Big trip, big deal!
We had a great time in British Colombia visiting Pappy & Jammie, Aunt Maggie & Dave, and the rest of the wild and not-so-wildlife out there.
Here are some highlights...
We took off from Waterloo Region airport, which was great. No crowds, and a nice stroll out on the tarmac to get onto the plane! It was perfect for the first flight that I remember (the last ones being at seven and 12 months old).
We had a short layover at the Calgary airport which had these huge wind-up structures with various flying machines that whizzed about faster and faster as I wound it up tighter and tighter...
The first couple of days in Victoria over Easter weekend were sunny, warm and beautiful. We hung out in the garden at Pappy's house, rode the very cool retro tricycle Jammie found for me, and played hop-scotch in front of the house. I don't think they get a lot of hop-scotch-ers in that neighborhood and we attracted many smiles and happy clucks from nearby residents and passers-by.
We went for a walk on our first morning, and happened upon a community Easter Egg hunt at a beautiful park overlooking the ocean. We got our first glimpse of bald eagles there, and the real wildlife (all those kids!)
We spent a great day taking in the sights in Victoria...
(I took this pic of the sea plane taking off)
The next highlight - major highlight - was spending time at the petting zoo. It was amazing. I even got to brush the goats. And at the end, when they were closing the zoo, we got to watch and cheer for the goat stampede!
It was fun but exhausting. Plus getting over jetlag (but I recovered the fastest, for sure).
Then the famous but rarely sighted local celebs, Aunt Maggie & Dave
rode in on their bicycles from Vancouver. They were just in time for...
Easter Egg Hunting!
Mom had promised that she would email the Easter Bunny to let him know we would be at Pappy and Jammie's house in Victoria for Easter, and to please meet us there.
Mom came through (as usual) and so did Mr. E. Bunny!
(counting the Easter Eggs with Aunt Maggie)
Me, reporting the total number of eggs collected to mom.
For the record, it was 158 eggs, 2 chocolate carrots, and five chocolate bunnies - for sharing!
Over the weekend the whole crew of us went to the Oak Bay Marina to see the Harbour Seals that hang out in the water, waiting for fisher-people to clean their day's catch (and dump the innards)...
...and they also wait for the people who buy bags of chopped up fish for $2 at the gift shop. They are even willing to flap around a bit - sing for their supper, as it were.
After a nice weekend all together, Mom, Dad, Aunt Maggie & Dave packed up for Vancouver for a couple of nights. I stayed in Victoria with the grandparents for some real fun, sans parents.
The three of us, old and young, had a blast. Pappy and I went to the aquarium, we went to my first movie in a theatre, and guess what? It was an IMAX movie! Way to start my cinematographic viewing career! I saw and was very impressed by the totem poles. We also did the beachcomber thing and went back to say hi to those seals. It was great to have some "quality time" together.
Mom and dad had a fabulous time in Vancouver, even though I wasn't there.
Who knew?
They spent lots of time (getting lost) walking around Stanley Park.
(They took a picture of this giant banana slug for me, but then I got to see some for myself anyways).
(and they got to see Auntie Maggie's Easter Chicks hatching - 7 of 12 hatched and are going strong! I was a bit sad to have missed it, but mom showed me a video on the computer.)
Then mom and dad made their way by bus, train, bus and ferry - back to Schwartz Bay on Vancouver Island. The next day - our last day - we went on quite the adventure to Port Renfrew and Botanical Bay, to see the giant trees and the tide pools. On the long and windy road up into the mountains, it snowed! Can you believe it?
And we saw a baby black bear. And lots of huge amazing trees. Mom and I decided that Puff the Magic Dragon must hang out here at least sometimes.
After all the fun and adventures, it was very sad (and tiring at 5:30am) to say goodbye to Pappy, Jammie and beautiful British Colombia. But we will most certainly be back, and next time we will plan to visit for at least 2 weeks!
