Lots and Lots

Where to start...

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ALREADY READ THIS ENTRY - THERE'S BEEN AN UPDATE AS I WAS REMINDED I FORGOT A FEW THINGS

Sander (pronounced like "Saunder" - the Bawt's friend from Holland) has been here visiting the last week or so and will be heading home tomorrow. He has great English and has had fun hiking Grouse, going to Cultus Lake, and playing games with all of us.

Well I finally went to a Pow Wow - Spirit of the People to be exact. It was AWESOME! I have always loved Native/First Nations Peoples heritage and philosophies so I had immediate chills when we walked into the arena and the grand entry began. The garb is a bit different from the old traditional wear as it has a bit of an 80's touch with some bright neon colors. There were however some more traditional looking wear and to hear the songs/chants and to see them all dancing was very exciting for me. Brandon, Aunt Sheri, Connor, Saunder, and Jenni all came and they met up with a friend.

Young boy at the Pow Wow


This man was an awesome dancer...


Aunt Sheri, Brandon, Sander, and Connor and I went to North Vancouver where we did a tough hike called the Grouse Grind. It is 2hrs of climbing straight up the mountain. We all did really well and had a few little parties at each quarter mark! We met some people, made friends, and then went to a fantastic lumberjack show, a Wraptor show, and took a chairlift to the highest peak. It was an awesome day. We all had such a good time and were so happy we "Survived the Grind." <--- T-Shirt slogan at the top!

WARNING


Shot of the climbers


We also went to visit Ben (Australian friend) and Rebecca in Port Moody to congratulate the two on being newly engaged!! SO 'WICKED'! (I'm getting a lot of reaction to my constant use of 'wicked')...but anyway - we hung out, had some drinks, got a little crazy and then went into Port Moody the next morning to explore. As the two of us were not feeling super, we took it easy and walked around the waterfront boardwalk area after I ate a bagel and Brandon ate a B.E.L.T (Bacon Egg Lettuce Tomato) which he thinks Canadians really love because they are on all the breakfast menus. bahaha. Sidetrack though - so after breakfast we went and walked on the boardwalk until it got too hot. Sorry everyone back east, the weather has been beautiful the whole summer! :P We watched a Great Blue Heron snatch fish and ducklings clean their feathers.

View from the Boardwalk


Brandon and I on the Boardwalk


Then this morning (Tuesday) we went for an unbelievable flight up and around the mountains in Chilliwack area and over the Fraser river valley. So amazing and Brandon and I are so thankful that Aunt Sheri and Uncle Jamie gave us the opportunity to do the flight. It was one of the biggest highlights of the summer! The views of glaciers and glacial lakes on top of the mountain range was gorgeous - as was the giant waterfalls, the spidery Fraser River, and flying out of tiny Chilliwack Airport in the small 1960's Cherokee 180. THANK YOU UNCLE JAMIE/AUNT SHERI!

Cherokee 180 - Our Flight


:) In Flight


The Mountains


Glacier on the Mountaintop


http://www.youtube.com/ameroo1986 <-- Video of our Flight and the Blue Heron eating fish! Please watch at least the Heron, it's very cool!

Other then those major updates, Brandon and I have been hanging out with the fam and doing stuff around Chilliwack area. Aunt Sheri, Jenny, and I had a fun late night party on the front porch - talking, laughing, and other funny things! ;) It was very fun. Aunt Sheri continues to make fun things for dinner (tonight was Greek Gyros) and as we are not as creative, we do hope they like some of the things we make!? bahaha.

Brandon's mum, Sandy is currently trying to sell Brandon's jeep and has been SO kind to clean it and market it for us while we are out here! Aiden (1.5yrs) was very helpful with helping 'Gamma' clean! I know I speak for both of us when I say we can't wait to get home and see how much Aiden has grown in the last few months. I know I could hear a very full and clear sentence over the phone the other day! :)

Alright - time to play a game with everyone. Leave a comment, I love them!

Amy <3

Whistler and more...

Brandon's cousin, Jon and his girlfriend Nina arrived on July 9th for a 10pm dinner. Brandon made all of us curry chicken (at Aunt Sheri's suggestion) which was really yummy. The boys stayed up and Nina and I went to bed.

Friday we took Jon and Nina to the Othello Tunnels where Brandon and I had visited before. They too thought it was really cool. When we were walking through the tunnels we saw a path going down the bank into the gorge so we four walked down and went swimming for an hour or so.

Othello Tunnels


Swimming Hole


Saturday we went camping just up the way from Chilliwack at Riverside Campground which was very small with only about 10 sites. Knowing ahead of time how busy the road up to Chilliwack lake and campground is, we were sure that it would be really difficult to find a campsite. We were so lucky though to pull into the Riverside place and find 1 SPOT left!! We set up our two tents and then drove up the road to Chilliwack lake where we hung out until the sun went down. We went back to the campsite and had snacks and LOTS of WINE and BEER. CRAZY night - end of story.

Monday morning we headed out to Vancouver area where we stopped at Mountain Equipment Co-Op *the greatest outdoors store ever* and then went to Lynn Canyon. There we went over a suspension bridge and walked around the forest around the canyon. Jon decided to go beyond the safe fence and pick up coins people had thrown down the canyon. It was funny to see peoples reaction and looks of disgust as he cleaned up.

Suspension Bridge at Lynn Canyon


Jon stealing the litter


After hiking around we got on the road and headed north to Squamish. We made it into town around 3pm and found Alice Lake where we were lucky to get one of the few free campsites. We set up and then I drove us all into town where we stopped at an Info Center. There we were told that a 3 hour hike up Stawamus Chief would be a great way to end the day. OH MY GOSH! At the start of the trail there was a sign to the left that read CAUTION: This is not a walk in the park...NO IT WAS NOT. This was 2hours nearly 90degrees straight up! It was like a violent stair master. There were stairs out of wood, stairs out of rocks, chains, and even a ladder. It was an amazing hike with an even better view of the inlet at the top. There was a hole in the cloud cover that let a mass of sun rays through that shone on the town below. We all could have stayed up there for hours. We made it down just as the sun set and headed back to camp. We ate our dehydrated meals that Brandon bought which included Beef Stew and mashed potatoes and then Apple crisp for dessert! It was pretty good for a meal in a bag. Not like the MRE's dad! haha.

View from Peak 2 of Stawamus Chief


Photographer Brandon's Picture of the climbers


Tuesday early we headed up to Whistler where Jon went mountain biking (b/c Whistler is the mecca of mountain biking). Nina, Brandon, and I walked around Whistler village going into many of their neat shops. Then Brandon and I wanted to go up the mountain so he got us tickets to take the Gondola up. At the first stop on the mountain we got off and took the new gondola from Whistler peak all the way over to Blackcomb peak. It was amazing. A first of its kind it stretches for nearly 2.7 miles across!!!

Nina and Me on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola


Brandon on top of Whistler


Mountains for Miles


Inukshuk - 2010 Olympic/Canadian Symbol


We said goodbye to Jon and Nina and Brandon and I headed home. We stopped at a neat restaurant where we had a nice meal together and then got on the road. We parked at a Provincial Marine Park and took pictures by the ocean and FINALLY put our feet in the Pacific. Unbelievably beautiful, the mountains shoot right into the ocean.

Sea to Sky highway view


Stop at the Marine Park


Brandon and I went to a Youth Employment Centre today for some help. Crossing my fingers for something.

We'll keep updating when stuff goes on. Hi to Stan, Carl, Mike D, Emily, Karen, Khoi, Nanz, Sandy and Victor, Stafford Ladies, Mr.Stafford, Sar, Uncle J and Aunt Sheri/Connor and Jenn(Bahaha), Grandma and Grandpa, and Mum and Dad, Moshy and Summs, Aunt GARNIE and UNCLE DAN and whoever else is keeping track. Love to all.

Amy and Brandon

Old Friend, New Friends

BACKGROUND: Ben Mackereth (my buddy from Australia) moved out to British Columbia about a year and half ago to live with his Canadian girlfriend and explore the country. Rebecca (his g/f) moved out to Australia before that(where she met Ben) to live at one of my relatives house and coach Vaulting (horse sport). GOT THAT?

I was super pumped to be coming out west because I knew I'd get to meet up with the two of them. As I have been in touch with Ben over the last three years(YIKES)since I've been in Australia, I knew about Bec but was a little unsure of what it would be like to meet her. Would she like me? Would I like her? --> Last week I got to find out. OMG, Bec has to be one of the liveliest funniest people I've met! Always up for a good time and Ben is one of the kindest, easy going people I know - so it was fantastic to see the two together. Ben and Bec invited us last week to Coquitlam for July 1st (Canada Day for all you Americans :) ) where after getting lost a couple times and were desperate to find a liquor store on our way to Bec's house; we finally arrived about 2 hours late. I felt like it was just a bit ago I had seen Ben- and Bec was very welcoming :) We played Bocce before Bec had to leave for a work Christmas party? and we went to eat dinner. After we ate supper with Ben and a couple of his buddies, we gathered up and grabbed Bec and headed back to the house. We ended up drinking a bit more and playing Bocce with her 'cute as' parents. Bec's dad was hilarious as it was most important that we try a throw of Bocce on their trampoline! haha.

Ben and I at Cactus Club Cafe


Then on the weekend we piled into Ben's most awesome Dodge Grand Caravan and met up with two other couples to go camping at Ross Lake on the Canadian/US Border. It was absolutely beautiful!! We arrived REALLY late Friday night and were lucky to get a spot. We set up in the dark and then sat around candles (thanks to a fire ban) and talked for a bit. Brandon and I drank a bottle of Aunt Sheri's homemade wine that she MADE us bring :)

Group shot - Camping at Ross Lake


Brandon and the border marker - you can see the border go up the mountain behind.


The next day Brandon and I went down to the Skagit River to fish (one rainbow trout) and then went to the Beach by the lake with everyone else. We had a few dogs in the crew so the dogs went swimming and the boys did some log rolling with driftwood from the lake. It was quite funny to watch them make it all of 3 seconds on the logs before tumbling off. Sometimes in very awkward looking ways bahaha! We had an amazing dinner (thanks to B and B) with bacon wrapped Turkey steaks and incredible instant mashed potatoes (thanks to A.Sheri), which I promise you - were REALLY amazing. We sat around candles again before all heading to bed.

Brandon fishing on Skagit River


Rainbow Trout


Bec is the splash and Ben is on the log


On the way home - we had a major flat tire. Aussie Ben to the rescue "no worries mate." We pulled over along the highway after a woman driving by mouthed as big as her mouth could go that we HAD-A-FLAT-TIIIIREEE. We got back on the road and not five minutes in the windshield got smacked by a rock and left a very large crack. POOR BEN. The weekend however was very fun!

Flat Tire


Experienced? I think!


Train went zooming by when we were pulled over


Job searching is a bit slow. Not a lot of employment opportunities out here as far as summer jobs. Construction you have to have certification. Restaurant business you have to have three food safety certifications. Grocery Stores have finished summer hiring (hopefully I can use my Deli slicing experience to weasel my way in)? The home hardware places are like the grocery stores. Reception work is definitely needed out here but Punjabi is a must often times?! Brandon and I couldn't even get work for BLUEBERRY PICKING?!!! I may resort to a Timmy's (Tim Horton's) or another fast food joint. Sheri gave me her neighbors number who hasn't had her bathroom cleaned in just under a YEARR...so I will head over to do that this week?! Brandon has had a paying photo job taking pictures of high school seniors for their prom. It was a good time as it was Aunt Sheri's friend who asked her to take some pics. She very kindly invited Brandon along.

Speaking of the fam...the four of them are so incredibly kind to us. Uncle Jamie works LOOONG shifts at the PD and Sheri is almost always going somewhere for the kids or whatever else. She constantly offers us stuff and makes us "special coffees" in the evening. SPOILED ARE WE!! Jenni and Connor and awesome cuzzies. Connor is the most polite young guy I've ever met! Jenni is the most hilarious high strung 12 year old. It's awesome. I often get tickled or she likes to attempt to pick my heavy a$$ up (I dont know why?haha) The other day she put my hair in a siamese pony tail?! bahaha. The family is currently down on the Oregon coast enjoying the spectacular ocean and beaches!

I guess that's enough of an update for now? JON and NINA COME TODAY!! yipee!

Love from the two of us...
Amy


Dad - post something!

VIDEOS --> http://www.youtube.com/user/ameroo1986 <-- Train/Flat tire and Log Rolling! :)