Nanaimo, BC (here today)

     We have returned to civilization.  There are large metal contraptions that roar and grumble and roll around on this completely unnatural black trail that meanders through this village that has large buildings with flashing signs.  And there are people everywhere! Hundreds of them....no, thousands of them!  And they sit in these contraptions as they move throughout the village.  They do not carry back packs loaded with water, snacks, first aid, bug spray, and sunscreen.  They carry fancy little bags that fit  in one hand or over their shoulder.  So many of them are looking at their hands and moving their fingers around on some rectangular device.  They rarely look up.  They are all moving so fast and look as if they have some place to be.  No time to talk, I'm late, I'm late....

     So this is the city! Cars, and streets, and stores, and shopping, and people, and phones, and people in cars with phones going shopping, and internet that works.  And ice cream and hamburgers! (Yells Bucket)  His first meal when we tie up to a dock in a place that serves food is a hamburger with catsup and pickles, his favorite.

     Our most recent experience with a real city was just a few of days ago (July 9, 2014).  We were in Campbell River (fishing capitol of the world).  Campbell River is a city of 40 thousand.  Can you say, "Over stimulated?"  Okay, everyone knows what it is like to be in a big city.  We had not planned to arrive in the city for another day.  Before Campbell River we were at a nice little dock at Port Harvey Marina.  Let me back up a little more.  On July 08, 2014 at  09:43 we start the engine at 09:55 we cast off from the dock at the quaint and pleasant Lagoon Cove Marina (one of our favorite stops in the Broughton Islands). At 10:03 we are underway, our course overground is 100 degrees (m), speed overground an easy 6.6 kts, true wind speed the dull 2.2 kts, and we are in a comfortable depth of 176 feet.  It is overcast and cool, looks like rain.  We have a course set for Port Harvey.

   

Another Photo Update

Yellow Eye Rockfish for dinner?

Or Ling Cod?  Both caught the same day and on the menu for dinner that evening.

Excuse me?  Can I get a price check (at Duncanby).

This is a real road, it is called the Corduroy Road.

Hiking back from the lake at the "now closed Greenway Marina."

Deep in the woods....happy days

A bird tornado forming

Hello Mr. Humback whale

Goodbye

Hello again....he entertained us for a good 45 minutes.  We have videos of this whale and a pod of dolphins (wish I could figure out how to post them).  Amazing!

My friend, Mary.  She travels on the Grand Banks named 4th of July.  She is a keeper!

Bucket makes friends so easily.  This is Bucket, David, and Guiness going out to pick up the prawn trap.

Returning with 3 prawns  (they were BIG prawns!)

David is certain we should have a dog on the boat.

Grandfather

     I have a new found respect for the technological bundle of internet, email, texting, and words with friends.  I got the news that my Grandfather had a severe stroke and may be undergoing some type of surgery by the end of the week.  Yes, I call him Grandfather.  He never said whether or not he preferred Grandpa or Gramps or anything other than Grandfather.  Although I am sure that if he did not like the name I gave him he would surely let me know.  He had no problem speaking his truth to me.  I could always count on him to be straight up and forward with me, no subtleties and no beating around the bush, not from him, not ever.  That is what I admire and like about him.  When I was just a little girl, still in grade school, I watched the movie "Heidi."  Heidi and her Grandfather had the perfect relationship as far as I can remember. It was then that I decided to call my Grandpa, "Grandfather," it was a name, that for me represented a purest form of trust and love. 

     I love my Grandfather.  I love him for so many reasons one of them being that he liked me and not because he had to.  He genuinely liked me.  He listened and conversed.  He never ever casted judgement or lay shame, though, trust me, he never hesitated to tell me if he though I was full of shit. He called bull when he thought bull.  He brought me laughter and confidence and I trusted that he always had my back.  He lifted me up.

     Now here I am so so many miles away and he is thinking of leaving this world.  I know it is ridiculous for me to think that I could find a way to get to Idaho and I could change everything.  Make my Grandfather well and put him back to the way I remember him.  I am not going to make it to Idaho any time soon and I feel so helpless and sad.  If I could just have another moment with this man whom I hold so dear to my heart.  He must know that he is one of a kind in my book and he added so much joy to my life.  He made a difference.  His love, honesty, and so many words he spoke from his heart, adds to the beauty I find in life.  I can only hope I told him and showed him what he meant to me.   

     A few years back I read a book by Mitch Album titled "The Five People You Meet In Heaven."  I just want to say that I hope my Grandfather is one of the five people I have the honor of meeting in heaven. 

     I have hope that he will recover from this stroke.  So far the news that I have received has been far from positive or hopeful of a full recovery.  I will keep him close to my heart and in my thoughts and send prayer for peace, comfort, and healing.

  Thank you to my loved ones (Shawn, Hope, and Carlee) for reaching out to me and keeping me informed.  It means more to me than you will ever know.  I feel pretty blessed that we are docked and a little closer to civilization and I was able to receive the news, though I would have preferred it to be good news.

April 3, 2014

I love this smile