Peter Maher

Friday 03. 09. 10 Left the ferry around noon and drove to Langley. Got a bit lost in the world of malls in Langley but eventually found our hotel. Checked in and cleaned up. Friday morning drove into Vancouver and dropped off the car and met up with the family. Explored Granville Island and then back to Langley for a BBQ at Hart and Pat’s Nic’s (the groom) Mum and Dad’s place. Saturday morning, all dressed up we drove to Hart House In Burnaby for the wedding. Low, key, friendly and intimate, elegant but informal. We all had a great time and Daisy even caught the bouquet thrown by the bride. Mid afternoon we went back to the hotel where Andrew, Patrick and I sat in the hot tub and had a swim in the pool. Back to Hart and Pat’s in the evening for another wonderful gathering of family and friends. Sunday morning Rob and Heather drove us to the airport and we flew back to TO where we were met by Jason and Julia. And the wedding bouquet survived the flight intact!!!

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Tuesday 31. 08. 10 It rained all last night and was still raining this morning so we broke camp quickly, ate breakfast in the car and headed south. Stopped in Nanaimo for lunch and a visit to their museum and then continued on to Victoria where we stayed with Louise and Doug. Had a non-salmon dinner Tuesday night and then headed into Victoria with Louise Wednesday morning in sunshine. Got our urban fix as we wandered around. Saw an excellent exhibition on Emily Carr at the art gallery and then back home for a BBQ. Friday morning we took the ferry back to Vancouver.

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Friday 27. 08. 10 Drove north up the island, stopped in at Telegraph cove and checked out Whale Museum before moving on to Port McNeil. Visited museum in Port McNeil and were shown around by Joe who had lived and worked in the area all his life. Met Jo as we were in line for the ferry to Alert Bay so caught up on news whilst crossing. Went over to Dave’s boat before heading up to the house for dinner. Back to the boat Princeton 1 to sleep before setting out tomorrow. Daisy very excited about cruise tomorrow. Spent Saturday cruising through the islands. Visited several abandoned villages, burial sites and met Bill Proctor who was 75 and still fishing. After dinner, when it was dark, Dave took us out in the skiff and we were surrounded by phosphorescent plankton – a magical experience. Sunday more explorations and finally, much to Daisy’s delight, we were surrounded by a pod of dolphins playing around the bow of the boat. Monday we spent the morning with Jo in Alert Bay going around the museum where we talked to a couple of carvers then back on the noon ferry to Port McNeil. In the afternoon we drove back down to Campbell River and set up camp at Parkside again. It started to rain so we turned in early after dinner.

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23. 08. 10 Monday Picked up the car at Hertz and took the ferry across to Nanaimo where we stayed at Howard Johnson’s. Tuesday morning headed north on the island. Took a mix of routes north, sometimes on the highway and other times on the coastal road. Camped at Buttle Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park. This was Daisy’s first night of camping but everything went well and she cooked dinner once I and a neighbour had figured out how the stove worked. Next morning we struck the tent and headed into Campbell River where we set up again at Parkside a private campsite just outside of town. Good site with flush toilets, showers and WiFi. We spent the afternoon at the museum in Campbell River- an excellent museum with a very good collection of native artifacts and exhibits on logging and fishing. Thursday we took the ferry over to Quadra island where we went sea kayaking. Inspite of the rain we had a great time and saw bald eagles, harbour seals and starfish. We took the ferry back to Campbell River and as it was still raining had dinner at the White Spot. Friday morning broke camp in the rain, had breakfast in the car and headed north up island. We stopped at Telegraph cove to see the Whale Museum and then went on to Port McNeil where we had a coffee and waited for the ferry to Alert Bay.

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19. 08. 10 Thursday This evening we boarded The Canadian to Vancouver. We were assigned our cabin and were then welcomed aboard with champagne and snacks before heading west. Friday was northern Ontario – an endless corridor of trees. We explored the train and  sat in the dome car at the rear and enjoyed really good meals with linen, china and fresh flowers on the table. Saturday morning we stopped in Winnipeg for 4 hours so took the opportunity to have brunch with Sandy and Randy before continuing west across the prairies in the afternoon. Sunday morning found us in Edmonton heading south through the Rockies to Jasper where again we stopped for an hour before continuing on through the night to Vancouver. A great journey for both Daisy and I showing the diversity of landscape and the sheer size of Canada. We also met some interesting people and really enjoyed the meals!

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Tuesday 17. 08. 10 I have been here just over a week. Besides catching up with everybody have managed to get to Yorkville galleries and also the Distillery District where there were a lot of exhibits by Quebecois artists. Last Friday Daisy took me to Rock of Ages at the Royal Alex for my birthday. Getting ready to leave on Thursday for Vancouver on the train.

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31. 05. 10 Monday Chris and Chris flew into Montpellier  from Toronto Friday after lunch. We picked up the car and headed into Clermont. First stop Les Negociants after dumping bags chez moi. Saturday morning took in my old scooter to Sports Bike and then wandered around Pezenas market and town. Dinner at Le Terminus where we ran in to Gisèle and Jonathan. Sunday drove into Sete for sardines and enroute stopped at the flea market at Marseillan. On the way back drove out to Liausson to photograph site of the painting that Chris bought for Chris last Christmas. Back for stuffed chicken dinner chez moi. Today drove up the Gorges de l’Hérault and St Guilhem with lunch at the Pont du Diable. In the afternoon C&C explored Clermont and then we ate at Le Venizia. Managed to get in three visits to Les Negociants today!!!

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Tuesday 25. 05. 10 Drove Jason back to the airport this morning – hair raising drive with bouchons at Gignac and Montpellier but we finally arrived safe and sound. Sunday we went to Pezenas early in the morning to take advantage of the morning light and the empty streets. Jason shot over a hundred pictures. We then had a  delicious lunch chez  Gisèle and Jonathan together with David and Monique. Monday we did the short walk at the Cirque de Moureze in the morning and then visited St Guilhem in the afternoon with dinner at Le Terminus in Clermont in the evening. After his visit I think that Jason now knows why I live here.

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Sunday 23. 05. 10 Yesterday went to the market in Gignac and then Claire and Gérard came over for lunch. After lunch we loaded Claire’s wardrobe onto the top of Gérard’s Lada for transportation back to Montpellier and then took off on a local tour for Jason to photograph poppies and vineyards.

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Friday 21. 05. 10 Since we got back from the UK we have been zooming around the neighbourhood on the scooters. We were at the Pic St Loup on Wednesday, Sete and Marseillan yesterday. Today we were lucky enough to borrow Laurene and George’s Clio so drove over to the Pays Cathare and went to Carcassonne and Peyrepertuse for the day. It was hot and sunny and no wind. Carcassonne was not too crowded and seemed less touristy than previous visits. We were lucky enough to hear a choir of 5 men singing in the church. Amazing ecoustics. The castle at Peyrepertuse was its usual wild and remote self.

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