The rest of the Canada trip

Somehow I haven't got back to my blog lately.
On Monday 14 I bikes down to the coast and along Dallas Road, up Foul Bay road and on to Carnarvon park where is there is nice water park. I met everyone else here and had lunch before I continued biking. On my way back I visited Craigdarroch Castle. Amazing woodwork and obvious cost a lot - but then men died in the coal mines to earn the money that built it.
On Tuesday I also got out on a bike ride. This time I went downtown after meeting everyone at a children's bookshop! I rode through town to the Galloping Goose Cycle way. I road only a short section but it meant I saw some of the Gorge area.

On Wednesday after we got pack up after Ruth and the boys went to Imax in the morning. We left about 3pm and had tea in Nanaimo before driving on the Sproat Lake Camp site - called Lakeshore. We were as far from the view of the lake as possible. However it was a good base for the outings we had each day.

Thursday 17 was Christopher's birthday and the highlight of the day ( and the trip -other than being with Madeline) was going on the train from Port Alberni to McLean Mill National Historic Site. Because the camp site was less than attractive we cook and ate our meal in a park by a very pleasant stream. A highlight for the two older boys - playing Huckleberry Finn type games in the stream.

The following day we drove to Tofino - rather chilly at first and we had to buy some sweater. However it warmed up by lunch and we had a great day including tea on Long Beach. The trip the following day down forestry roads towards Bamfield turned out to be an adventure. before that though we stopped and saw the Martin Mars flying boats. We then had a really interesting drive down the Alberni Inlet, seeing a log collecting area on the inlet and having lunch in the forest while Murray and Richard removed a small log from the road. Unfortunately Christine and Richards car has a very vulnerable sump - and we hit a rock. We had a long slow tow back - bu we saw a bear. At lunch time the boys especially Charles had collected lots of wood and so we had a good fire and cook marshmallows in the evening.

The camp site itself was not that great but the swimming area on the lake was great for the kids and each morning the children and I had a swim and play - and especially on the last day while the other adults packed up.

The trip was coming to an end. On Monday we did some jobs to help Christine and Richard. Madeline and I went out for a tea party and we later went a played in Beacon Hill Park.

All good things must end and son on 22nd we caught the float plane to Vancouver to begin the long haul home. All went smoothly - the most hassle was in Auckland and the most interesting landing was - yes... Wellington "smack in the teeth of a southerly gale."