On the Road Again!

Well, another crazy week, only this time back in Canada.  Vic and I flew into Kalispell, Montana on Sunday, April 21^st, and were whisked away by a gentleman (Terry) waiting for us from the Best Western Lodge in Whitefish, Montana.  Service was quick, friendly and the hotel was super.  Outdoor heated pool and hot tub, terrific free breakfast, lovely and clean room.  We made the booking through hotwire.com and all this was for less than $100.

Our wonderful friend Murray (of Murray and Germaine) picked us up on Monday morning, and brought us home to Cranbrook.  It had been a while since we’d gotten together, so we were very pleased to spend the 2 hour drive and lunch at Café Jack’s in Eureka, Montana (yummy), catching up on news.  The  things Murray will do for fish tacos and a highway drive!

In Cranbrook we stayed with our new friends, Rana and Shazia and their kids Saad and Huda for the week, as guests in our own home.  What a wonderful experience.   They spoiled us rotten, feeding us some amazing traditional feast meals, and treating us like a king and queen.  With a million things to get accomplished, it was all made possible through their wonderful hospitality.

 

 

It was fun on the couple of occasions that we found a little time to take them to some of our favourite venues.  When we headed up to the Cranbrook Community Forest on a walk in the woods, and then an introduction to the trailhead for the rails to trails (a 25km long paved trail between Cranbrook and Kimberley – no we didn’t make them do it all!), it was great to see these venues through the eyes of people who had never been there, or likely anywhere like it before.

 

 

We even got to show them lots of deer, some that even posed for the picture!

 

 

And we got to enjoy such local beauties as the Rocky Mountains and Fisher Peak, as well as an amazing full moon.

 

 

Managing to wrap up all our work, as well as catch up quickly with some of our wonderful Canadian friends (Glad we caught you Colleen before you ventured off again!) and (thanks Jo and Dave for a wonderful supper and for making a free evening to spend with us), and getting to meet Olivia, Shannon's new baby girl

 

 

here we are on the road again, heading towards Seattle, Washington to visit our favourite son (okay, so we only have one, but he’s a very special one!), and pick up my parents to bring them home to Vernon on Monday.  The weather is amazing with gorgeous sunshine and it’s about 18 – 20 degrees.

 

 We had the pleasure (and pain), of stealing our puppy (10 year old puppy) P.J. back from her wonderful adoptive parents Shirley and Willard.  It was very obvious that P.J. had been very comfortable and well loved by her extra family, and tears were shed by all as we seconded her away.  After 3 months away she still remembered us, and it was a heart wrenching reunion.  Willard had even built her an adorable toy box, which they had obviously very lovingly filled with many favourite old and new toys.



 



So, almost there now, we’ll enjoy some time with our boy, my parents, and our puppy and keep you apprised of our next adventure.

Have a great sunny day!