he know we were doing a treasure hunt.

Thursday morning we had a leisurely breakfast at the Best Western.  Our complimentary breakfast included eggs, hash browns and sausages so we left with a full stomach.  We then headed west hoping to make it to the ferry at our usual time.  We stopped in Merritt for lunch and were at the ferry by 5:00.  Glen felt if he got onto the ferry, all his cares would evapourate and if they had 'ferry ice cream' (soft), he could declare life as being good.  I even indulged in ice cream knowing we'd have a late supper at Christie's Pub.

The journey across the straits was rough and rainy so we sat inside and people-watched.  We arrived at the condo to find gifts left behind by our friends, Tim and Ed.  It was overwhelming considering they had given us gifts when we met up in San Francisco.  Ed had discovered our lego stash and created a castle and space scene to which he added a Harry Potter scene and a dragon.

We had a lovely meal at Christie's, starting with Thai chicken wings.  They had changed their menu so Glen indulged in Mac & Cheese while I had a Halibut burger.  We washed it down with Race Rocks amber beer.  Unfortunately, we were both rather tired and as we came to the condo, I twisted my ankle and fell.  All I could think of was my sister's accident last year when she destroyed her shoulder.  I was lucky.  I came away with a skinned elbow and dark bruises.

Friday, we did grocery shopping then relaxed all afternoon.  Saturday we bought some barbecue parts to refurbish our barbecue then on Sunday went to The Ridge to play their 18 hole putting green.  Afterwards we were to stop at our friends, Diane and Tony for coffee but Diane must have decided we'd stay for lunch as she served up a delicious meal.  It was then off to Oak Bay for me to get my solar gel nails trimmed and filled at Oasis Nail Salon.

Monday, we planted our own letterbox.  I had carved a series of dragon tattoo stamps and had planted three in Calgary but wanted to leave some in Victoria, too.  We walked down to our favourite graveyard, Ross Bay Cemetery, and Glen found the perfect hiding place.  We also discovered the grave of the famous Canadian artist, Emily Carr, then checked out the beach before having coffee at a tiny Starbucks in the Fairfield strip mall.

Tuesday, despite the soggy weather, we went golfing at The Ridge.  A few hardy souls also played the course but no one lingered so we were done in an hour.  I was thrilled getting a birdie and two pars.  It was my first birdie ever!!  After a coffee in their clubhouse, we did another round on the putting course.  Hole #14 is a killer--a perfect dome with steep sides.

Yesterday, Glen spent most of the day working.  He had a letter of intent to submit and a conference call to take.  We did manage to get to the hardware store to get some paint chips.  We had thought to paint the kitchen yellow but were waffling so I chose some new colour samples.  The walls may soon be chocolate, folks, but I'll keep you posted.

Today, we heard the best news.  Our car is repairable!!  This was a big weight off our minds.  We then headed out to Mt. Douglas to golf.  A couple we golfed with last year were teeing off so it was nice touching base with them.  We golfed with Dave and Brian--very good golfers and fun to play with.  I got par on the very last hole so I was happy.  The weather was finally warm and sunny.

After having coffee with Janny and Robbert, we headed to Chinatown for dim sum at Don Mee's.  We had to do some banking and when we stepped outside, someone called Glen's name.  I thought nothing of it until the man called my name.  I turned around and there was Shawn who works in Glen's department at the University of Calgary.  We didn't know he had planned a holiday in Victoria but I guess if you are downtown, you will see tourists.

Beginning our Summer Holidays

Every summer we spend about a month living in our condo in Victoria.  Glen can relax and deal with work issues from afar.  He often writes grants or papers and takes conference calls so it's not entirely a holiday but it's definitely a change of pace.

This year we began our journey mid-week to avoid the traffic around the July 1st holiday weekend (Canada Day).  As usual, we rose early and were on the road by 6 am.  What was unusual was that Glen was still suffering from a gastrointestinal illness.  He'd dragged himself into work the previous two days but by Wednesday, he felt better.

We were a little concerned about the highway near Revelstoke as a mudslide had closed it for two days.  A detour would mean staying in a hotel partway there.  Normally I don't bring toiletries as we drive directly to the condo but this time, I tucked in some travel-size deodorant, just in case. Turns out this was a good idea.

The weather along the highway was drizzly but the traffic was sparse so we made good time until we reached the avalanche sheds on the approach to Rogers Pass.  The first two are old and dimly lit.  Even though the day was dull, there is a brief moment in time when you cannot see.  As we entered the second shed, a chunk of wood (12"x12"x10") appeared in the middle of the highway.  There are no shoulders in these old tunnels.  Glen could either ply the brakes or hit the block at full speed (70 kmph at that point).  He chose the latter.

Smoke began billowing around us as the engine warning lights flashed and beeped.  Fortunately,  the Ion could still move and we limped from the tunnel to a pull-off between the tunnels.  Not a moment too soon as a large pick-up truck came barreling through the tunnel after us.  Had we stopped, it would have slammed into our car and people would have been hurt or killed.

Our first thought was to call CAA to have the car towed but our cell phones didn't work.  Just as we pondered our next move, a guy in a van pulled up and offered to drive us to Rogers Pass.  There is a museum and lodge at the top where we could call for help.  The man had seen the wood we hit and said our car had cut it in half and tossed it aside so it was no longer a hazard.

He dropped us off at Glacier Park Lodge, a rustic inn we had passed many times but had never entered.  It is used as a rest stop for bus tours so had modern washrooms, a large restaurant and café.  Their pay phones didn't work but there was a strong cell signal.  BCAA told us a tow truck would be there in an hour and a half.  I was hungry but Glen felt sick both literally and figuratively.  We got him some ginger ale and me a packaged, ham and cheese sandwich since the café was still serving breakfast.  It's amazing how good food tastes when you've had a brush with death.

At this point, we realized we should probably call our insurance company, TD Meloche Monnex.  They were very helpful and soon we had all the information recorded and the authority to rent a car once we reached Revelstoke.  At this time, the tow truck arrived but he wanted us to stay at the lodge as it was safer than us standing on the highway.  Made infinite sense.

When he came back with our car,  the news was not good.  There was a hole in the engine so he felt there was no point in towing it to a garage as they wouldn't have the parts to fix it.  He took it to the Columbia Towing Company yard.  Thrifty's car rental was around the corner.  We organized renting a Toyota Yaris while Columbia off-loaded our car.  We then stripped everything from the car that was ours and abandoned it.

By this time, Glen was very ill and needed to be in bed.  We booked a room at the newly refurbished Best Western Plus, using our CAA card to get a discount on an upgraded room.  This proved to be a bed/sitting room so Glen could nap while I read on the couch.  An hour or so later, he felt well enough to drive into town in search of tooth brushes.  That's when he saw a cop and remembered we had to file an accident report with the RCMP (he had failed to tell me this).  I had grabbed a town map when we left the hotel so used that to find the police station.

It is quite the process filing a report but we made it through with the help of a very nice officer.  At one point there was a question of whether or not the tunnel was in the Golden jurisdiction but that was resolved so we didn't have to drive back to that town to file our report.

Best Western gave us a 10% discount on entrées at The Regent Hotel's One Twelve Steakhouse restaurant so we had a lovely meal.  We began with a toast to life, drinking Mt. Begbie Brewing Company's High Country Kolsch.  Glen wasn't hungry so he had one of my crab stuffed mushroom caps then a beef brochette while I had a seafood one (shrimp, scallops, and salmon.  All dishes were excellent.

We fell into bed with no plans to wake early believing that all decisions would be made after our complimentary breakfast.

"A Rare and Blistering Sun...

...shines down on grace cathedral park".  Okay, I had to search for this one.  It's sung by the Red House Painters, an alternative rock group formed in 1989 in San Francisco.  I haven't heard the music for Grace Cathedral Park but I like some of their other songs.

Tuesday morning we had breakfast together in the hotel as Glen decided to forego the morning sessions (there's a theme here).  We then headed out to find another letterbox.  This one hidden at Grace Cathedral which was a couple of blocks away.  I opted for what I hoped was a gentle slope as the cathedral is perched high above the Hilton on Nob Hill.

It was cool as we began our walk but we soon shed our jackets when we reached the cathedral.  The sky was very blue and the sun blistering, just as the song suggests.  We had been to the cathedral before when Meg's singing teacher recommended we walk its labyrinth so many sites were familiar.

The cathedral seems to draw people to it so, even though it was mid-morning, there were people doing tai chi, stretches, and one woman practiced a fan dance.  I walked part of the labyrinth (here are some pics on Pinterest) and felt a sense of calm wash over me.  However, I stopped when I had the opportunity to find the letterbox.  In the end, Glen found it (I don't seem to have much luck actually finding these things) while I took photos of the cathedral's gardens.

After stamping, we entered the church which was founded in 1849 during the gold rush.  It was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake whereupon, the Crocker family donated the land on Nob Hill for the cathedral.  We gave a donation (they suggest $10) and proceeded to explore this episcopalian cathedral.  The walls are decorated with modern murals (one depicting the earthquake and subsequent fires) and sculptures.  The stain glass windows were inspiring.   As we exited, I had to admire the brass replica of Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise.  I'd seen the original years ago in Florence, Italy.

Across the street is the park mentioned in the song.  It had a fountain in its centre which attracted people and dogs.  To one side was a kid's park which was a very busy place.  The sun was blistering so we enjoyed the shade for a few minutes then it was off to find lunch.  We'd already checked out of the Hilton so didn't need to worry about going back there.  I wanted to take some cable car photos so we wandered down to Powell St., passing the famous Fairmont hotel.  We then headed to the Moscone Conference Center stopping at Lori's Diner for lunch.  Glen had a hot dog while I had a veggie chop open-faced sandwich.

Glen's former grad student was to stand by their poster answering questions from 1-3:00 pm so we arrived in time to support her.  Glen then did some more networking before we left to catch the Super Shuttle to the airport.  Actually, networking is the main reason Glen goes to this meeting as he can touch base with people all over North America.  Next year it's in Denver so I guess it's a given we'll be going to that one.  

Our shuttle bus driver was very Russian and it turns out he drove a tank in Afghanistan during their war.  He said he still prefers driving a tank.  What a character he was!  It would have been neat to sit down and listen to his stories.

He let us off at the International terminal but we soon found out this was the wrong place to be.  Calgary is considered a domestic city in San Francisco.  The United Airlines desk clerk checked in our bag then directed us to the correct terminal.  We went through a very short security line then headed to Gordon Biersch for supper.  We each had their Czech Pilsner and Swiss mushroom burger.

After stopping at the Ghirardelli store to buy chocolate, we arrived at our gate.  Tanis soon joined us.  The plane arrived late so we didn't tumble into our own bed until 2:00 am Calgary time.

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Tony Bennett first sang this song in the premiere San Francisco hotel, The Fairmont ($350/night), in 1961 and recorded it a year later.  It became his signature piece and perhaps the most famous song about San Francisco.

But I wasn't feeling like singing when I woke up Monday morning.  Not sure what I ate to make me so bilious but I couldn't get out of bed.  Glen had a breakfast meeting so he left me to sleep until 10:00 am.  After a shower, I felt well enough to touch base with Jennifer.  We'd made plans to go to Sausalito which I had cancelled earlier.  Neither of us was up for a ferry ride so we decided to do a 'walk about'.  She wanted to show me the theatre district where she used to come into town as a teen to see plays and musicals.  We then did a quick tour of Chinatown before heading through Union Square.

That's where I saw the heart (see photo).  I'd seen a few around town but thought they were much like the cows in Edmonton or orcas in Victoria where local artists decorated statuary to raise money for charity.  Not so the hearts of San Francisco.

A talented artist, Tony Bennett donated these and each bears one of his paintings of San Francisco.  Under the name, Tony Benedetto, he has exhibited his works in many galleries around the world.  He was the official artist of the 2001 Kentucky Derby and the United Nations also commissioned him to do a painting for their 50th anniversary.

Beyond Union Square, we found ourselves in the financial district where we discovered a quaint sandwich/coffee shop called Bread & Cocoa.  My stomach was still rocky but needed food so I ordered a roasted vegetable sandwich and a ginger ale.  Jennifer went with chicken on a bun and Coke.  Half a sandwich was an option offered which I took and am glad I did as the sandwich was substantial.  The place was small so we were lucky to grab a table for two but most customers worked in the office buildings and took their lunches to go.  The soups looked delicious but I wasn't sure my stomach could handle them.

Jennifer and I returned to our hotels so I could go back to bed but sleep eluded me.  I guess I'd recovered.

That evening Glen was happy to dine with just me and we decided to eat near the hotel.  After perusing his Open Table app, we concluded a Southern restaurant was for us.  A five minute walk got us to Biscuits and Blues.  The place was empty except for another couple but we were ready for a quiet evening so it was perfect.  The minute I opened the menu, I knew I wanted fried green tomatoes.  Then I saw the deep fried pickles and I knew I'd found my restaurant.  Glen and I shared these appetizers then I had southern fried chicken and he had crab cakes.  We also shared an incredible bread pudding for dessert.

As we ate, the place began filling up until there were no empty seats.  The band set up and began to play.  We enjoyed our dessert listening to Pro Jazz Jam with Mike Olmos.  It seemed a fitting end to the day.

"I'm Sitting on the Dock of the Bay...

I guess the theme of this trip can be defined by songs about San Francisco.  I can certainly see how the city can inspire.

Being a peninsula, SFO is surrounding by the sea and so one is never far from the 'dock of the bay' but I must admit, I didn't do too much sitting this day.

We slept in on Sunday morning as Glen figured he could miss the first sessions of his conference.  We had a leisurely breakfast at Lori's Diner.  This is a 50s style eatery with fantastic food and great music.  Ed told us how his grandmother loved corned beef hash for breakfast and since it was on the menu, I decided to try it out.  I didn't realize it came with two eggs as well.  However, it seemed to slip down and was tasty.  Glen had sourdough french toast with strawberries and declared it very good.  Ed enjoyed a spinach omelet and Tim, a taco one so despite all the food at dinner the previous night, we all had appetites.

We dropped Glen off at the convention centre for his lunch meeting (not sure how he ate it but he said the salmon was good), then Tim, Ed, and I headed for AT&T ballpark, home of the San Francisco Giants.  It was built in 2000 to replace Candlestick Park in an area that once housed old, abandoned warehouses.  Ed, who had lived many years in SFO, had never seen the park except on TV so both were happy to take me there to find two letterboxes.

The first thing I noticed, though, was not the ballpark but the bridge.  It was the same one used in the James Bond movie, A View to A Kill.  Called Lefty O'Doul's Drawbridge, its counterweights crush a few SFO police cars in the movie's chase scene.

AT&T ballpark hugs China Basin, also called McCovey Cove (named for Willie McCovey and not really a cove).  To reach the letterboxes, we walked along the basin's 'dock of the bay'.  Embedded in the sidewalk were brass plaques to some of the great Giants' players.  Some I even recognized like Willie Mays and Barry Bonds.  During the Giants' games, boats choke the cove as many home run balls exit the park to land in the waterway.

Our first letterbox was at the Willie Mays gate and Ed easily found it.  He'd read about letterboxing when I told him of my hobby but didn't understand how thrilling finding one was.  The second box was dedicated to Brian Wilson who grew a beard (which he dyed black) during the 2010 World Series and opponents were told to "Fear the Beard".  After much searching, we had to admit defeat as we could not find the box.  Disappointed, we headed back to Union Square for lunch at the top of the Macy*s store.

The Cheesecake Factory restaurant there offers great views of Union Square.  The temperatures were pleasant in the shade so we opted to sit outside.  We had a 20 minute wait but after our large breakfast, this was not a problem.  Tim ordered the avocado eggrolls to start and they were delicious.  I then enjoyed my first Anchor Steam beer and had shrimp summer rolls for my main.  I ordered off their Skinnylicious menu which offers lighter fare.  Apparently in California, every restaurant must provide patrons with the calorie count of each dish as well as its nutritional details.  Tim had a Santa Fe salad while Ed enjoyed a Greek Farro Salad.  He wanted to know what farro was and since I had seen it mentioned in the Food & Wine magazine, I was also curious.  He declared it much like quinoa even though the former is a grain and the latter a seed.

After lunch, we returned to the hotel.  Tim and Ed had to head out to the airport.  Tim was off to Guatemala City while Ed was going home to Newport Beach.  It was hard to say good-bye but we're hoping to connect again in Florida next January.

Glen arrived back at the room not long after and we got ready for dinner.  He had made reservations (gotta love the Open Table app) at a restaurant at Fisherman's Wharf.  We met up with Neil and Jennifer then walked down to the cable car which would take us there.  Union Square is a terminus for the tram and it had a long line of people waiting to board.  After doing the math, we figured we'd miss our reservation time if we waited for a cable car so hailed a cab.  Having ridden in a SFO cab before I wasn't surprised at the speed hills were ascended and descended but Jennifer was not happy.  Both she and Neil had lived part of their lives in the city but I guess never had gone anywhere by cab.

We arrived early at Alioto's Italian Seafood restaurant perched on the 'dock of the bay' but they sat us anyway.  We then enjoyed a decadent meal of clams/mussels (me), crab cake (Glen) and garlic barramudi (both).  I've never had barramundi (often called Asian sea bass) but it is a delicate white fish.  Unfortunately, it was slightly overcooked so not as tasty as it might have been.  Dessert was chocolate fudge cake (Glen), strawberries (me).  Jennifer indulged her love of scallops while Neil had salmon.  They shared a cannoli for dessert.

Since both gentlemen had to rise early the next day, we headed back to our hotels then had a night cap before turning in.

"If You're Going to San Francisco...

...be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.  If you're going to San Francisco, you're gonna meet some gentle people there."  So go the words of an old 60s tune and so went we.

Glen had an ASM conference in SFO from June 16th to 19th and I wasn't sure I'd attend until I learned many of my friends would be there.  Three of them having roots in the city.  So we rose early Saturday morning and had an uneventful flight south.  As we approached the city, the plane headed out over the ocean so we had a perfect view of the Golden Gate bridge.

San Francisco was founded in 1776 by the Spanish who established a mission to St. Francis Assisi (hence the city's name) there but it was the gold rush of 1849 that really put it on the map.  Now, many visit to see its incredible architecture, cable cars and Chinatown which is the oldest such area in North America (Victoria has the second oldest Chinatown).

Our plane landed early so after getting our bag, we waited for our friends, Tim and Ed.  They took the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to meet us and it was great seeing them again.  Although we had enjoyed Tim's company in Maui, we hadn't seen Ed in two years.  They led us through the maze that was the airport to the BART station.  This is a cheap and convenient way to travel to and from the city but it often breaks down so factor that into your travel plans if you wish to use it.

The stop at Union Square was not far from the Hilton where we'd booked a room.  Ours wasn't ready so we stashed our bags in Tim and Ed's room then headed out.  First stop was lunch.  They had not had breakfast and ours had been at 3:30 am so we were all hungry.  Ed, who spent many years living in SFO, suggested we go to a sandwich shop near the convention centre.  This would allow Glen to get his name badge etc, after we'd eaten.

The Grove Cafe Yerba Buena was a busy place so while Ed staked out a table, we ordered lunch.  I had pastrami and Glen opted for a 3 cheese, grilled cheese sandwich.  Both were excellent and we washed them down with Fat Tire (Colorado) beer.

Afterwards, Glen headed to the convention centre and we toured the Museum of Modern Art gift shop.  Tim wanted me to see the photos of Diane Arbus which were supposed to be on exhibit but we'd missed the show so checked out one of her books instead.

Glen met us in a park a few minutes later since there were no lines to get his information.  We then headed to the Saturday market at the ferry terminal.  We, with Meg and Geoff, had taken the Sausalito ferry from here when Geoff was still at UC Irvine.  The stalls of food were a feast for the eyes but the prices were not cheap.  Artichokes being much the same price as what we pay in Calgary despite being grown locally.

We then wound our way through Chinatown which was also alive with shoppers hunting for a bargain.  By this time, we were hot and sweaty.  San Francisco was having a heat wave and everyone was suffering.  Tim spotted an Elephant and Castle pub where we had a couple of beers.

While we cooled down, Ed tried to get us reservations for dinner with his friends and several choices were vetoed because they were booked up.  The PGA's US Open was being played in San Francisco so there were more tourists in town than there'd normally be.  He finally got us at a table at the Beretta, deep in the Mission District.

On our way back to the hotel, we bumped into Neil.  He and Jennifer are dear friends and so we wanted to coordinate an evening out with them.  That done, we headed back to the hotel and I had a micro-nap (15 minutes) before getting ready for dinner.

We took the BART to "Mission".  As the name suggests, it's where the Spanish mission still stands.  At this time, the area is undergoing a renaissance.  There are many fine dining restaurants but the surrounding neighbourhoods are poor.  Ed said it's an area where you walk in a group or not at all.

Just as we entered the restaurant, May, Steve and their son, Nate arrived.  We were lead downstairs to a small, quiet dining area.  This disappointed Tim who wanted to be where the action was but it was more conducive to talking.  The restaurant serves a traditional Italian dinner with multiple courses but the food is very Californian.  Ed suggested we each order an antipasto and share as we'd do if eating Chinese.  This turned out to be an excellent way to sample the menu.  Everyone's favourite was fava (broad) bean bruschetta although an eggplant dish I ordered was delicious.  Glen wanted chicken liver bruschetta which was also tasty.  We followed these with two types of vegetarian pizza, two wild mushroom risottos and a saffron rissotto.  By this time we were full but the sweet tooths (or is it teeth?) decided gelato would serve as dessert.  I don't usually indulge but vanilla gelato drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt sounded intriguing.  It was a taste sensation!

We then wandered through Mission looking for an alleyway with murals done by local artists.  Everyone was 'out and about' enjoying the warm evening.  It reminded us of summer in NDG, Montreal where my aunt used to live.  After viewing the murals, we said good-bye to Steve, May, and Nate then headed back to the hotel.

Going Home

Nothing exciting happened on the way home.  We did take the train (photo is of the RAI station) back to the airport and discovered the ticket machines 'speak' English but they don't speak credit card or cash.  So, for the first time since I've had a bank card, I actually used it to pay for something.

We stopped in the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol duty free shop after taking about 30 minutes to get our boarding passes and pass through security.  The guards didn't like all the electronic gear in my bag so they searched that and I had to remove both my camera and my zoom lens from my camera bag.  But, we'd left plenty of time so weren't upset about these delays.

Glen is drawn to every duty free shop in search of cheap Cohiba (Cuban) cigars.  They run about $35 each in Canada so when he spots them for about under $20, he buys them.  He knew they were $17 in Frankfurt but bought them in Amsterdam when he discovered they were the same price.  I bought some tee shirts to give as Christmas presents and both of us were given the chance to pay in Canadian dollars.  Do this if you have the choice as it cuts out the service fee most credit cards charge to do the exchange.

Our connection in Frankfurt was just over an hour which seems like enough time but when we disembarked from Lufthansa, we had to take a bus to terminal then go through passport control.  We lucked out as the lines were short and we circumvented security.  We still had a long walk to our gate and by this time, my legs had started to swell.  I had a rather uncomfortable flight home but managed to get a couple of hours of sleep between sore legs and a baby crying.

It was 4:00 am Amsterdam time when we fell into bed.  When I awoke my rash had faded and the swelling in my legs had gone.

Beer and Boats

I awoke on Wednesday with a rash from my head to my toes.  I think it was a reaction to the amoxicillin I took for my sore throat.  I have a sensitivity to penicillin so this might be how it manifested itself.  Fortunately, there were no visible spots on my face but I spent the morning in the hotel room packing and taking it easy.

Glen joined me for lunch after his conference ended then we grabbed a tram to do the Heineken Experience.  On board, we met another conferee.  He'd sat near us on the canal ride the previous night.  We discussed our plans and he was off to do a canal tour.  All conferees were given free vouchers for a tour.  Glen had never picked his up so Alan gave us the two extra ones he had.

The tram announces the stop for the Heineken Experience so you can't miss it.  We weren't great Heineken beer drinkers but it is part of the Dutch culture so we wanted to see what it was all about.  Unlike the Guinness Storehouse (see In Dublin's fair city), we were among the oldest tourists doing the Experience.  Most were in their twenties and obviously came for the 'free' beer (admission was 17 euros or $22).  

The brewery was constructed in 1867 and served as the main Heineken brewery until 1988.  In 1991, it opened as a visitor centre and was completely renovated in 2008.  You begin the tour learning about the history of the brewery.  The company was founded in 1864 by Gerard Adriaan Heineken when he bought an existing brewery.  Now, it is the third largest brewer in the world.

In 1886, Dr. H. Elion, a student of Louis Pasteur developed a bottom-fermenting yeast (which produces a lager beer) called Heineken A-yeast and this yeast is still used today to make Heineken beer.  Henry Pierre Heineken who ran the company from 1917 to 1940, developed techniques that would allow large scale production and the company expanded its operations across the globe.  His son, Alfred (Freddy) Henry Heineken, had a flare for marketing and was responsible for brand logo.  The 'smiling e' in the Heineken name was a surprise to us.  Check it out sometime.

The tour then took us past the copper brewing kettles and we got to sample the wort (beer before the yeast is added) and were instructed on how beer was made.  I smelled something earthy which we discovered was the stables.  The Heineken Shire draught horses still pull beer wagons throughout the city.  I noticed that the horses had English names which was probably to honour their British heritage.

We climbed many stairs while experiencing the brewery and at the top of the next flight was the 'Brew U' experience.  This 'ride' took us through the brewing process then we emerged to sample the beer.  Next, you may create your own personalized bottle before being bombarded in a media room by the latest Heineken commercials.  We finally reached the 'World Bar' where we turned in our tokens to have a very cold, big glass of beer (you could also have two small glasses).  We also had a token for a free gift but you must ride the brewery's canal boat to reach the store so we decided to forego this.

As we left the brewery, we met Alan again.  He had had a wonderful cruise then decided the brewery tour might be fun.  We said our good-byes, then hopped the tram to begin our cruise at the Spui station while Alan did the Heineken Experience.

Rederij P. Kooij canal tours begin at the Rokin jetty beneath a statue of Queen Wilhelmina (ruled the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948).  Piet Kooij began the company in 1922 when he bought a run-down boat.  He had a knack for repairs and usually sold what he fixed up but this boat came with a launch license so he began ferrying tourist along the canals.  During the war, the Germans confiscated his boats but Canadian soldiers helped get them back from Germany.

Tours (fare is 9 euros or $12) are an hour long and the boats leave every 30 minutes (each boat is named for a member of the royal family).  At six o'clock sharp, we left the jetty then passed the Hotel de L'Euorpe a very posh, old-style hotel which I've since learned displays the private art collection of Freddy Heineken.  The boat then turned onto the Gentlemen's (Herengracht) Canal.  This canal is one of three that circle the old city (we actually crossed it while walking to Anne Frank's house) so you see many historic buildings of varying architectural styles. 

We passed under many bridges until finally coming into Amsterdam harbour.  Large ocean liners can no longer birth here so we only saw river barges plying its waters.  The port was first used in the 13th century and became the main port of the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century.  This company was given a 20 year monopoly on trade with Asia and is considered the first multinational corporation in the world (also the first to issue stock).

We returned to the Rokin jetty via the famous Red Light District (Rossebuurt) but only saw empty stools in the windows as it was late afternoon.  This district began in the 13th century when sailors came ashore hungry for female company.  As the years went by, the district changed with society's views on prostitution.  In the middle ages, prostitutes had a strict dress code and could not be married (and married men could not visit them, either).  When Napoleon ruled Holland, prostitutes were required to have health checks twice a week.  If you do tour the district at night, remember it is illegal to photograph the girls.

Our canal tour ended at seven and we decided to return to our hotel for supper since it would be a quick trip back to the room after a leisurely meal.  And no, we didn't drink Heineken with it.