A snippet

For the last several nights I've been working on a post, but we are on the road and I've not managed to get it finished. It may too have something to do with the fact that my goal of regular posts hasn't happened. We are over 3 weeks into our journey and almost in Hood River. We have 3 weeks in that part of the world, so here's hoping the posts will be a little more up to date.
In the meantime, here's a snippet of the first week or two of our journey.

Sitting on the chairlift heading up to Blackcomb Mountain, we are discussing the possibility of seeing a bear. It's later in the morning and the chances are unlikely but not impossible. I suggest this to the children and Seb just sort of gives me one of his 'looks'.  "Mum", he says, "if you say we will see a bear we will, if you say we won't then we wont". I ponder this for a second as I hear the words both Mike and I say regularly to them, regurgitated in our sons own special way. 

"Yes buddy", I reply, "you're probably right". I leave it at that, there's nothing else that needs to be said.

"Yeah, " he adds,  "so we'll see one today and yesterday if you say so."

"Maybe buddy".

We didn't see a bear on the chairlift, but that's not really the point. We might have, and the mere fact that a 4.5 year old can believe in the power of words is pretty fantastic. 

It's most likely simple regurgitation, but it was in context and perhaps, maybe, just maybe some of the things we are trying to reinforce in the kids, are registering… I think so, I hope so. 

Well, so much for regular updates. We are now 3 weeks into our adventure and already heading down towards the US. Our first few days were spent in Vancouver with a lovely family in a place called Deep Cove. Mike sailed with Damien on the Mayhem and their fabulous home was a great place to ride out our jet lag. The weather wasn't great- lots of rain and quite chilly but we managed to see some great things. Walks around Stanley Park, a visit to a farm, Grantville Market Place, a great afternoon turning over rocks to find crabs in Deep Cove and a trip to Vancouver's fantastic Science centre. 

We arrived on a Monday and Mike had to return to Spain on the Friday, so after dropping him off, we headed up to Whistler to stay with my dear friend Caroline. 

We spent 5 nights/4 days in Whistler and it's truly a place I think I'd be hard pressed to design any better for the way I'd like to live my life. We hired bikes for the kids and all went riding the lake trail, caught the peak to peak gondola and played in the snow, swam in cold lakes, ate berries from the local market, played in parks, changed our plans after being swarmed by mozzies, ate icecream, celebrated Canada’s 147^th birthday and Caroline and I got to ride together from their front door on some fantastic trails- TWICE! The weather was amazing, the kids got along for the most part and we had a great time. I feel blessed to have had this time with my dear friend, to meet her family and to see her happy. 

More to come on the last few weeks shortly, including the Calgary Stampede a Waterslide hotel, and what the kids really like best!