Canada Trip - Summer 2008

We were lucky enough to take a trip to Canada for three weeks to finish our summer vacation for 2008.  We traveled with Devin's sister Cinda and her two kids, Jude and Stella.  Cinda's husband Terry was in Vancouver for the first few days, and I came late so I could get a few more days scuba diving in with my friend Tim.  David really enjoys spending time with his cousins, so this trip was great for him.  The reality is that we all had a blast.  I'm not going to go on and on with stories here.  Instead, I'll refer you to the pictures below.  Each has a short caption to give some background. 

Click on each image to see the full-size picture.

Stella and Jude at the Vancouver Science Museum (I can't remember the specific name of the museum.  I wasn't there, as I was breathing compressed air while scuba diving.)	David taking part in a wheel-chair race at the museum.	Woohoo!	Stella on a frog statue.
Cinda influencing the kids with her dramatic expertise.  I call this the "Explorer" pose.	Jude and Stella eating lunch on Granville Island.	Devin always complains that I don't include enough pictures of me, so I'm including this one.  I'm sure I look much cooler than I think I look.  Wait.  I'm sure I'm not as cool as I think I look.  Or something like that.	David and Devin on a hike to a salmon hatchery in a park in North Vancouver.
The three kids on the rocks by the salmon hatchery.	Looking at the pens of the salmon hatchery.	David enjoying a vanilla bean frappacino at Starbucks.	Devin's "artsy" picture of Cinda.
The three kids at Lynn Canyon Park before we walk across the suspension bridge.	The suspension bridge.  Much smaller than at Capilano, but much less expensive.  (Free vs. over $30.)	David on the suspension bridge.  Notice that Devin isn't part of the picture.	On the ferry up to the sunshine coast for the second week of our vacation.
For the second week, we stayed at the Mt. Daniel Waterfront Resort.  It was amazing, beautiful and relaxing.  What a great place.	The view from the deck.	Devin and Cinda working on crossword puzzles.	The work continues into the night.
The kids eating breakfast.	Low tide!  That means cool tidepools to explore.	Jude the scientist finding a starfish.	Stella holding the starfish.
Devin posing on the big rock in front of the house.	Stella enjoying some marshmallows at Ruby Lake.	And the crossword puzzle work continues.	The kids playing in the lake.
David acting silly.  Imagine that!	Stella posing by a statue outside the Iris Griffith Interpretive Center.	David in a frog costume at the Iris Griffith Interpretive Center.	Cinda rowing the boat with the kids as passengers.
Jude checking out the scenery on the ferry ride to Campbell River on Vancouver Island.	Lowell and David on the ferry.	Jude, Cinda and Stella on the ferry.	David on the ferry.
Alright, last picture from the ferry, I promise.  Devin and David.	David and Jude on a railroad engine. It was a "Comox Logging Train."  It was at the visitor center in Courtenay on Vancouver Island.	Stella and David by an Orca wood carving.	All of us packed into a Zodiac boat for an amazing tour around the islands near Vancouver Island.
Not a great picture, but this is a black bear on the beach of one of the islands.	David and Lowell on the boat ride.	Stella, Cinda and Jude on the boat ride.	One stop we made was at a salmon farm near one of the islands.  It was an eye-opening experience and the employees of the fish farm were gracious hosts, showing us the entire operation.
Some eagles and seals near one of the islands.	How many bald eagles can you count? (Note:  There were probably over 50 on this island.  This picture doesn't do it justice...)	Devin on the white-knuckle ride up the chairlift to the top at Mt. Washington Ski Resort.  David simply enjoying the ride.	David on a bungee-trampoline. The ski resort had lots of great activities, including mountain biking.  Lowell tried it, and realized he's not quite the mountain biker he used to be.
David and Jude playing a video game.	David next to a bear in the gift shop of the Royal BC Museum.	A long house that is being restored at the Royal BC Museum.	David and Devin at Butchart Garden.
David flexing his muscle as we walked around Butchart Garden.	I had to include at lease one flower from the garden.	Devin relaxing on a ferry ride from Vancouver Island to the mainland to head home.	David on the ferry.