Living Out The Suitcase In CANADA

Hello Toronto

2006-09-15T18:57:00.000+01:00

We arrived at our hotel after Bobbi's epic drive from Detroit and fell flat out on the bed, dumping our luggage. We quickly noticed that very loud music was being played outside. Oh my god we thought, we haven't selected a hotel right next to a night club have we? We looked out of the window to see a large crowd of people in the street. Oh no it really did seem like a loud night club. At this point my eyes looked further over and I seen a huge sea of people, completely filling a public area. Hang on, all of this music was by the same artist. We walked down to find there was a free Beyonce concert being held right outside our hotel.

We pushed and shoved our way through the crowd to watch the show. It was so crazy how everyone heaved their way to and from all ends of the public area. One guy even forced his way through with his bicycle.

America link is now available

2006-08-17T22:34:00.000+01:00

We are now in "Oh my God! how could this happen in The United States of America" - so click below:

Living outta the suitcase in AMERICA or on the America link from the Itinerary list.

But we are coming back to Canada to tour the east!!

Leaving.. but we'll be back soon!

2006-07-29T09:32:00.000+01:00

We loved every moment we spent in beautiful Canada! Now this is hot on our list to be our new home.. although we are beginning to feel like there is no place like home.

However if we ever move away it shall have to be out here - every eye ful of a view is stunning.

Old Man

2006-07-27T11:02:00.000+01:00

As we left the weirdo area on the bus, things just got more odd. This nattering old man started to talk to us, going into morbid detail of how his wife died in a car accident and how they couldn't revive her. Why do they always want to chat to me?

Annual Fireworks Competition

2006-07-26T22:00:00.000+01:00

We left Sunset Beach and made our way over to Long Beach. We assumed that this must've been one of the best beaches as there was barely a place to stand for people. We checked out the area and sampled the water but later found that the people were just securing their seats for the fireworks show that was happening at 10pm (bear in mind it was only 2pm at the time, mighty eager dont you think?!).

This must have been one of the major attractions here because the entire beach and surrounding streets were crammed with thousands of people. There was literally nowhere to stand.

The show was grand enough. It was an international fireworks competition that spanned many nights, each country competing to put on the best show. This evening was the turn of Italy and they spared no sparkle.

On the way home there was a sea of people, all leaving at the same time. It was like the entire population of Vancouver was leaving at the same time. We felt like we were on some kind of march like when football fans leave a match back home.

Fireworks Competition

2006-07-26T21:59:00.000+01:00


Downtown Vancouver, were having a Fireworks Competition where various countries that were participating were showing off their displays.

The Streets of Vancouver after the Fireworks Display

2006-07-26T21:58:00.000+01:00


It was as if it was New Years Night or as if a world cup match had just finished. The atmosphere was kinda wild.

Stanley Park

2006-07-26T18:03:00.000+01:00

This park has a load of pretty weird sculptures and a fountain jet in the lagoon. The jet would spurt water twice every five minutes. Bobbi would miss taking its photograph each time. She finally lost interest as this was the best she caught after 12 attempts.

We sat down next to the lake to watch the geese and swans swimming around. They all came out to see if we had any food to give them. I gave one goose a bit of tissue and it readily took it. I used the same gag about 5 times on the same bird, Hee hee. The goose then started pecking at my fingers looking for food.
A bunch of passing Chinese tourists felt sorry for my bare hands being pecked and gave me some cereal to feed the geese with.

This was entertaining for a short amount of time, as they were so stupidly cute.

Bite Me!

2006-07-26T18:02:00.000+01:00


Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada - Feeding the duckies!

Sunset Beach in Vancouver

2006-07-26T17:54:00.000+01:00

Sounds glamorous doesn't it. They even made a TV show by this name. Sadly this particular beach was a bit grubby and pretty pants. Sand wasn't up to much as it was quite filthy and shell ridden.

Ye Be Warned!

2006-07-26T17:01:00.000+01:00

We pulled over at an information centre to get directions to a last minute hotel we'd booked for a night. The lady told us that this hotel was in a nasty area of town. She in fact told us about this a good six times, warning us to be careful once more as we left. It was kinda creepy.
Anyways, when we reached the area did have a bunch of suspect looking crowds around the streets. Guess we'll have to research the area we book into a little better next time!

Sea to Sky Highway

2006-07-26T10:57:00.000+01:00

The sea to sky highway that runs along the west coast of Vancouver - is recommended the viewpoints along the route have some amazing lookouts to some fabulous coastal mountains.

On the drive back to Vancouver we caught a birdseye view of downtown Vancouver and Vancouver Island in the distance.

Brandywine Falls

2006-07-26T09:36:00.000+01:00

You can tell that a pattern is forming with us going to see so many waterfalls. We just don't get anything like this back home.

Brandywine Falls was beautiful and was in an equally impressive location. After our short hike to the falls themselves we could see a stunning lake out in the near distance. Beautiful scenery, well worth a visit.

Adventure Ranch

2006-07-25T14:30:00.000+01:00

Another activity on our wish list was horse riding. We called into the Adventure Ranch and were taken out on a tour. Bobbi rode a horse called Warrior and mine was named Merlin. We rode all around a trail which went through woods and along the roads & in the foothills of giant Mount Currie along the way.
We also had a bit of a trot now and again.
The horses would walk in line and bite the butt of the horse in front if they got too close. We also had to keep pulling the horses away from eating grass. Lazy buggers.

Although we had both been on the back of horses prior to this, but it was something else riding amonst the beauty of Canadian lakes & mountains.

Adventure Ranch

2006-07-25T14:29:00.000+01:00


This was Warrior the horse i was riding in the foothills of Mt Currie, Pemberton Valley, Canada

Nairn falls

2006-07-24T22:58:00.000+01:00

Hey to our good friend Stuart Nairn back home. We have found a waterfall bearing your name.

Nairn Falls was really fierce, the water slammed down so heavily.

We found a small area down by the water that had some sand and a log to sit on. Paul dipped his foot in and it instantly went numb.
I guess the water was coming down from the glaciers.

Pemberton Valley

2006-07-24T13:36:00.000+01:00

Again we ended up with a fantastic view from our hotel. Perfect for sitting by the outdoor pool sipping ice cold drinks.

We chose Pemberton Valley which around 35 miles north of the Popular Whistler resort.
We found Pemberton was more pleasant, without the hustle bustle of the tourists, very peaceful & not to mention the beautiful surroundings.

Ross Bay

2006-07-22T13:34:00.000+01:00

Back in Victoria we hired some bicycles out for the day to tour some of the bays,along the south coast of Victoria

We found a lovely pebble beach called Ross Bay. It had such beautiful clear waters.

We decided to stop for a dip and to skim some stones. We ended up splashing and covering each other in a water fight.

Bambi

2006-07-21T12:32:00.000+01:00

Driving around a housing area I suddenly shouted Bambi! It's a Bambi, look! Bobbi baffled by what this actually meant, stopped the car anyway. Then as she looked there was a big deer running about. One woman had to chase it out of her garden to stop the deer eating her plants.

Beach Walk

2006-07-21T10:29:00.000+01:00

Waking up to the amazing view at the Parksville apartment again we could see the tide was out hundreds of metres back. We decided to head out and take a walk along the beach. As we walked there were loads of crabs running around, burying themselves in the sand.
We seen a whole bunch of clams washed up on the beach and wondered if they had any pearls inside. After smashing the poor things open sadly there were no pearls, merely a big lump of snot like life form.

Smart Car

2006-07-20T05:29:00.001+01:00

So we hired a smart car - which was like a dream for Paul as he's wanted one for a long time now, we've been meaning to take one for a test drive, but hadnt got round to it... until now!

It really got a lot of attention in Canada from people.. - i've always thought they are ugly.. but great to drive.... and goes without saying -they are soooo tiny!

So we decided to drive up North of Vancouver Island we stopped at a few places in Parksville until we found the most beautiful place of our whole journey - Ocean Sands Resort

Parksville

2006-07-20T05:29:00.000+01:00

We stumbled upon the most fantastic apartments complex called the Ocean Sands. We had an apartment right on the ocean front with an amazing mountain view. It looked so much like paradise it was unreal.

In fact there was one point I was about to walk out onto the balcony but was so taken with the wonderous scenery outside, that I didn't notice the semi transparent screen over the doorway. I walked directly into it whilst carrying a glass of milk, half covering myself in the process. I paused there for a moment, squeezed up against the screen until I realized what a fool I'd been. - (HA! HA! That was hillarious sorry people i couldnt capture the moment on camera for you guys - Bobbi)

We also had a kitchen to prepare our meals and make us feel at home. My God! We want to live here.

Can you beat this view?

2006-07-20T05:28:00.000+01:00


This was the view from our apartment at the Ocean Sands Resort in Parksville, Vancouver Island, Canada

Bastian Square

2006-07-18T05:26:00.000+01:00

This was a nice little area for cafes and bars. Not a huge amount going on at the time but would be a great place to hang and chill out - Paul

It was poo! Dont bother! - Bobbi

The granny scenario in Thunderbird Park

2006-07-18T05:25:00.000+01:00

No this is not a park full of funny space puppets like in the Thunderbirds TV show. It was a park with loads of totem poles scattered around. Quite small, and not really even worth calling it a park.

However - While we stood there arm in arm admiring the Totem Poles some old lady walks along in the distance shaking her head. I thought for a second - was that to us? So as she appeared to be walking back & forth, we decided to stand there and give one another a passionate kiss for her benefit, when she next peered out from behind the bush, she witnessed it alright which sent her off in a huff, raising her arms up in the air & nodding her head in disgust, directly at us.
What the heck was that about?! - The old Granny must've been a nun in her time! Easily offended old bat! She really made us feel like we were running around the park in the nudie the way she reacted.

Gee's If your reading this old woman (while surfing your daily porn fix): if you dont like what you see, then dont look!!