2017

Friday I shoveled twice, Saturday I shoveled again. As you can see by where Tim is standing on the uphill side of the pile, I made a mountain of snow.

Tim has something in mind for this pile...

Let's get a shovel and dig! Thanks to Mark for providing the shovel.

Taking a breather and surveying the scene.

Back to work...

Hey Dad! can I sleep in here?

Ah, no Tim...

Though I can imagine me asking the same question when I was 11.

Well, I really did think that was the last of the snow story... But, last night (Feb 8) at 7pm my driveway, sidewalk and the road in front of our house was clear. This morning I looked outside and we have too much snow... Mark and Tim are home from school and Laura has been off sick anyway (So I didn't have to get it all clear at 530am). We have cleared some of it, but now it is lunch time. Here are some pictures:

Yes 8 to 10 inches of snow in there over night. To make things more fun it has been raining, so the snow is heavy to lift.

There is the big pile the snowplow left behind. It looks smaller now that we have built up the piles on either side.

Cleaning the sidewalk fun... I don't have a "selfie" pole I can take pictures of myself with to give scale, but the top of the snow is up to my knees at least, so about 20 inches. I am guessing at least some of that is from the snow plow too. I am about half way, but it gets worse as I go.

Mark is helping Dad clear the snow... One snowball at a time. Well actually he did help clear one side of the snow pile on the road to allow foot traffic. Mello got some outdoor time too.

Tim is just enjoying being in the snow.

This year we had two days for spring break. So we took a trip to Victoria.

Tim is working extra hard to smile... or is that frown?

here is what they were sitting on. While Mom goes on ahead.

Tim is not into nice posing right now.... some of that almost teenage stuff. Candid photos are much better!

Will you marry me? Any time, any place...

We visited the BC Parliament Buildings. Laura is excited to go inside but we needed a rest.

Laura enjoys being seen with royalty... and Len has his hat on backwards (easier to take pictures that way)

Here is where they decide our fate... well it may seem that way, but really we decide the important parts. We were not allowed inside. In fact just to get in to the building we went through the same kind of security as an international airport.

Lavishly Appointed to be sure. Here is the central hall.

Up in the corners are some paintings:

And a beautiful Lady... Oh here are some more paintings.

Those must be about the oldest set of pipes in Canada.

And there is the piper who played them. Meanwhile, Laura finds wise sayings on the window.

Over across the water is the hotel we stay at in the evening.

While waiting for one of these, we looked at a fountain plaza with the province coats of arms.

Laura has decided to move to Nova Scotia.

Tim is determined not to smile... but is have a very hard time frowning.

It's not working Tim! Here is our horse power for the next 45 minutes.

Ready to roll.

WOW, Tim smiled... on purpose.

As it turned out, we picked our timing very poorly. The ride was interesting, but no more pictures because we were trying to keep the camera from getting wet... and keep us from getting wet. Part of our Carriage ride went through Beacon Hill Park where we saw a petting zoo and lots of peacocks. So we went back the next day.

There were peacocks all over the park. The petting zoo had some very small horses.

This one decided to roll over

Sheep and Alpacas

Tim Really enjoyed the goats... The goats seemed to think he was part of the climbing rocks.

These goats really enjoy people... and climbing. Tim tries walking away... The goat stayed for about three steps.

This one looks like it is about to have some more climbing on kids... well kids. Mean while, Laura and Mark stroll through the park.

Tim and a seal eye each other.

We went for a harbour tour next in a water taxi... but I don't seem to have pictures. I am not sure why. You will see a picture of the water taxi later though.

Next we went for lunch while we waited to go on our next trip. Tim had this fancy cheese cake.

Then we got seated with all the other people... and watched the taxi we had been on head for it's next destination.

At first we went in circles... until this passed and then we were off.

We were in a "Single Otter" the older sibling of the more famous "Twin Otter". This one has been upgraded from the original piston engine to a turboprop (or is maybe one of the last few made). It turns out that a local company has bought the rights and specifications of all the discontinued de Havilland Canada aircraft and supplies turboprop conversions, parts and even makes new Twin Otters.

Tim does not remember having flown before, so this was a first for him. The Otter is unpressurized and noisier than a jet inside. The pressurization did not matter as we flew at about 3000 feet only. Tim says he would like to fly when he grows up.

Ever wondered what a mall looks like from high up? Kind of a mess... And the hospital we ate across the street from. The restaurant is centre of the right edge.

Some nice beaches, someones private Island...

Here we are in front of the Otter we flew in. One of the crew was nice enough to take our picture.

So that was Spring Break 2017 for us. It was really enjoyable. Thank you Laura for all your support. As you can imagine, there are more pictures... out of focus, special to us/me at the time but not meaningful in a web page, duplicates, etc.