Tofino Surf & Camping Pics

Hi, it turn out that I can't add the photos into my earlier blog without difficulty so I am going to post them here. Enjoy!

Surf Sister aka "Spud"

I am finally writing about my Tofino Trip!! It was soo great and I am so excited that Gab, Stephanie & Jenn were willing to go. I have been wanting to learn how to surf for a looooooong time. Let's just say...most of my life but recently in the past years I have had opportunities to go but then last minute the plans changed and thankfully, this time they didn't. I went to Tofino or Vancouver Island, the very night that I flew back from Vegas. Nikki was nice enough to take my suitcase home, and she brought it inside...sweet. Anyway, I drove from the bellingham airport with Sarita and Nikki and once we were over the border (the Canadian Border cracks me up..they are so not interested in security measures...they just ask the questions and that's it....but maybe it's because they see that we are good girls anyway...which is good because I am) Gab, Stephanie and Jenn were waiting for me to head to the Ferry terminal. My other adventure had begun.

Jenn, Stephanie and Gab started talking about the water shortage that was happening in Tofino and they were already planning a trip to Victoria for Sunday and Monday. I was a little flabbergasted because I really wanted to go surfing and camping didn't understand all this talk. The water shortage would not affect us because we would be camping nor would it affect the surfing because the ocean is always there...so how it would affect us?

Friday night we arrived late to Kurt's Mama's house in Parksville. Her and Her husband have a beautiful home that they are using as a Bed & Breakfast, which explains the wonderful bed we given to sleep in, the bathroom was just as nice as the one in the Mandalay Bay Hotel, seriously...if her home had a pool, i would have stayed. In the morning we visited with them and I made German Pancakes while Gab and the girls prepared the fruit feast for breakfast. Kurt was coming with us to Tofino and his mom let us use her van for the trip. This was wonderful because Winston was completely full and that was with all of our stuff. How could we fit Kurt in?
By Eleven -thirty we were completely on our way and it takes three hours to get there. Good times. I didn't make reservations for surfing because I didn't know when we would be there and didn't know for sure that we were really going until the day before I left for Vegas. By the time we arrived in Tofino it was 2:30 and we chose "Surf Sister" to do our lessons, well, okay I chose it and they didn't have a preference. I found out that the last lesson at 4pm was full and every other surf shop had their last lesson at 2. So we made an appointment for Monday @ 10am. So this meant that we had to stay til Monday..haha suckers! I was happy. After that, we headed to the beach and pulled into one of the parking lots that was full but then we saw "the Bezooyen's" they were there surfing...how cool and random is that? Thankfully someone was leaving so we got their parking spot...blessed day! We just hung out on the beach for a couple of hours and then headed to our campsite. This "free" beautiful campsite that Gab keeps talking about that has a sandy beach on a lake....I had my doubts about the beauty and the sand. So we travelled more than 13km on a pot-holed gravelly road but in the end it was soo worth it and it is free...Yay. Here are the pics....

We had such a great time, even travelling to church for a little over an hour to Port Alberni on Sunday was worth it. They all complained but were good sports about doing things that I wanted to do. Like having to camp the whole time and driving to Ucluelet for potatoes...seriously, who doesn't want potatoes camping? I knew they were essential so I insisted and was unpopular until we ate the potatoes that night with chili...my peeps apologised and loved the potatoes!! Hence, my nickname is now "spud". We met some cool people there, like Mushroom Man who makes a living out of telling companies where to find the best mushrooms on the island. He was living on the beach for three months...isn't that the coolest..that's his job. Some other people we met were from Mexico and France. Matthew (avec a french accent), loula (lola) and Lallo (the mexican). Matthew and Loula are a couple that is on vacation, she is here for a year and he is here for a month. Lallo, has been in Canada working for a while now and they all met three days ago. He picked them up while they were hitchhiking. Haha. Anyway, the best time was Kurt trying to correctly pronounce the name of Lallo and Loula. He would say, Lala and lee lee, hahaha....to their face. It was hilarious watching them correct him all the time.

The day of Surfing had arrived! Yay!! It was foggy and cold but that meant not a lot of surfers were out on the beach ...yet. We were hardcore and although it takes a long time to get into a wetsuit...it is so worth it. We had about a 1/2 hour to 40 min lesson and then we were in the water. How fun! Our instructor had us draw our surfboards in the sand and practise getting up on the for about 15 min. but when were actually todo it on the board in the water...it's soo hard! You have to think of all the steps until it becomes routine...by the time I would actually get up..the wave is done. I love surfing, I want to do it lots and just getting on the board is exciting, anticipating the next wave....Priceless. Now that I know how to surf, I can rent a board and wetsuit for 2 hours in Tofino but I may want to try somewhere warmer next time. Here are some photos but they aren't close because Kurt was too cold to get closer...lame!

9/11 - 5th Anniversary

Today marks the 5th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Since that day and every year since, my heart has grieved for those lives that were taken too soon all because of senseless terrorism. I call is senseless because what has their act gained them besides a war on themselves? Has it made them any richer? Are they a more powerful nation because they killed thousands of people and ruined a nation's landmark? I have such disgust towards those terrorists and their "suicide missions". Terrorists are merely bullies who can't stand to live civilly. I'm sure their parents are proud. I cannot fathom people's disgust at Pres. Bush's reaction by starting a war, a war to combat terrorism. He has shown these people that you can't attack a country and kill their people without consequence. If this happened in Canada, would we want nothing less than a leader that leads? Isn't this the reaction that Captain Moroni had when they were attacked by the Lamanites? They fought for liberty, they fought for the preservation of life and the safety of their family. This was the reason they took up arms.
I support the war on terrorism and always will, I believe that this is a great way to honor those that died. A lot of people say that this isn't our war but how is it not? Terrorist acts do not happen only to the States or London or India. Terrorist acts can happen anywhere, anytime and this is what this war is about, to prevent acts as horrendous as 9/11 in the future towards all countries. I was sad when I started this blog now I am angry. I am angry at the injustice that Bin Laden is still out there, I am angry towards those men that flew those planes into the World Trade Center and I am angry that I cannot do more to help in some way.

There is beauty in all of this too. The heroes on Flight 93, that willingly gave their lives to prevent an attack on the White House. The uniting of the world for a time, when all planes were landed and cities opened up their hearts and homes for those that were stranded. When the world mourned together and truly loved one another.

Thanks for listening to my rant and reflections. Thank you, this is a day for comfort.

Viva Las Vegas

We embarked on our grand adventure Sunday August 27th. Let me tell you that that was one of the longest days of my life. The week leading up to it was torture too, work was very slow...having an office job with not a lot of work tends to make the minutes seem like hours. But finally, the day to leave for Vegas has arrived and we left our house with Karey at noon-ish. The border line up was a 15 min. wait...good thing we left with plenty of time to spare so that we wouldn't miss our flight. One time, I took the quick shuttle down to SEA-TAC airport for a flight at 1pm. The bus left downtown Vancouver @ 7am and we arrived at the border at 8ish. Due to a great number of other tour busses there, we didn't leave the border until 10am and we had also waited for a couple of passengers to show up for 20 min...they simply disappeared and so they got left behind. The quick shuttle is not as quick as it makes out to be, we had to stop at the bellingham airport and then downtown seattle. We finally arrived at the airport at 12:25pm. I was able to check in...go through security and be at my gate with 20 min. to spare (running a lot of the time). So, when I heard that everyone was very concerned about not getting to the Bellingham airport in time and making the flight and wanted to leave extra early for a flight that was at 7:50pm...I was less than enthusiastic. I cannot stand waiting around for things, I hate it! I knew that the only thing that we might have had to worry about was the border wait but even I knew that wouldn't be very long. What could I do, I was a passenger and only one against 5 others. Also, if anyone has seen the bellingham airport you know what I am talking about...there is no way you can miss your flight..checking in an hour early is even recommended i heard from a friend who recently flew out of there. Okay, so enough about the longest day of my life. The random driving around the Washington countryside was fun and so was playing mad lib in the state park there. I can't remember the name right now. Karey and Nikki are good times.

Vegas!!! We stayed at the Mandalay Bay hotel and karey, Randy, Scott & I went to the Mandalay Bay beach. It has a wave pool, where you can body surf and it has a lazy river. Scott and Randy both brought their tubes and so we used those, or floated without them. It was soo fun and relaxing. The four of us went to the beach every morning and that is how we started our day. Except for Tuesday, Randy & Scott were on their way to the Grand Canyon with Sarita & Nikki. The groups were like this, Nikki & Sarita most of the time, Karey & I, then it would be Karey, Nikki & Sarita and Scott, Randy & I. Mostly because the boys and I have been to Vegas plenty of times and we wanted some new adventures..mostly shopping. I hope Randy & Scott didn't feel like tour guides. They did a lot of the same things that they have done the many times they have been there. I was able to do some new things, like go shopping in the Aladdin, saw the Thunderstorm in the Desert Passage with Karey. I also went to two outlet malls on either side of the strip. I took the Deuce for the first time. The Deuce is the bus on the Strip that is a double decker bus that announces "Have fun, get out of the sun and ride the Deuce! $2 for a ride or 5$ all day" That $5 gets you a 24 hr bus pass and I used two of those when I was there. The Deuce only let me down once but I forgave it the next day. The northside of the strip is a little ghettoish and even in the daytime it doesn't seem safe. I went to the Coca Cola shop and the M&M factory I had bought some gifts for people..and I was so tempted to drink a coke...they make it look so delicious but I settled for some clear cards instead. We went on the gondola at the Venetian and were serenaded (well i don't think I can call it that) with "That's Amore". Ahh, the life of a venetian..or a tourist at least. We went to the Bellagio for dinner (the buffet..al we could afford in that hotel). Soo yummy. I have eating at the buffets down! I was able to sample everything...the seafood is disappointing there though. What can you expect living on the westcoast with fresh seafood anytime I want it. All the water in Vegas is heavily chlorinated and the taste and the smell permeates everything you eat, you wear, etc,. The seafood tasted like chlorine water...gross. But everything else was fantastic!! I also ate at the Aladdin Buffet (supper) and the Excalibur buffet (lunch) and Mandalay Bay Buffet (breakfast). Not all on the same day though.. i like to eat but not that much. The Paris had these Eiffel Tower plastic cups that can hold about two litres of liquid. I got a virgin Pina Colada in one (you get to keep the Eiffel Tower cup) and seriously, the guy poured in one litre "milk" carton of ready made pina colada mix into the "tower" and that is what I had to drink. It was heavy, delicious and by the time I drank to the top of the base...i was done. I never wanted to see another liquid again. I was able to keep the cup and experience something different, et voila...I did. There are a lot more things to talk about but I think I will just add some pictures later and let them tell the story. The Bellagio fountain is soo beautiful and just watching those, sets my mind at ease. I love water...I love it, love it, love it! We also went to the Temple. A little bit of the good to wash out the evil..haha kidding. I love Las Vegas, I still haven't seen it all.