After that, we filled each day with at least one activity for each of the following days. For a quick overview, Tuesday we swam at a pool in Surrey, Wednesday we went to the Science Centre, Thursday we went to see Lynn Valley Canyon, Friday we went for a Trail ride, Saturday we went to a different pool, and Sunday we went to Boundary Bay before returning the boys on the ferry.
In more detail, I shall take it one activity day at a time.
Tuesday - We went to the the Fleetwood Recreation Centre in Surrey. It is a really nice centre. It has a really large hot tub, a good shallow section for really young kids, and some aquatic apparatus that combines basketball with waterfalls, a water slide, and a separate trisected pool that has a regular diving board, a 3 metre board, lanes for lap swimmers (25 metres per lap) and a standably deep section for assorted monkeying around. We very contentedly filled the day until prunedome was assured.
Wednesday - We went to Science World. As we were staying near the Lougheed Centre in Burnaby, we just hopped on the Millennium Line and stepped off a block from the destination. Upon arrival, we discovered that many people agreed that Science World was a really good way to spend a rainy afternoon. That (and the eternal entry fee which a lot of things worth doing find worth charging for) aside, it is a very interesting place that thrives on hands on interaction with science which can reach all kids and kids at heart. They have hourly stage shows where science is explained and demonstrated in a fun and entertaining way. There are permanent displays that perpetually entertain the masses, but also temporary displays to keep the centre fresh and new. Right now they are doing a Lego exhibit that can definitely keep you looking for a bit of time. On top of that, there is also the Omnimax theatre that is quite capable of creating a fantastic case of vertigo, and nausea as it gives you a show that utterly covers your vision from the absolute edges of your peripheral vision. - What a ride. (I didn't experience this particular activity on this visit, but have twice before enjoyed it in full). Moving along....
Thursday - we sought the Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge and challenged the heights and wobbles of said adventure. We arrived on a dreary day while the rain sprinkled down on our heads. This linked page isn't the official page, but it does the bridge a great service. Due to the chill of the soggy day, we didn't linger to explore the trails, but look forward to our next visit. We then spent the evening with friends I haven't seen in about 4 years. It was a wonderful visit, and for them especially, the changes in the boys were astounding. My older boy was shorter than the younger one is now, and the younger one was just over half of his current height. That, and the baby features are utterly gone now. Not only that, but my older boy is now the clone of his father whom they first met when he was his son's age. Nothing makes time pass so quickly as the presence of a child to mark its passage. I digress...
Friday - again was wet, but it cleared off and we decided to go for a trail ride. We found a company called "Back In The Saddle Again" Trail Rides. As we pulled up to the grounds of Campbell Valley Park, the sky was cloudy, but the temperature was still warm. We mounted up, and the skies released a light drizzle, and a bit of a bluster, but it was still quite acceptable, afterall, we did dress for a cooler day...., not only that, but the horses were very good horses for the rookies that we were. ..... So by the time we were 20 minutes into our ride, we were soaked through the winter coat and layers beneath as well as the jeans, and we mutually agreed that it was a good turn around point. The horses perked up at the turning around and my fellow, Douglas, decide he wanted to show the way home. Dissuaded from this, he settled into his place and headed back more reserved in pace than his better judgement guided. (humans are rather irrational creatures, it seems). On the way back, we actually encountered a brief but well stated thunder and lightening show. Ah well, anyone can go riding on a sunny summer day, but only a real wannabe cowboy would strike out in these conditions. By the time we could see the parking lot, we were down to overcast, and calm, so we extended the route another 20 minutes. It may sound like this particular venture was a bust, but we absolutely enjoyed ourselves, and the weather just added a bit of humour to the outing. I would recommend this outfit, and I wouldn't hesitate to go again.
Saturday we connected at another pool in Surrey, the Newton Recreation Centre. (This is a 360 virtual tour link - as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!!) This pool was quite different from the other one. It had no diving boards, but has a wave pool, had 2 slides, several water cannons, and in general, in spite of my boys' concerns that without a diving board they might get bored, we actually pried them out after 4 hours. As an added bonus, I was able to connect with one of my newest friends that I met here in Oliver, and who introduced me to blogging. Some of you know her from Travels With Miranda. If you haven't met her in her blog yet, and you are into RV full time adventures, she is a good tag in. As with the last time we got together, the time just flew by. When we finally left just before 6 pm, we went over to my Sister-in-law's family's house and briefly dropped in. .... At 10:30 we decided that we really should get home as the boys still had to pack for their trip home the next day.
Sunday - we got up after a slight sleep in, Skyped my parents in Arizona, then went about gathering and packing our things. We left a bit early for the 5 pm ferry as we decided it would be better to find a time killing place closer to the terminal. My brother lives about an hour away from the ferry to Victoria, and we didn't want traffic to interfered with the journey. We went to Tsawwassen, then diverted our route to the beach at Boundary Bay to take in the view, and skip some stones. We gave ourselves 20 minutes to make the 5 minute trip to the terminal. - good thing.!! The boys were simply going to walk on and meet their father on the other side, and that is usually a no hassle process. Not on the last day of Spring Break. We got in the back of the line as I had to buy their tickets. It moved quickly, but the line extended about 300 metres outside the building, and had a double-back line inside. By the time we reached the doors into the building, the line was as long, or longer than when we joined it. They did manage to get on the right ferry though - sprinting up the walkway to the ramp, and getting there at 4:59.
And so today I got up in time to leave at the same time as my brother and Sister-in-law as they headed for work. I left Vancouver around 9:30, and returned home by 2 pm.
It was awesome to see the boys and others I have been missing, but I am also very happy to be home. ... and as a special "welcome home", my beloved took me out to a beautiful ambiance filled full course steak with prawns dinner that was leisurely enjoyed over a 2 hour period as we looked over the lake in Osoyoos. - quite the full day, and week, to be sure! Please check out the pictures. There would have been more, but we were too busy enjoying the time to be shooting it. :-)
So with that, I bid you...
Adieu.
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