#218 Sep 2019 Update

Our last post ended with the hope that Ralph would recover from his PNE fall more quickly than the repairs to the White Rock Pier. 

We still hope it won’t take eight months but now realize his recovery will take months not weeks before he regains the pain free strength to handle the motorhome. He has started physio, which has given him some relief and appropriate exercises. Some days are worse than others when he can’t raise his right arm or reach forward. 

We were hoping to at least drive the car to Calgary in September so took a highway test drive to Chilliwack. After less than 45 minutes we turned around and acknowledged that even driving the car for long distances is not possible at this time.

We will stay in Surrey for the winter and hope to travel with the motorhome in the spring.

Blueberry and pumpkin fields surround us in Peace Arch RV Park. Blueberries are finished but the pumpkins are brilliant orange.

The Park gardens continue with fall colours.

Market gardens are displaying their bounty.

Fall colours are vivid.

 

We love living in the Lower Mainland.

#217 Aug 2019 Unexpected Detours

Lindsay, Kari and Dan always attend the Pride Parade in Vancouver. This year Lindsay drove the truck from her work in the parade. Kari and Dan were standing in the back of the truck. It looks like they all had fun! (The crowd of hundreds of thousands is too big for us)

I often talk about the flowers in this park. 

Hummingbirds always discover our feeders.

This year we have lots of rabbits hopping around.

We enjoy the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition). We go for the free shows, unusual food, browsing and people watching.

Superdogs are a favourite every year. 

The dogs are a wide variety of family pets who are “trained” but don’t always remember their training. There are lots of laughs and cheers.

This year there was a funny magician with a sneaky dog. More laughs!

We have not seen the jousting competition before. It is part of a current TV show and is actual jousting. The announcer is entertaining and informative. He sounds similar to a wrestling announcer.

The armor is very extensive.

Points are awarded for hitting the opponent, breaking the lance or unseating the opponent. The horses are well trained so the riders can use both hands on the lance. 

On our way to watch the pig races our PNE visit ended abruptly. We were walking through the barns when Ralph turned a corner and tripped on a floor grate that was not installed properly. He fell and slid about four feet down a concrete walkway leading to a lower level of the barn. He describes it as a seven point landing – elbows, knees, hands and face.

His first though was that he was face down in a barn where horses, cows, sheep, pigs, etc. had walked. He quickly spit out anything in his mouth.

A nearby first responder saw it happen and took charge immediately. It took a few minutes for Ralph to regain his senses and be able to move. He managed to get into a chair before PNE first aid people arrived. They checked him out and confirmed there didn’t appear to be any broken bones but lots of scrapes and bruises and sore spots.

Fortunately Kari and Dan, Adam and Jenn and Jenn’s mum were with us. They helped keep us calm and focused. We had to walk about 20 minutes to the closest spot where Dan could bring the car.

Jenn is a care aid so was able to get us settled when we got home. Thank goodness she was with us.

Ralph appeared to not have any serious injuries and one first aid person suggested going home and having a scotch to help relax. Ralph and Al from next door have enjoyed a few evenings of scotch. Al brought the scotch and Deb brought the wine. They really helped distract us and unwind before trying to sleep.

The next day x-rays showed nothing broken. His right shoulder, arm, wrist and hand took the worst of the fall. The fall happened Sunday, August 18^th and he was scheduled to work Monday to Friday until September 6^th. He took life very easy the first week and didn’t go to work. The second two weeks he has been on light duty and actually seems to have followed doctor’s orders. 

It will take a lot more time for everything to heal and get back to normal. We hope to leave Surrey mid September and start our winter travels. Time will tell if Ralph is ready for the physical requirements of getting the RV ready and driving. 

December 2018 the White Rock Pier was broken in a violent winter storm. (Post #206) 

The end of August the Pier reopened, although, there is more work to be done.

From this:

To this.

Hopefully, Ralph’s recovery does not take 8 months!

#216 July 2019 Grandchildren are Precious!

We have been blessed with three grandchildren. We treasure time spent with them and savour the memories.

Lindsay (24) and Kari have almost always lived in the same city as Ralph and I. Our memory bucket overflows. 

Joey (22) has lived with his father in Calgary and Regina. Since Kari moved to Surrey we don’t see Joey very often. When we do see him he is happy to see us and always ready for whatever adventure, experience we offer.

Danica (12) has always lived in Calgary with Dave. We see her a few times a year and have been privileged to attend several of her gymnastics/dance/theatre performances. Her birthday is ten days before mine in October so we have celebrated together a few times.

We have spent many times with Lindsay and Joey individually. This summer was Danica’s turn.

In July Danica flew from Calgary to Vancouver by herself. She has often been in both airports but always with a family member. She managed perfectly and is now a seasoned solo traveller.

It was such a treat to spend time alone with Danica. We went to White Rock Beach and showed her the broken pier.

And of course the White Rock.

Sunset from Crescent Beach was beautiful.

Pink clouds outlined the North Shore Mountains.

One day we drove to Squamish hoping the weather would clear enough to take the Sea to Sky Gondola. The wind was so strong we though we might blow off the mountaintop so we decided to explore another Squamish area venue.

Unfortunately, a few week later the gondola was vandalized and severely damaged with no re-opening date yet determined.

The Britannia Mine Museum is an awe inspiring National Historic Site.

During the 1920s Britannia Mine was the largest copper mine in the British Commonwealth. During 70 years of production the mine produced over a 650,000 tons of copper as well as zinc, lead, cadmium, silver and gold. The evolution of mining is very well described in the exhibits and displays.

The underground train tour takes visitors into the workings of the mine.

The “BOOM!” show is a recent addition to the mill tour and conveys some of the processing of the copper. It is excellent.

The 20 story mill used gravity to refine the ore. The stairs seem to go on forever.

Gold panning is an exciting hands-on experience. There really are a few flakes of gold added to the water each day. Unfortunately Danica was not a winner.

This commemorative piece of art features the mines most important and enduring resource-the miners.

The clouds lifted enough for a lovely drive home.

Saturday Lindsay and Danica went to Splash Down Waterslide. They had a fun day together. Later Ralph and I met them at Richmond Night Market. We all had supper then found the crowds too much after a long day.

Sunday Lindsay and Kari took Danica to some of their favourite places around the Lower Mainland.

Monday we had a quiet day in preparation for a long night. We went to the Aldergrove Twilight Drive In. Danica had never been to a drive in and it was decades for Ralph and I. Wow, has it changed. 

Everything is digital. The movie is on a huge wide screen.

The sound is tuned to two FM radio stations so you can hear it outside your vehicle. No more poor quality sound boxes hanging on the inside of the window. 

Vehicles still park on a slight incline but often backwards. The audience can set up mattresses in the back of pickups or SUVs and watch the movie in family room comfort.

There is also room in each parking space to setup lawn chairs and watch the stars as well as the movie.

We all watched the new Lion King and Toy Story 4 and stayed awake until 1:30. What a great night!

The next day Danica flew to her home and our home was too quiet. A great week with a fun granddaughter!