Day 3 cont . . .

We went to a place for lunch called Goats on Roof Old Country Market.  There really were goats on the roof of the store.  The live up there and keep the grass eaten.  There is so much rain that the grass is naturally watered every day.  I don't know who came up with the idea of having goats on the roof but it is a total novelty and a great tourist trap!

We also saw a deer as we were leaving the park.  Annie spotted him and we had to take a quick picture and then drive away slowly.  We didn't want him to run out in front of the car.

I'm thinking my time frame is not totally accurate but it is close.  When you do all the activities that we did in the four days we were there it is hard to keep them straight.  If this is a little mixed up, no one will know except Lynda Ann and Mallory.  Just chalk it up to Gam moments!

We went on some trails through the park and saw more waterfalls and Annie even spotted a little tiny mouse.  It is amazing that something that tiny can scare the living daylights out of us!  We all got past the little varmint as fast as we could.  It could have been Gus Gus or Jaq!

More pictures of the walk through the park

Day 3 Vancouver, Canada

This day was devoted to going on the Ferry to Nanaimo, Canada.  It started out at McDonalds in Pemberton, Canada on our way to the ferry.  Mallory was fascinated with the fact that everywhere you looked you saw the maple leaf.  Even on the McDonald garbage cans!

 Walking through the park and enjoying the sights of the park and aquarium. 

 The waterfalls were incredible.  The pictures do not give it justice. 

 Englishman River Falls at Provincial Park

 My yellow rain coat that I wore every single day because it rained every single day!

 We laughed at this sign.  If you could look down into the rushing river there is no way you would want to jump off the bridge.  However, there is always a knucklehead or wingnut out there that would be just stupid enough to try it.  My guess is that someone may have and that is why the sign. 

 to be cont . . . . .

Day 2 - Vancouver, Canada

Lynda Ann had arranged for us to go whale watching.  When she booked the reservations she was told it could be s short day or a long day depending on where the whales were.  Well this day ended up being a long day but it was so worth it.  Lynda Ann and Mallory and I were so fascinated with the whales that we didn't think to stop and take pictures.  But in after thought, the chances of getting a picture of them jumping or spy hopping (I think that is what Annie called it - or we may be having a Gam moment here.)  It is where they come up out of the water nose up and act like they are looking around and then go back in the water.  We saw them jump out of the water many times.  We saw two females a baby and another group of them.  It was amazing. 

We had to dress in these orange suits that were waterproof and helped keep us warm.  We were in an open boat and by the time we got back we were nearly frozen.  But it was so worth it.  We ended up in the San Juan Islands, which was about a 3 hour trip to get there but so incredible to see these mammals in their own safe environment with their fins completely straight out of the water and not curled. 

 These crazy suits were hard to get into.  Annie said they reminded her of the snowmobile suits we used to wear. 

 On the way back we stopped to see two bald eagles perched on the water (I don't know what it is).  That was a bonus. 

When we got back we wandered around the village for a while and came to a shop called the Broom Shop.  There is nothing in there but all kinds of brooms.  I had to take a picture of the marriage brooms.  Who would have thought there would be such a thing as a broom shop!  I was fascinated!

 Another cute picture of Mallory. 

Mallory's graduation trip to VanCouver, Canada

Mallory wanted a passport and she wanted a stamp in it so Canada was her chosen place to vacation for her graduation.  I was invited to join in the celebration.  Lynda Ann spent months, days and hours looking up all she could find about Vancouver, Canada.  She even quizzed the doctors at the ER where she works.  The joke from one of the doctors was, "Do you know what BC stands for in Vancouver, BC?"  He told Annie, "Bring cash!"  We laughed so hard.  And we found out that it is absolutely true!  Everything in Canada is so expensive!!!  But a beautiful place to vacation.  We loved every minute of the time there.

We started out on Tuesday morning May 30 by being dropped off at the airport at 4:15 a.m.  Neal dropped me off and then headed to the temple.  Jeff dropped Annie and Mallory off and I assume headed back to bed.  It was a good thing we got there two hours before our flight left because it was an international flight and we had to be processed in a different line. 

 Waiting our turn to board.
Our first surprise was when we landed in Portland and boarded Alaska Airlines to take us to Vancouver.  We noticed that the planes outside the windows had propellers.  We laughed at them and were in for a surprise when we boarded one of these airplanes.  YIKES!!!

.  Annie's maps were as good as Google.  We found it without a hitch.  It is a beautiful temple!  Even in the rain, which didn't stop the whole day.

We were starving so we found a place called Stanley's Bar & Grill.  We ordered hamburgers and the bill came to $60.00+ dollars!!  Yup, the price to eat was huge!

 From Stanley's we went to Langley Park and drove around to see the gorgeous scenery.  Of course we had to take a picture standing in this hollow tree.

I believe we headed back to the hotel where we were changed and headed for a good nights rest.

Pictures of Jaden's graduation

I was not able to go to Jaden's graduation, but Neal was able to be there.  Maren sent me these pictures and they are great.  Congrats Jaden.  We are proud of you!