Finally I know why I came to Canada!! To see this.....this is the Canada I had imagined!!!!More later.....I am tired and want to get to my campspot before dark...am in Jasper now...probably about as far north as I am going!!!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Bow Lake
Finally I know why I came to Canada!! To see this.....this is the Canada I had imagined!!!!More later.....I am tired and want to get to my campspot before dark...am in Jasper now...probably about as far north as I am going!!!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Eating Crab by the Castle Mountains!
Now I have to say this is pure decadence for me....eating Dungeness Crab between the Bow River and Castle Mountain! I found a perfect picnic table to enjoy 2 delicious crab left over from all those crabs that Ellen and John kept catching in the San Juans....they were already boiled and I just added a little Tony's Cajun seasoning....and in keeping with camper style, pliers and an ice pick were my tools. I was a happy camper!!
Lake Louise
One of the first places you come to in Banff National Park and the entrance to the Rocky Mountains is Lake Louise....the most famous glacial lake in the Canadian Rockies, this lake is exquisite....really...the first thing I saw were the glaciers...
then through the trees in the parking lot you could see this turquoise blue (created by melting glacier silt)...and it's just like that. There are lots of people enjoying the same thing...the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is perched on one end and has been rebuilt and added onto several times since the original chalet in 1890....
and a really nice trail that goes to the other end of the lake and then further on to a teahouse at a place where 6 glacier fields meet....that I may hike to another day....I really am not wearing the right clothes or shoes for that as it goes on up to the glaciers.
After the walk I went inside the hotel to take a look around
...there was a beautiful woman playing a beautiful harp...so elegant...I asked for the room price list....the cheapest one is $250 and the highest $1900 per night!! I go back to my humble little van!
then through the trees in the parking lot you could see this turquoise blue (created by melting glacier silt)...and it's just like that. There are lots of people enjoying the same thing...the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is perched on one end and has been rebuilt and added onto several times since the original chalet in 1890....
and a really nice trail that goes to the other end of the lake and then further on to a teahouse at a place where 6 glacier fields meet....that I may hike to another day....I really am not wearing the right clothes or shoes for that as it goes on up to the glaciers.
After the walk I went inside the hotel to take a look around
...there was a beautiful woman playing a beautiful harp...so elegant...I asked for the room price list....the cheapest one is $250 and the highest $1900 per night!! I go back to my humble little van!Monday, August 24, 2009
Driving to the Rockies
I decided to drive as far as I could today as I am headed for the Canadian Rockies!! I drive through some amazing agriculture land inbetween mountains....here is an orchard of I think apples....there were so many fruit stands of which I stopped and loaded up but forgot to take photos....plums, peaches, apples, corn, and tomatoes.....
I drove by so many lakes that I cannot even remember which one was which...and they are big lakes....I think this is the one in Penticton which is Wine Country.
My first view of glacier covered mountains.....not sure but this could even be the Cascade Mountains as I had to cross that range first.....it was a long day...
I passed a Weighing Station for trucks that was open and they didn't look too busy...I have been wondering how heavy we are....The van weighs 2950 Kilograms....6500 Pounds including me, a half tank of gas (35 gallon capacity) and 13 gallons of water I usually carry...an average load I reckon. Good thing I got that V8.....and oh yes did I mention that gas is $1.11 per litre.....and there are 3.78 liters to a gallon...I'll let you do the adding (since I made a mistake on a previous post on the exchange rate and had it backwards)...I did exchange $200 U.S today and got $208 Canadian.... I made it to Revelstoke where I simply pulled into a Super 8 Motel parking lot and went to sleep.
I drove by so many lakes that I cannot even remember which one was which...and they are big lakes....I think this is the one in Penticton which is Wine Country.
My first view of glacier covered mountains.....not sure but this could even be the Cascade Mountains as I had to cross that range first.....it was a long day...I passed a Weighing Station for trucks that was open and they didn't look too busy...I have been wondering how heavy we are....The van weighs 2950 Kilograms....6500 Pounds including me, a half tank of gas (35 gallon capacity) and 13 gallons of water I usually carry...an average load I reckon. Good thing I got that V8.....and oh yes did I mention that gas is $1.11 per litre.....and there are 3.78 liters to a gallon...I'll let you do the adding (since I made a mistake on a previous post on the exchange rate and had it backwards)...I did exchange $200 U.S today and got $208 Canadian.... I made it to Revelstoke where I simply pulled into a Super 8 Motel parking lot and went to sleep.
Leaving the San Juans/ headed to Canada
Caught the "Red Eye" Ferry this morning out of Friday Harbor....at 6AM...which meant getting up at 4:30 AM to pack the crab and pick some fresh blackberries for breakfast...had to do that by headlamp as it was still dark......I leave with great memories and a desire to come back!! Great hosts, great food and made some new friends!! 
Did enjoy a beautiful sunrise on the 90 minute ferry crossing.....we stopped on Lopez Island to pick up some more folks....we passed another ferry that was just like ours.. 
....we landed in Anacortes, WA and then I drove about an hour or so to the most unbusy remote border crossing I had heard about.....Sumas.....it was great..only 3 cars ahead of me and a piece of cake.......he ran the passport and said have a great day......no car permit needed, no fee...nada....Wow! Yippee back in Canada!!
Did enjoy a beautiful sunrise on the 90 minute ferry crossing.....we stopped on Lopez Island to pick up some more folks....we passed another ferry that was just like ours.. ....we landed in Anacortes, WA and then I drove about an hour or so to the most unbusy remote border crossing I had heard about.....Sumas.....it was great..only 3 cars ahead of me and a piece of cake.......he ran the passport and said have a great day......no car permit needed, no fee...nada....Wow! Yippee back in Canada!!Sunday, August 23, 2009
San Juan Island living
These are some miscellaneous photos of Island living here....today is my last day on the sea water as I will be heading to Mainland Canada tomorrow.....and leaving the Pacific waters behind!
We took an amazing walk along the seashore......the sun was shining and I actually got hot...first time here as I am layered up while everyone else in shorts and tank tops...crazy people...they are half polar bear...
Madrone trees are a common site. Love that red peeling bark.
Picked up lots of beach glass today.
Driftwood strewn South Beach.
Roche Harbor.
Fields of Lavender.
A barn I thought was cool.
The sign at the end of Mike and Sue's driveway....I particularly like the one that says Mulege..1607 miles...that would be Mulege, Baja Sur Mexico...where I met them....the Baja is calling!!!
To end the evening we went to a birthday party at Sally and Whirl's.....97 year old Edna entertained us by playing keyboard!! Really nice folks..all of them!!!
We took an amazing walk along the seashore......the sun was shining and I actually got hot...first time here as I am layered up while everyone else in shorts and tank tops...crazy people...they are half polar bear... Madrone trees are a common site. Love that red peeling bark.
Picked up lots of beach glass today.Driftwood strewn South Beach.
Roche Harbor.Fields of Lavender.
A barn I thought was cool.
The sign at the end of Mike and Sue's driveway....I particularly like the one that says Mulege..1607 miles...that would be Mulege, Baja Sur Mexico...where I met them....the Baja is calling!!! To end the evening we went to a birthday party at Sally and Whirl's.....97 year old Edna entertained us by playing keyboard!! Really nice folks..all of them!!!Friday, August 21, 2009
Orcas (Killer Whales)
We saw ORCA'S today!!! Killer Whales some people call them....sooo cool...saw them from the western seashore of San Juan Island....there are 3 resident Pods of them here....we saw at least one Pod....maybe 40 or 80 individuals...all known and named. I never saw one breach but I did see some "spy hop" and dolphin is what its called when they are traveling.
That is a kayaker on the left....in the middle of the kelp....he got a really close up experience..I can imagine what he was saying....OMG!
Spy hopping.....
That is a kayaker on the left....in the middle of the kelp....he got a really close up experience..I can imagine what he was saying....OMG!Spy hopping.....
Blackberries
It all started in the morning as Mike and I set out to pick blackberries...we didn't have to travel very far...like right down their road...they are everywhere...along every roadside, parking lots, yards, etc.....I hung a paint bucket from my belt loop with Mike's old watch...so I could use both hands to pick....we were professional pickers!
Then Sue and I went to the store and bought sugar and pectin...she already had the jars...We are making blackberry Jam.....Mike thought I might need "bargaining power" and Jam would be a good thing.
Sue washing and measuring the berries...
We used like 3 different recipes....3 different types of pectin....they all turned out a little different...berries, sugar, pectin, and lemons.....we submerged the filled and sealed jars in boiling water for 10 minutes to really seal them for long keeping.
Happy girls....50 + jars of Jam.....and about 4 hours of fun work!!!
Then Sue and I went to the store and bought sugar and pectin...she already had the jars...We are making blackberry Jam.....Mike thought I might need "bargaining power" and Jam would be a good thing.
Sue washing and measuring the berries...
We used like 3 different recipes....3 different types of pectin....they all turned out a little different...berries, sugar, pectin, and lemons.....we submerged the filled and sealed jars in boiling water for 10 minutes to really seal them for long keeping.Happy girls....50 + jars of Jam.....and about 4 hours of fun work!!!Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Crabbin......
Mike taking us to set out the crab pots.......thats what they call crabbin!! They know I love crabbin so I feel like they have made a special effort to work this in our time together.
We baited them with several different things...Sue took some freezer-burned Duck out of her freezer, some fish she didn't like and then we smashed up some dead clams. A nice feast for the crabs who eat just about anything.......its a wonder that they taste so dang good!!
We set out 3 pots and checked them after 20 minutes....we had caught 3 huge Dungeness crabs!! You can only keep the Males that are at least 6 inches.... a dollar bill is a good measurement. 
We took them home and boiled em up......we had a few more to boil the next morning as Mike, John and Ellen all went out at 6 AM and caught 4 more.....it would have done no good for me to go.... as they all had licenses...besides it is really cold on the water at that hour!!
We baited them with several different things...Sue took some freezer-burned Duck out of her freezer, some fish she didn't like and then we smashed up some dead clams. A nice feast for the crabs who eat just about anything.......its a wonder that they taste so dang good!!
We set out 3 pots and checked them after 20 minutes....we had caught 3 huge Dungeness crabs!! You can only keep the Males that are at least 6 inches.... a dollar bill is a good measurement. We took them home and boiled em up......we had a few more to boil the next morning as Mike, John and Ellen all went out at 6 AM and caught 4 more.....it would have done no good for me to go.... as they all had licenses...besides it is really cold on the water at that hour!!Oyster Farm
We went to the local oyster farm to buy some oysters for dinner tonight. 
One can pick their own or buy them from the baskets that are submerged in flowing water.
Frank is hauling in some oysters and mussels. He is bringing more to our special seafood dinner tomorrow night.
One can pick their own or buy them from the baskets that are submerged in flowing water.
Frank is hauling in some oysters and mussels. He is bringing more to our special seafood dinner tomorrow night.
Clamming in the Bay
Our first activity is digging for clams in the bay while the tide is OUT! 
Friends John and Ellen from nearby Bainbridge Island have rented a place for a week so they have a perfect place to clam.
It's messy work, but fun....you just dig a hole in the mud and feel around for the little clams that live about 6 inches deep. These are Manilla Little Neck clams....an introduced species. 
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We then take them to nearby Roche Harbor where they have a nice washing facility and Sue and Ellen wash them off.
We will see how tasty they are after they are soaked in clean sea water for 2 days to help cleanse them of the mud I suppose....(kind of like we purge our crawfish in Louisiana).....we will save them for a big seafood feast on Thursday.
Friends John and Ellen from nearby Bainbridge Island have rented a place for a week so they have a perfect place to clam.
It's messy work, but fun....you just dig a hole in the mud and feel around for the little clams that live about 6 inches deep. These are Manilla Little Neck clams....an introduced species. .We then take them to nearby Roche Harbor where they have a nice washing facility and Sue and Ellen wash them off.We will see how tasty they are after they are soaked in clean sea water for 2 days to help cleanse them of the mud I suppose....(kind of like we purge our crawfish in Louisiana).....we will save them for a big seafood feast on Thursday.
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