CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER SIZE AND CAPTION

June was spent in British Columbia, gathering our thoughts and sharing time with scattered relatives and friends.

Osoyoos — A parting of ways

We began and ended the month in Osoyoos. Erica left us to go cycling down the west coast of the USA by herself. The unanimous decision was that we were, in Erica's words: "Too different to live together."

Ralph feels guiltily that he was probably the most "different" (read difficult) person with whom to live, despite the fact that he's always believed himself to be the most delightful and easy-going person one could ever come across...the perfect travelling companion. Ho hum.

We nevertheless parted friends, having learned some new things about ourselves (or at least Ralph has), and we wish Erica good luck and great times.

Disaster!

We spent a night in Vancouver, and here it was that our disaster struck. Our van was broken into and our cameras and waterproof jackets stolen. One of the cameras contained exposed film of Lenore's brother's grad ceremony. We were broken-hearted.

Thanks to Vancouver Police and the fact that we'd recorded the serial numbers, we've recovered three of the cameras, but lost all the accessories and a couple of rare lenses.

It cost us a lot to replace the stuff because, as we don't have a home or a RV, we can't get contents insurance.

Thetis Island

Then we spent several days sharing the cabin of Roneen Marcoux, on Thetis Island, one of the many Gulf Islands lying west of the B.C mainland.

We slept ten feet from the ground in a bunk above the rafters, were tolerated (just about) by Roneen's cat, bathed standing naked in front of the sink — the cabin has just acquired running water (cold) and a single electrical outlet — and enjoyed Roneen's stimulating company.

Roneen was in retreat, working on her play for this year's Vancouver Fringe Festival, and she's probably famous by the time you read this. Of course, if she isn't, she can blame us for interrupting her creative flow.

Port Renfew, Vancouver Island

We got to Port Renfrew, on the far west of Vancouver Island, by accident really, having found the campgrounds on the way full. I'm glad we did get there, for we spent a couple of restful and very pleasant days at Fairy Lake, just north of the town. The area is typically west coast — damp forest, clear lakes, splendid coastline. We floated on the lake in our little inflatable boat.

This is the westernmost point of our trip — Spear Head (the easternmost point of mainland Canada) here we come...

Mechosin, Vancouver Island

Courtenay, Vancouver Island

The Sunshine Coast (Ho Ho)

We ferried across to Powell River. There we visited Lenore's cousin, explored a bit and then headed southwards towards Vancouver.

It was raining, and rained all the way down the Sunshine Coast. We didn't linger to enjoy its damp, foggy charms, especially as we no longer had our Goretex jackets — grrr. The weater was so miserable that we stayed a night in a motel simply to be dry for a few hours.

The wet coast in all its dubious glory.

Vancouver

Osoyoos