Canada Day Weekend - Two Wheel Journeys

Canada Day weather - here on the west coast - was so nice, we took advantage to roam the countryside on two wheels.

Harrison River

We only had a half day to ride on Sunday before heading to Langley City to look after Easton while his parents enjoyed a date night out at the movies.  We rode east on Highway 7 towards Harrison Mills before making the turnaround and heading back for home.  Awesome, best describes the Sunday ride!

We had hoped to drop by Sassy's - BACK - On 'Da Road who is presently parked at a great RV park directly across the  Harrison River from Rowena's Inn.  Time restraints prevented that on this ride......but we'll attempt to get out there in the near future.  

Rowena's Inn

We enjoyed an ice tea at Rowena's Inn - located at the Sandpiper Golf Course.  This is a most beautiful place.

Click on this links for access to the WEB sites.

 BC Resort Hotel Vancouver | Rowena's Inn on the River Harrison Mills 

The view from our outdoor table @ Rowena's Inn

We've traveled here several times before -  often for golf - and often as a destination motorcycle ride.  It never fails to impress us.  It is such a beautiful environment that is nestled in the mountains and borders the Harrison River which flows into the mighty Fraser River. 

Fraser River - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Sandpiper statue that overlooks the No. 16 Par 3 green along the Harrison River.

It was hot!  Back on our ride, we rode straight for home.  The motorcycle garaged, we drove to Ginette and Trevor's home - about ten minutes from ours - to look after Easton.

Busy playing with his toys in his little pool in the shade.

Easton was keeping his cool while splashing and playing in his little fun pool.  It took little time before Jeanette and I were drenched too.  With such hot temperatures, the splashing  brought welcome relief. We welcomed it....and the fun he had drenching us!

Although hard to see in the photo, Easton's shirt is completely drenched.  And he is quite happy about that!

When Easton's folks returned from their movie outing, we sat around and chatted till about 10:30 pm, before heading for home.

Canada Day - Monday, July 1st ride to Pitt Lake

We chose another destination for our Canada Day ride.  Crossing over the Fraser River River, in Mission BC, we rode along the Dewdney Trunk Road above Mission and Maple Ridge before meeting up with Highway 7 in Pitt River.

Dewdney Trunk Road - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Heading north from Pitt River towards Pitt Lake

All the lakes were crammed with families looking for some respite from the heat.  The three lakes we visited were dotted with boats and other water craft.  Shortly after our arrival at Pitt Lake, we were looking out on the water near the boat launch when an ambulance screamed in and I was immediately asked if I knew where the plane crash site was.  "What plane crash", said I. We had neither seen nor heard about an supposed accident.

Everyone was enjoying the water

Within a few minutes, the ambulance attendant walked by and told us that the accident was in fact an ultralight aircraft that had crashed into the lake.  Jeanette counted eight (8) emergency response vehicles that showed up on the scene.  Minutes later a boat docked near the boat launch and a late 50's fella - dressed in a flight suit and carrying a float saving device - walked off the boat and was immediately met by paramedics. He showed no sign of injury.  I have a photo of him but chose not to post it on my blog; privacy reasons, mainly!

The ultralight was not recovered while we were on scene and the local TV or radio news did not report anything about the incident when we tuned in last night.

Pleasure boaters were ambivalent to the first responders on scene....

Once all the hullabaloo had died down, Jeanette and I rode off, back towards home.  All told, we rode well over 200 kilometres yesterday alone.  Combined with the other long weekend days, we covered over 600 kilometres this long weekend.

Two of the 8 emergency vehicles on the scene at Pitt Lake.

Jeanette captured the photo below before we rode off towards home.  We chose to head east on Highway 7 (The Lougheed Highway) towards Mission - over the Mission Bridge - then back through the back country roads.  Back home, we settled in for a lovely evening barbecue and just enjoying the nice summer temperatures.

Readying to leave Pitt Lake

One the route back from Pitt Lake is the entrance to the beautiful Golf Resort that our daughter Ginette and son in law Trevor were married at.  

Swan-e-Set Bay Resort & Country Club - Weddings

Our Canada Day long weekend was a fantastic opportunity to visit so many of the great spots we enjoy in this area.   Another - much longer - ride is planned in the days ahead. We'll focus on that in the next blog.

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Fun Canada Day Long Weekend....

The weather 'gawds' have pulled a complete reversal and, with blue skies and really hot temperatures, we've opted to celebrate this weekend with all play and no work.  And......, why not?

Riding through the Fraser Valley

Following a few hours of pricing on some back yard home improvement items, on Saturday, we rode off towards Cultus Lake in the Fraser Valley. It is always a nice destination and the area is a family playground on hot days.

It was T-shirt riding weather!

With so many families away for the long weekend, we had the local back country roads all to ourselves.  The agricultural area in the Fraser Valley is always a pleasant destination  and, on this ride, we were rewarded with the sweet smells emanating from ripe raspberry fields and fresh cut hay.  NICE!

One of several ice cream sellers in Cultus Lake

The lake was busy.  Families were enjoying the Provincial and private campgrounds, and the daytime picnic areas.  Boats were busy towing boarders and skiers.  Thousands were working on their tans.

Cultus Lake Golf Course

Upon arrival, we were looking for a nice spot to enjoy a cool, refreshing drink.  Jeanette suggested the outdoor terrace at the local golf course.  Great idea!  A little gem of a place is the restaurant at the Cultus Lake Golf Course.  There we sat on a shade covered deck, enjoying iced tea, while watching the golfers close up their rounds on the 18th hole.  Quiet, serene and pastoral describes the time we spent there.

Beautiful grounds

The golf course club house.

Families were out in force, enjoying the beautiful scenery and weather.  Young and old  combined to test their putting skills on a well manicured - real grass - putting course that parallels the golf course.

One of the golf course holes - with what we coined, 'New Faithful' - the little man made geyser.

Riding through the Provincial campground area - displaying 'no vacancy' signs - we were rewarded with a cross section of barbecue smells emanating from the campsites. Ah yes, the great smells of summer! 

Birchwood Dairy

Birchwood Dairy is an operating farm that also features a lovely deli offering a very large variety of great ice cream.  We dropped in for a break.  Walking around this well organized farm was pleasurable.

Nice grounds....all around!

Nice display of flowers on a wagon from yesteryear.

Families (mainly with little ones) were enjoying the free petting zoo there.  Little goats, calves, horses and more are the draw.

Vintage farm vehicles also dot the Birchwood Dairy landscape.

Old Massey Harris tractor

I'm not sure about this one but I believe it might be a Farmall tractor

So, a lovely day was enjoyed. Riding our motorcycle through such beautiful countryside is a treat we never tire of.

We have plans to ride again today (Sunday).  Following our weekly (very weakly, I might add) gathering of minds at our 'Open Mic', Sunday morning coffee, I'll return home and we'll ride off to another Fraser Valley destination.  We don't plan these daytime destinations.....we merely set off and see where we land.

Birchwood Dairy...(east from Abbotsford, BC, looking north)

Historically, we never head out for long weekend overnight jaunts.  We create our own long weekends when the roads are far less traveled and facilities are more available.

HAPPY CANADA DAY - Monday

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Rock Hunting

With the pond silting issue fixed, Jeanette and I went hunting for flagstone to complete the finished look.

Our choice

We have looked at many different rocks and the photo above is our choice to complete the landscaping. 

A lot of stock

The rock supplier, we have chosen to purchase from, has a huge inventory and many varieties.  We'll be able to pick and choose the right lengths and widths.  That will happen  in the days ahead.

Checking out the ride

Easton is attracted to anything motorized.  He emulates the motorcycle sounds and often leads Jeanette and I to our garage.  He loves to go walk around the motorcycles.

Checking things out.

Busy making us laugh

With his developing sense of humour, Easton enjoys having fun.  It's quite funny when he gets rolling with laughter. 

Early morning fun....

When here for a sleepover last weekend, Easton was an early morning jokester.  That Jeanette was able to capture these laughter photos was something that had eluded us in the past.

It rained hard and heavy

Kind of routine here, otherwise, with humdrum weather.  It seems we can't get past too many days without rain.  Last night - at about 9:00 pm - huge clouds started to form in skies above that caused lighting and thunder to strike hard.

The sun will come out in earnest this Canada Day long weekend.  We will plan numerous outdoor activities - guaranteed!

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Dragon Boats, Golf and A Sleepover

Daughter in law, Courtney arrived from Edmonton this past week to participate in the   Home | Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival  that started yesterday (Friday).  She and members of her team from that Alberta city will be competing in Vancouver's False Creek this weekend.

Ginette and Courtney take Easton for a nice walk in the park.

Courtney drove out with 40 paddles in her vehicle.  The other team members were flying in. The airlines wanted $20/paddle to ship to Vancouver.  Courtney loves to drive so she offered to transport the paddles.  It is a 12 hour drive from Edmonton to Vancouver.

We wish them well with their race(s) and the fundraising for breast cancer research that is the focus of this and many other dragon boating events worldwide. 

Friday's weather proved positive for a round of golf.  Our group met at a Vancouver golf course I had never played before. Fraserview Golf Course | City of Vancouver is an old course.  Built in the '30, this course was a joy to play.  It is not an easy layout but I sure managed it well. 

The greens were tough.  We witnessed many good puts that rimmed the hole....often.....too often!

In spite of the recent rains here, the course has great drainage.

Easton has been around for several visits, these past couple of days.  We sure enjoy his company.  He loves to laugh and laugh he does - often!  His favourite line, these days, is to point and ask, 'what's that...what's that...what's that?  Great fun!

His parents are guests at a wedding this evening so Easton will have a sleepover at our home.  We're both looking forward to that.  We've planned some outdoor and indoor activities.

As often as we try to get photographs when he's laughing, we keep missing out.  By the time the camera is ready, Easton gets focused on what we are trying to do with the camera and has a serious look.  I think the best approach might be to videotape him.

Serious Easton!

We continue to monitor the flood situation in the city of Calgary, Alberta, where we have many friends and relatives who call that city home.

Jeanette and I called that city home twice, in years past. Those affected by the raging rivers will endure a long and painful cleanup when the rivers do recede.  We sure wish them well.

Sure wonder if the world famous Calgary Stampede will be able to open on time - nine days from now!

I want to take this opportunity to wish my brother, Bernie and his wife, Rita who are celebrating birthdays this weekend, a most HAPPY one!

Me, Rita and Bernie - 2012 in Yuma, AZ

That is our story from here.

Thanks for dropping in.