Yesterday consisted primarily of a trip to Ikea in Coquittlan. I have never been in a store that was so large. The showroom was bigger that the Waterville plant. That didn't include the warehouse were you pick up your merchandise, the checkout area, pick up area or the parking lots. The cafeteria was the best I ever saw. I had a salmon dinner for $9.00. Kyle bought 2 brown chestfields and a bed and arranged to have them delivered. We are still pulling the Uhaul trailer everywhere we go and it is getting on Kyle's nerves.
Kyle picked up the key to his apartment and we just hung out watching TV. I tried to get Brett to go to a ball game with me but he wasn't up for it.
This morning we got a call from Dad to tell us that Ruth passes away.
We were checking out of the hotel today hoping to spent the night at Kyles new place. To kill time, went for a drive to the top of Grouse Mtn in West Van. We couldn't find a place to park because it was so busy so we came half way down the mtn and stopped at a Provincial Park that had lots of parking. We thought it was just a picnic park but it turned out to be o much more. There was a lake, dam, water falls, gorge, old growth forest, 9 ft wide Douglas Fir trees, a shady cool hiking trail and a fish hatchery.
We left there and fought the heat and traffic across the Lions Gate Bridge, thru town to Kyle's apartment. We parked the trailer in the underground parking (had to stand on the back of the trailer to get it to fit under the door.
Met Kyle's new landlord who was cleaning up after the painters.
We hung out for an hour while Brett got his computer fix and then headed down town. The people on the streets exuded a carnival atmosphere. We grabbed a burito and walked to the waterfront. We arrived 4 or 5 hours before the fireworks so we sat on a bench and took in the sights and sounds. As the sun went down, I wished I had packed a sweater. The view of the harbour front changes. A haze falls over the mountains and they are sillohitted by a pinkish blue sky. the crowd continues to build. Bikes, skateboards and rollerbladers reduce and are replaced more couples and families carrying blankets. The seaplanes seemed to have stopped for the night but boat and boat tour traffic pick up. The 9 pm cannon booms from the point in Stanley Park directly across to harbour. The tide has swung as the Navy Frigate in the middle of the harbour is pointing to where it was. Small boats take up station at the mouth of Coal Bay to get the best 'seats' in the house. The Harbour Fire Boat stops in front of us, turns on its hoses aft and stern and begins spinning in circles. It is the neatest fountain we could ever see.
The fireworks were fantastic. Certainly worth the wait.
The walk back seemed longer as the temp dropped and we were tired. We will sleep well tonight. Tomorrow we complete the trip by moving everything in.
Happy Birthday Cananda and British Columbia.
Night all.
Love you