Who, being loved, is poor? -Oscar Wilde, writer (16 Oct 1854-1900)
Just out with my sister
Marg taking dog for a walk and realised you are leaving today on your
trip to Inja! Have a great time and remember no bike riding! Thanks for
all the great pics. Keep in touch Derek
Hi Derek! Glad you enjoyed snaps. Hello to Marg. Thanks for the good wishes for our next adventure! Mme Coriandre, still waking up, sends along
her best wishes to you and Gayle, and Spudnik, of course! Take care of each other. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hello Upper Kits! We are off as soon as we finish packing! and load the car! Mme Coriandre, still waking up, sends along
her best wishes to you both but wishes to know Calamity's suite number! Nice try! Take care of each other until we arrive and then Lady Mary will tell you what to do to make yourselves happy! Fondestos and Cheers, Il Conduttore!
Left the Burns Street Base Camp by 11:00 pm. Not as early as I would have hoped but not as late as Mme Coriandre was a'feared. Had packed car and loaded Trek on rack, as we were both attempting to leave house was in reasonable shape for Louisa and Enrique, with a number of notes left to help explain various things from plant watering to possible handyman tasks we wanted, if possible, undertaken. Decided upon Hope Princeton as I really enjoy this route. Stopped in Keremeos to take a number of snaps of one of the roadside fruit/vegetable stands as the pumpkins, squash and other exotic gourds were displayed in glorious, glorious profusion.
Had been a number of late nights and early mornings so once we reached Manning Park I asked Lady Mary to take over driving responsibilities and I put the passenger seat back and slept, blissfully, until we reached Chilliwack. Was happy to let her continue with rest of the drive as I really do not enjoy the stretch from Abbotsford into Vancovuer. I was happy to listen to the radio and watch the countryside as we chatted about the coming week, or so, ahead, before we fly to Chennai.
Traffic wasn't overly heavy as we crossed over Port Mann and we pulled up to Bayswater B&B at close to 3:30 pm. Elaine and Ted were actually in Kamloops, (They didn't arrive until about 10:00 pm that night.), so we let ourselves into the house and took our possessions into the downstairs bedroom where we were to stay for the weekend.
Once everything had been muled inside, Cora lee took off to Kidsbooks to buy a present for Riley, the Keatings one week old grandson, first child of Laura and James. While she was out I unpacked some of my clothes and then showered and changed to be ready for dinner. We'd been invited to dine with Calamity and Whirlygig, at her place on Balsam and 3rd, at 6:30 pm. Cora Lee was back about 5:30 pm and after she powdered her nose we set off to walk to their place. Gorgeous evening and we enjoyed the crunch of the leaves underfoot, on the sidewalk, and indeed the residential streets, drinking in the lovely homes we passed. Again, the beautiful architecture, handsome landscaping and magnificent trees are some of the things we miss since leaving this part of the city.
Rang the door buzzer right on time and we were soon In Calamity's wonderful third floor, corner apartment. I told her I would have to change her name from Calamity Jane to Me Tarzan, You Jane, the expanse of picture windows gives one the very real impression of living in a tree house, the branches and leaves a thick curtain enveloping the space outside the windows but still allowing light to flood the interior. Magical and stunningly so. We spent a fabulous time over scrumptious Mexican appetizers, salsas and guacamole and other hot dips, catching up on everyone's lives since we'd last seen then back in May! Dinner was fresh oysters followed by steamed mussels, sopped up with baguette, (as well as a gluten-free loaf for Cora Lee!), followed by a phenomenal mixed green salad. I was too, too full, after the seafood feast for dessert, an extremely tasty apple-crumble, with ice-cream, but did manage a small taste before we headed out!
Both our generous guests tend to be early to bed people so after they could no longer restrain their yawns we got the message and after a few snorts of Laphroaig Triple Wood, (Calamity actually dozed off while we three knocked back a few drams!), we embraced, took a few snapolas, thanked our most hospitable hosts, embraced one last time, bade one another good night and headed down the hill for Bayswater. Unfortunately, Whirlygig knew he was going to be too, too busy, running errands, on the morrow, to be able to join me on a ride so was disappointed, of course, but understood he simply had to take advantage of being in city to collect a whole array of materials for his on-going house extension/renovation. Still, a wonderful, wonderful time together so absolutely delighted to have been able to manage this evening with them.
No lights on when we reached home so we crept in the ground floor door so as not to wake our exhausted friends. (We learned, next day, that they had spent hours and hours and hours cleaning the condo they had rented out. Drive back to Vancouver, late at night, was even more tiring, for Ted, given what he had been through.) Had been a long day for us as well so after I brushed and flossed I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Hello Me Tarzan, You Jane and Whirlygig! Just a quick note to thank you both for the simply delightful,
fun-filled evening! Wonderful setting, simply wonderful food, (Mexican
appetizers and seafood feast extraordinaire), shared with such truly
wonderful, wonderful friends, (I am paid $20 every time
I use "wonderful", by blog advertisers!), we miss dearly!
Only
criticism I had was that the porch cleaner was a tad anaemic. However,
this didn't stop Mme Coriandre from lurching most of the way home!
Fortunately, for her, I knew the lyrics to Bill Withers'
Lean on Me, so I sang it all the way down the hill as we zig-zagged to
avoid Lexus Polizei roadblocks!
Well, dear wonderful,
(!), friends, thanks again for marvellous evening and visit. Fondestos
from Mme Coriandre, just now back, to you both. Take care of each other
and I trust I'll have connectivity at the
ashram to send along updates on hot-coal walking, levitating and astral
travelling! Cheers, Il Conduttore! Pics: Friday evening; Swiss Chard and Bayswater bees!
Another fantastic photo series, as always. I would like to ask you for all of them and the previous hike on your traditional flashdrive. Amazing that you even sent this out so close to your trip. You will probably discover in India that you packed Corriandre's underwear in your hurry rather than you own! DO NOT FORGET YOUR BANANA, it will come in "handy" and toilet paper. Kiss Mdm Corrichi for us. Have a great trip. Stay safe. Cheers, Aart & Jos
Thanks Patrizzio for the great pics and update. Husband raig and I also leave today for Bali then onwards to Malaysia, Borneo, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Phuket, Thailand. We'll be back Dec11th for a few days then off to Edmonton until mid January. I'll catch up with you then. Have a super trip! Hugs, Olly
Hello Darling Olga Polga! Thanks
for the very kind words and best wishes for our trip! I was very
disappointed not to have been able to go on the hike to Mt Laidlaw, in
great good part as I hoped I'd see you before your trip. Unfortunately, I
simply couldn't get away as the couple who are house-sitting for us
stayed over Sunday night, (We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with them
that day. They had been staying near Vernon before they moved into our
place yesterday.), so that we could discuss some of the work they would
do for us, in exchange for staying. Have seen the pictures taken by
Karlos and Aarturo and it looked like a wonderful outing.
At any
rate, busy time ever since we have been in Vancouver. We left the same
day as you took off for Bali, etc. Funnily enough, you will be back home
on the same day as us but leave again, for Edmonton, while we will stay
put. We are volunteering at the Vancouver Writers Festival all this
coming week as well as trying to "squeeze" in visits with close friends
and family. VWF isn't over until Sunday and then we only have Monday to
get everything in order before we leave on Tuesday, October 27th.
Safe
travels to you and Raig and the rest of your entourage. Take care of
each other. I'm sure you will have a more than marvellous time. Very
much look forward to seeing you in 2016 and hearing all about your adventures. All the best. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pics:
Patrizzio with Calamity Jane, Friday night; Whirlygig shucking oysters
for that night's dinner; Cora Lee with Elaine, our close friend and host
at the Bayswater B&B; bee hives in their garden! [Travelsininja.blogspot.com]
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