Friday, May 31, 2013

Harrison Hot Springs

                                                         May 9 to the 12, 2013
PEDEGOest I will go...but, did I hear you say we’re going camping?

HARRISON HOT SPRINGS--here we come! No hills to climb and close to home. 

Peter and I  saw the sign and drove in.



Peter and I hadn’t camped in years; I guess it’s never too late to make changes...
or, is it?

Right next to the Miami River.
A haven for wildlife...
Yes, we were welcomed by John and Martine Allan, who have owned Harrison Country Club since 1988.
We made it!!!
“Kleines Zelt und Grosse Liebe...” Peter found the perfect 21 ft. trailer that my/our Land Rover could pull. 
Once we were “set up” we cycled passed the Harrison Hotel and stopped to take a few photos of Harrison Lake.
After much hesitation...
“On your mark, get setgo!
Sven, perhaps here I could have used an amphibious Pedego.

                         Heading back into town...
Harrison Hot Springs is 1 and 1/2 hours east of Vancouver.

Lovely flowers...
Empty boats... 
...and an empty bench...
...much better shared with a friend...
...or for viewing a group of friends...and wishing you could be part of them...so young and lovely...
“Boom, boom, boom, boom.” In the distance you could hear the gentle, steady drumming of a heart beat...The natives were having a solemn ceremony. Their two-tone “oh” singing/chanting almost made it feel as if healing wasn’t that far away...
We stopped to observe...and after a while, sensing that we were on their “holy ground,” moved on.
Not quite on holidays??? A tuning call...
...and off we go again through the lovely village of Harrison Hot Springs. It is so neat! Everyone’s yard is clean and in full bloom.
It reminded me of Altona, Manitoba--without
the mountains. Not a leaf to be found on the ground...
“I sing the mighty power of God, that made
 the mountains rise..."
The back view of Mount Cheam.
I had no idea...how about that!
And that! Naaa, Jung!
Look who is here! It’s the Sasquatche...


I googled the following information:
Did you know that Harrison Hot Springs is known for the mysterious Sasquatch? People have come from far and wide to research and try and spot the elusive creature. The name Sasquatch was coined in the 20′s by J.W. Burns a school teacher on the Chehalis Indian Reserve. He wrote many articles and stories about the legendary creature. Sasquatch by definition is known as a mythological being that resides in the Harrison River and Harrison Lake Region. Sasquatches have roamed the West side of the Harrison Lake for years.
Gates Your Way--I wonder if this is one of Ron’s handy works?

Visitors!
So nice that Werner and Frieda were able to take time out of their busy schedule to visit us. Here they stand proudly in front of the Harrison Hotel.
Werner was the foreman of the additions/expansions to the hotel for a period of ten years. He was twenty-seven when he started.
Just a minute now...one more story!
Our favourite Schnitzel place--The Black Forest Restaurant--with Polka music and all that’s German.


How lovely..! Breakfast company;

Brian and Peter’s sister, Lydia (Goertzen) Fawsett from Abbotsford. This is not our favourite place for breakfast...
Michael thought that next time we better camp close to the Rancher’s Restaurant, if we want our favourite breakfast. That would be even closer to home...
“Somebody” has to take a photo of me..! 
Yes, that’s my good side...Ha!
From what I hear, I won’t be losing my hair with the type of chemo I’ll be getting. I am keeping my fingers crossed!


Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14, I am scheduled for a CT scan, and the next day, early in the morning, a bone marrow biopsy. All my appointments take
place in Vancouver. 
Okay, PEDEGO, it’s time to pack up and go home. We had a  wonderful time, and perhaps next time you will come out to see us too?

Thinking of you,
Hilda

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Hwy. #1--Here We Come

 PEDEGOest I will go...because there is no point in holding still if wheels are meant for turning...HG

      9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.                Monday, May 06, 2013                                                                  
      An empty basket needs filling. So...let’s go!

As I enter the town of Rosedale, I see the quote on the sign, and believe me, I need lots of this: “God’s way leads to endless hope.”
             After Yale Rd., I turned on to Annis Rd.   
These wheels have stopped turning long ago, but you can imagine how hard they must have worked in their "younger years."
And wouldn’t you know it...I thought I recognized the oncoming Land Rover! This is Tony Klassen, my nephew. He was on his way to help a friend with welding. We had a nice chat and then we were both on our way--to do what each had come out to do. I was relieved that he did not ask me where I was going. 

     Is that the #1 Hwy. already!?  
Should I or shouldn’t I..?

Oh, well...A bit more radiation won’t hurt me!
There was something I have wanted to get out of my system for a while now, and that was to cycle from the Annis Rd. exit to the Prest Rd. exit via the #1 Highway. Was I scared? Sure thing! But I told myself that this would be half as scary as chemo, etc.
So...down I went, heading west, and as I traveled it brought back childhood memories of when I was around ten years old, cycling with my friends up and down the on-ramp on the Pan-Americana Highway, in Buenos Aires. My guess is that we lived about five blocks away. But a couple of things had changed: Location; I was much older; I was alone; and there were many noisy vehicles zooming past me. 
Did Peter know my plans for today? No way! If I would have told him which route I was planning on taking, he would have worried all day--while tuning in Aldergrove and Abbotsford-- and for all I know...he may have discouraged me from going. 
Pan-American highway, a road that stretches--except for a 54-mile gap in the Columbian rainforest--from northern Alaska all the way to the southernmost tip of Latin America. (Amazon.com)
I cycled passed different farms: tree nursery, blueberry, cranberry, bamboo and dairy.                      
                            Under we go, and...
...I am still having a good time, but what is that I see...?
 ...Prest Rd. exit! What a welcoming sign!!!

But, before I turn off, I stop again to snap another picture. This is Vic and Laurie Goertzen’s/Brian and Mary Goertzen’s dairy farm. The grass has been cut. May 01, the Goertzens were busy making silage to feed their cows. “Make silage while the sun is shining.” Vic was on the tractor from 10:00 a.m.– 8:00 p.m.--on his birthday!

Vic has been on this farm for sixty-five years. One move in between: from his parent’s place to the new home he and Laurie live in now. Pretty good, I must say...

They will make silage four or five more times from this pasture.
See the bicycle sign? I told you it was allowed! 
 Will I do it again? Probably not. “Bin there, done that.”


              Off the highway and a right onto Prest Rd. 

Looking back from where I just came from. Looks a little musical to me...but where are the notes!? 

Hertha Tessman thought the tree line in the background were the notes: monotones!
                                             Behind me...


...and ahead of me is Ernie and Betty Lou Goertzen’s place. Yes, these Goertzens too are Peter’s cousins. Peter’s father is Jacob (100) , Vic’s father was John, and Ernies father was Peter. 
After a lovely chat on the back deck with Betty Lou, I was on my way again.

                            Open already. How wonderful!
A quick stop at K. Greenhouses for some fresh peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes. 
                          Now my basket is full! 

                         Yale Rd--heading east and home.
“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be at your back. The sun shine warm upon your face, the rain fall softly on your fields. And...until we meet again, ‘till we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.” (Irish blessing) 

Go ahead, try something different this week (:
Hilda