Travels of Bob & Sharon: Whirlwind Trip to Beautiful British Columbia

It was only two weeks ago that I decided it would be a travesty if I missed Rachel's art reception at a brand new gallery, The White Dog Gallery, in Whistler. Being invited to bring your art to Whistler is a big deal and I decided to surprise Rachel. I called my dear friends Janet and Ray in Vancouver, and asked if they could find a bed for me. As it happened, they and their daughter Claire were planning to attend as well and they said we could travel up the "hill" together. I hadn't spoken with Rachel for some time and learned that she was quite sick. When I finally spoke with her, a few days prior to my flight, she told me that she didn't think she would go, that she had been back and forth from the island several times, delivering her paintings to the gallery and accompanying her good friend Laura, also an artist, to her reception at the Adele Campbell Gallery. I was speechless (almost) and I asked how that would go over with the owner since it was the gallery opening. She replied that she was "waiting for a sign" to make a final decision and when I was silent, she was silent, then asked hesitantly, if I was planning to come. When I told her that I was, she yelled "that's the sign! I'm meant to go!"

I flew out last Thursday, March 22, arriving at 9 a.m., giving me the entire day with our friends. We visited a good friend, Helene for a couple of hours and I caught up with the news on their lives and the lives of her children who live near Bolton, Ontario. Later in the day we made pizza while Claire and Ari's 4 year old daughter, Sophia, entertained us. The next morning, we hopped into Claire's van and off we went on our beautiful journey through the mountains to Whistler. It was almost surreal, leaving Toronto the day before in 26C temperatures, then seeing all the snow, snow gear and rugged up action figures in Whistler. Such a beautiful place! I hadn't been there for 50 years and can't even recall what it looked like then. Rachel must have been just ahead of just behind us, because we had only arrived when Claire's cell phone rang and she asked where we were. A few minutes after arriving in Whistler, I had jumped out of the van for a minute and when I was walking back to the van, I noticed that Claire had a work van. I began to laugh because I hadn't noticed that we were driving around in a funeral home work van. Claire you see, is the manager of a funeral home in Vancouver. When Rachel called, she asked what Claire was driving and Claire replied "my work van! I'm driving three crumblies and potential clients around in my work van." What a laugh!

Sophia having breakfast with one of
her friends....Pino

As it turns out, Pino has breakfast
with everyone.....Ray and Janet included

Sophia, all dressed up for
school

Look who we found in the parking lot....the artist herself!

Ray and Janet with Rachel

Janet, Ray and Claire with Rachel

Ray, Janet and me with Rachel (are you
getting the idea we love parking lots?)

A stroll through the streets of Whistler

A bit of icicle art

Happy skiers on the slopes

Irish pub for lunch

Claire and Rachel

Lovely pint of Guinness....slurp

After lunch, and a visit to the Adele
Campbell Gallery to see Rachel's friend
Laura Harris' work, we arrive at the White
Dog Gallery

This was as quiet as it got ...mostly it was packed

Friends Steve and Celine make the trip from
the island to attend

They made the most of the weekend by also
including skiing and
snowboarding. Sadly, the next day by noon, Steve had broken
several bones in his leg and had over 4 hours of surgery
at Vancouver General Hospital

One of two artists demonstrated

Driving to the ferry Friday evening

Saturday morning, Peter and I tramp through
the property with the dogs while Rachel is up bright
and early and downtown for yoga

That's Tula

One of the beautiful cabins on the property

View of the mountains from their property

Look what Peter spotted while we were on the trail

Beautiful Great Horned Owl

Peter and his buddies

Their newly painted house...lovely

Saturday evening dinner at a wonderful Sri Lankan
restaurant in Victoria with beautiful and talented Laura Harris

Cortes

Tula

Sometime family member - Emo (Steve and Celine's dog)

Sunday morning at the ferry terminal, heading back to Vancouver...
the strangest vehicle

We opted for the private lounge where we are fed and
watered in a quiet zone

Lovely to see cruisers along the way

Rachel, outside our hotel, The Fairmont...at the main site
of the Winter Olympics

The Olympic torch

Amazing sculpture....I thought my vision had gone when
I first spotted it

A couple of years ago, Rachel and Peter gave me a wonderful cookbook created by Vij and Meeru, chefs and restaurant owners in Vancouver. It's a fabulous cookbook, easy and I use it more than any of my favourite recipe books. It has been a dream of mine to eat at their restaurant and on Sunday afternoon, we picked up our grandaughter Sidney and headed to the restaurant. No reservations at either of their establishments so we arrived at 5 for 5:30 opening and were the second group to be seated. What an experience! What amazing food!!! Sadly, Vij and Meeru were absent that evening...a rarity I'm told. Never mind, we got to fill up on their great food.