Vancouver visit: October 2009

It was really a very nice trip this time around. The weather was great and we were able to get out and about often. It was good to see the mountains instead of just imagining they were there in the rain.

The scenery is always nice to view - no matter where you go there are hills to go up and down.

When I mentioned shopping for tires in the U.S. I meant winter tires. Snow removal in Vancouver does not exist too much. So now one of their cars - the Subaru - is all set for winter driving.

We took a visit to where Red Serge is now living. It is a new barn with one long row of stalls and an indoor arena. The weather in Vancouver is a lot milder than Ottawa so the sides of the arena are open. Also there are no fixed doors to each boarder’s stall. The horses can go in and out as they please. Then they have to get dressed in various blankets when it gets colder and wet.

We went to Fort Langley which had been a Hudson’s Bay trading post. The day we picked for this expedition was the local cranberry festival and the town was packed with people and cars. That was a challenge for the driver.

We went to the local Surrey Museum in a very nice new building. Kathi and I must be getting older. We saw some items that looked quite familiar - a school desk and a small record player.

On the Monday after recovering from the previous day’s Thanksgiving meal we took a trip on the Skytrain and the new Canada Line which has been built for the Olympics. It was quite a long trip there and back. We ended up at an Asian mall and went and did some shopping in the local dollar store.

*****

I really enjoyed my trip West this year - the company and the fine food my sister provides. It was good to be there again.

I do not plan to visit during the Olympics - I think the city will be quite busy with people etc. I will watch anything that I want to on my new television.