Boats, beaches, hot springs and bears...

What glorious weather we've been treated to over the last three weeks! Now we've felt like we've had a summer, bbq and beaches included. Leon's parents were visiting British Columbia for the first time so we all knew that good weather would be key to successful trips to the Gulf Islands and Whistler. The weather did not disappoint. On Galiano Island we lounged on the beaches in Montague Harbour Provincial Park (near to the Fisher family cabin) and swam in the clear, cold sea. Riding the decaying 1970's pub bus to the Hummingbird Inn for fish and chips was a culinary highlight, as was gourmet pizza with a view to Mt. Baker at the Galiano Inn. We managed a hike into Dionisio Point Provincial Park (named after the intrepid Spanish explorer Dionisio Alcalá Galiano) as well as a hike up to Bodega ridge, with stunning views, manzanita, dragonflies and singing crickets. Assisted by Galiano's Mediterranean climate, the temperature feeling all the time like 25 degrees! A DIY nature tour with a rented power boat treated us to porpoises, seals and seabirds while we made our way to the Saturday market on Saltspring Island and a well deserved lunch at Barb's Buns. We were then treated to a tie-dyed pride parade through Ganges. It was a noisy sight to behold!

Over the next 10 days we managed a relaxing visit to Harrison Hot Springs and Whistler, BC, the main nordic venue for the Winter Olympics this coming March. We punctuated these trips with jaunts around Vancouver, to Stanley Park, False Creek, Gastown, Cypress Bowl and Granville Island. All the while the sun shined. We were delighted with the total wildlife count by the end of Leon's parents visit:

1 bear (on Whistler mountain)
2 marmots '' ''
2 pileated woodpeckers
2 raccoons
8 deer
many buzzards
many seals (including one in fresh water Harrison Lake)
many porpoises
many chipmunks
1 sea snake
1 garter snake
1 large orange caterpillar
& 10 man eating sugar cubes....

I know it sounds like a lot of hard work, but someone has to do it. Peru is starting to weigh heavily on our minds as we enjoy the last fading rays and warmth of what has been a superb Indian summer. Ciao for now!

Lydia.