Biznez trip

The last week of May, I had the opportunity to run away from home - all expenses paid! The skwrtmobile (my Jeep TJ) and I left the rock (hard to believe, I know!), travelled across the water, through the cities, Fraser Valley and the mountain passes to Westbank/Kelowna. My company has another modular home factory there, and I was on a mission to get the managers organized. I was quite excited about it actually, as I seldom get out of my routine, and rarely leave the office. The longest/most boring part of the journey was waiting in Nanaimo for the ferry. I was there 2.5 hours before departure, then tolerated the 1.5 hour sail. I could have driven all the way to the Okanagan by then! We finally docked and I joined the commuter traffic in yuppieville. I had invited myself to stay overnight with longtime friend Anne at her home in Surrey. She was a wonderful hostess. My previous stay with her was 2 years ago when her home was invaded by our reunion group of 8.
It was much quieter this time and I didn't have to share a room. :-))
The next morning I re-joined the commuters (although they were heading INTO YVR, while I was headed east). It was a gorgeous morning to travel, clear blue though somewhat smoggy sky. Mt. Baker was draped in her majestic mantle of white. I stopped in Chilliwack to visit with good friend Linda at her office. She was shocked to see me as she's been trying to get me out her way for years! There was virtually no traffic on Hwy 5 or 'the coke' as it is called (short for the Coquihalla Connector). I stepped on the gas and arrived at the office early afternoon. It was really good to meet the staff, and put a face to those paycheques I issue.
I stayed at a B&B for the first time ever. It was wonderful, the owners were from Winnipeg so we had a bit of history to share. Their home is perched on top of a hill and I was only a few steps away from the Mission Hill Winery which I explored one evening. This is the view from the B&B which overlooks the valley, and my office.

This is the factory floor from my office, where you can see a home is almost 'off-line' and ready to be shipped. It was 35++ degrees inside the office; I finally got a/c on the last day. I was a big puddle of goo until then.



On Friday night I drove to Armstrong, about 1.5 hours north of Kelowna. This is where we lived from '76-'85 prior to moving to Winnipeg. Val & Greg, our neighbours from back then, still live in the same house and we have kept in touch. I sure surprised Val when I pulled into their driveway.
She took me on a walking tour of the City - it took about 1.5 hours, and it was great to see the old neighbourhood and all the changes. This is Val in front of the Armstrong Hotel. This is our street. The tall evergreen tree was a sapling in '77 that my uncle brought to us from Shuswap Lake. Hard to believe that was 30 years ago.
Also hard to believe that something I planted is still alive!
The people who bought our place invited Val & I in for a tour of the house. We discussed how the value has increased. We bought it for 35K and sold it to them for 44K. They've been told they could list it for 300K.
That's when I said the purchase document they signed was a phony and we still own the place. They didn't believe me.
And for those of you who read my previous blog posting about keeping receipts...YES, I do still have the sales document!!!

I also had the chance to stop in to visit our dear friends Pat & Lou Audette whom we met in St. Malo Manitoba. They moved to Kelowna from Manitoba before we left Winnipeg. Sad to say that Lou is not doing well and Pat is doing her best to cope. They have been married for 64 years, and never been apart. It was a difficult visit, but full of love and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to drop in to see them.

I stayed with ChrisNess on Saturday night. They live in the heart of Kitsilano, Vancouver. Every shop and restaurant they need is within walking distance of their great new apartment. Chris cooked us a healthy breakfast and then I was off on the ferry again. These 2 were heading out the door to run and bike through another Sunday in the City.

I arrived back in Qualicum Beach where I was treated to a wonderful meal at the best restaurant on the island - my sister's! Bob met me there and he & Sveinn loaded up Bob's truck with a felled tree.

Ahhh...back to the basics of rural life in a rainforest. Gotta love it!
I must say that I am very much at peace living here on the island. For many years (in fact ever since we left the Okanagan), I had always thought that I might want to live in the sage hills again.
This visit proved to me that I am right where I belong. This island is my Valhalla.
It feels good.

This is a sign that Bob's brother in law Mike carved for us many years ago. Until we get a deck built, it adorns the front of our AREVEE.