Illal Meadows - Part Deux (July 13-15, 2012)

Our second camping trip this season.  This one was much more successful than the first!

Theme: mosquitoes.

We headed out towards the Coquihalla Summit area to revisit our favourite camping spot from last year: Illal Meadows.  We headed there after work on Friday (the 13th!! - eek!!) and camped about 2 km in from the trailhead.  There was a family at the end of the road where we camped last time who had a flat tire from trying to drive up the first part of the trail (which is actually an over-grown road).  Luckily we were able to help them with our tire iron!  For some reason the one that came with his truck didn't match the bolts (...GM ...).

Anyhoo, the place we found to camp was much nicer! No pictures of it though...  The following is from the hike up.  It was nice to have had the 2 km shaved off from Friday night.  It was quite the climb up.  I don't seem to have much tolerance for backpacking this year!!  I must be getting old...

I was happy to drop pack when we finally reached our chosen campsite.  We also had to dry everything out from the rain the previous night.  It thunderstormed like neither of us had ever seen before!!  It must have lasted 6 hours plus!  It just doesn't do that in Ontario!

The view was simply stunning.  The pointy peak is Jim Kelly Mountain.  It is beyond photogentic!

 We camped right near the snow, but our campsite was nice and dry.

We had a very pleasant afternoon but the bugs were terrible!  We forewent sunscreen for bug spray and I had the burn to show for it (pharmacist moment: bug spray actually inactivates the SPF-providing chemicals in sunscreen - you must apply your sunscreen at least 15 minutes before spraying yourself down with bug spray or else it isn't as effective.  This is why you can no longer buy sunscreen + bugs spray products!). 

Anyhoo, I digress.  The afternoon was lovely, the view was incredible.

Camping isn't all fun and games though!  You have chores to do as well!

Pumping water:

Cooking dinner (I liked this picture, but I am actually cooking - notice the pot to my right):

Hanging up the food:

 

Remi is beyond proud of his new "Bear-hang Technology" (his words).  Notice the pulley system!!

And of course our fearless side kick looks on...  Looking good but generally useless ;)

We always make time for naps though ;)

That evening we had a crazy wind storm.  We've been up to Illal Meadows before (as mentioned) and it was windy the entire time!  It blew in one direction for two days straight and then turned around and blew the other way!  I have concluded the following: it is always windy up 
there.  Needless to say, I was up all night listening to the tent make an absolute racket in the wind.

The following morning we awoke to rain.  This happens so often on camping trips!!  Here are some photos.

 

 

 

 Maggie was also not impressed and had her classic "WHERE IS MY WARM, DRY BED?!" look.

 So we got the heck out of there!

Had to take our boots off to cross the river at the bottom - fighting off rain and a horrendous mosquito onslaught...

And that's that one!  We won't be camping for a while.  I work this coming weekend and am heading back to Ontario on the August long weekend for a week.  Amanda and Nick are finally tying the knot!!  And I'm going to spend a week spoiling Keenan, as well as seeing Meg's baby bump!


S
 

Eaton Lake - July long weekend 2012

Summer has started slowly for us out here in beautiful BC.  June was actually worse than it was last year (less sunny days, more rain), which is hard to believe!  Thus, Remi and I had slim pickings for camping early in the season.  We chose (out of desperation for getting out of the city) a trip we'd done a few summers ago with our good friend Tim and his brother: Eaton Lake.  The destination is a lovely campsite overlooking a beautiful little lake.  8 km round-trip, 900 m elevation gain - in other words: steep.


Unfortunately, we never made it to the campsite.  We were unable to ford a creek at the top which was fat with spring run-off.  Friday night (hiking up after work...  after working a 12-day straight stretch...  throwing a rather major temper tantrum at the 3 km marker which I'd rather not elaborate on) we ended up camping on the trail.  Saturday morning, we tucked tail and headed back down.

Here are a few photos anyway.

There is a giant river at the bottom that requires crossing.  The bridge has been washed out.  Luckily there is a giant slippery log to allow crossing!  We frog-jumped across it as follows:   

  
On the way back down, I stopped halfway to take photos of the raging river and waterfall.

  

Oh, and the fallen bridge of course!

 A beauty shot of Maggie from the car.

I also took a video of the river.  Apologies for the poor video quality...  We need a new camera.

Ann's visit - April 2012

Ann has recently been working with one of the Native bands out in Vancouver and we've been fortunate enough to get to spend a few hours with her on her last couple of trips.  Most recently was near the end of April.  Her flight came in early and the weather was lovely!

We visited Steveston, a little ocean-side village south of Vancouver (south of Richmond, actually).  It was so cute!  We'll be heading back there for sure with other visitors.  We didn't take many pictures, but here are a few.

The fisherman actually have fresh fish out for sale from their boats.  There were also prawns.  Mmm...  Next time we pick up someone at the airport we're going to bring a cooler and some ice and swing by Steveston on the way home!

 One of the boats.  Remi's favourite subject for photography, I think!

 Ann had a great view from her hotel over English Bay and Stanley Park.  The pictures of the view weren't stellar but these portraits were pretty good! 

 

Looking manly in plaid ;)

The visit was brief but very nice!
S

Around the yard - spring 2012

We haven't posted a blog in far too long!!  Today I'll post a few as a quick update of life lately...

First, goings on around the 32141 Sandpiper Place property!!

A new toy for Remi

Remi bought a router.  The plan is to make picture frames.  Lots of them!

New Garden!

Ok, this was hard work! I was expecting to quickly dig up and plant this in an afternoon but was I ever wrong!  Two days later and with some hubby help it was finally planted!

Right now this garden is in full bloom (except the geraniums - they never do much for me!) and the rose bush is covered in lovely pink flowers!

Spring has sprung!

This spring has been very kind to us!  The weather has been stunning and at times, quite hot!  We've been able to get out and enjoy the garden much earlier this year than last.

From our cherry trees...

 

 

 The trees are covered in fruit right now.  As long as the weather continues to cooperate, we should have quite the cherry crop this year!

The following are pictures from the deck.  I picked wild flowers from around the garden for vases for a BBQ we had on the May long weekend and they looked quite pretty in the setting sun.  This was one of the nice, warm evenings that we were able to have dinner outside!

 

 

More photos from the garden to come!  I've planted out most of our veggies/fruit and if this rain ever stops, I'll get out and take some pictures of the little plants so that I can post several blogs on how they grow up over the summer.

Happy spring, everyone!
S

Beach walk

The weather appears to be getting nicer!! *knock on wood*  In that spirit, Remi and I headed out for a late afternoon walk along the Fraser River.

Maggie was rearing to go!  You'd think we never took her anywhere cool.  She ran around like a 2-year old!  Loving every minute of it ;)

 

 The beach was really pretty.  We've found a new picnic spot (as long as the tide is out).

 

 Below is typical Maggie: barking at us because we aren't doing her bidding (i.e. throwing the stick every 3 seconds).

 She pooped out eventually and laid down to chew her stick.  Which she later carried along the beach like she owned the place ;)

 

 This is a field just above the river.  The sky was amazing yesterday!

The nice weather is supposed to continue throughout the long weekend (although it's cloudy out right now).  We're planning to garden today, snowshoe tomorrow and garden on Monday.  I can't wait!

S