First stop - Vancouver

We just arrived in a hot and dry Fraser Valley with some lingering smoke in the sky from all the forest fires in the province. We are here primarily to visit my family and do some sight seeing around Vancouver island. Besides me breaking a luggage handle en route, the flights here were uneventful. Last time we were in town a couple of years ago our car rental was upgraded to a muscle car, unbeknownst to me. The kids would call it "one sweet hot ride" and I have to admit I did like it with its roaring engine. Just a regular sedan for us this time round though.

For the next few days we'll be staying in Abbotsford on the outskirts of Vancouver. Brings back memories of childhood when I lived nearby in Chilliwack and visited Abbotsford on occasion to go to the movies or to attend the annual air show. The place is much more built up now.

The place does still smell the same though with huge lush trees and blackberry bushes growing everywhere. These bushes have big blackberries buried deep in huge thorny rambles. At least they seemed huge when I picked them as a child, paying the inevitable price with scratches on my arms every time I couldn't resist. And yes I did manage to scratch myself up today.

Here's Catheleen helping herself to a few.

Last day in Ottawa

I have to admit I wasn't the driving force behind this trip - that would be Catheleen, the intrepid traveler. I was more the reluctant heal dragger at first. I am truly looking forward to the adventures we'll have on this trip, but on this last day in Ottawa I'm thinking about all the comforts we'll be leaving behind.

So while the kids are having a visit with relatives I took Catheleen out for lunch today to our favorite Vietnamese restaurant. Catheleen suggested somewhere else since we'll be in Vietnam soon enough. But I insisted - I need some of my last comforts of Ottawa. I mean, where am I going to get #327 vermicelli with pork, beef and spring rolls like I do every time we go to the New Mee Fung? You might argue Vietnam would be a good place to look, but what if the vermicelli bowls there are all filled with chicken feet and who knows what? What are you supposed to do with chicken feet anyway - suck them or chew?

Anyway, lunch is over, I have happy belly, and I should start packing. How do you pack for six months anyway?  I'm just going to fill up a suitcase with some clothes and a few odds and ends - they've got more stuff in Asia right?


#327 - num!