British Columbia Family Holiday - July 2008

It seemed like it was a mad rush to get everything completed before we headed out on our family holiday to British Columbia. I had to finish the marking for the graduate course in blended learning and the University of Calgary and as well as put the final touches on a funding proposal with Griff Richards and Terry Anderson from Athabasca University (sigh, we were not successful).

But, it was worth it. We had an amazing time in British Columbia and as usual we took lots of pictures of our adventures. It all began with the drive north to the Bowron Lakes - with beautiful weather and scenery. The canoe trip was a HUGE success as we completed it in a heat wave - no rain until the final day.

The drive west to the Pacific Coast was interesting for Marie and I as we passed through a number of communities where we had received offers to teach in the mid-90's (no regrets). In Prince Rupert we visited an old cannery and then enjoyed putting our feet up for the ferry ride south to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, via the Inside Passage.

Once on Vancouver Island we marveled at the huge Douglas Fir and Western Cedar. We did a day hike into San Josef Beach in Cape Scott Provincial Park in the north-western corner of the Island. We went whale watching and kayaking out of Telegraph Cove on the north-eastern coast of the Island. And, we headed south to Nanaimo to enjoy a relaxing day on the beach at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park.

Then it was off to Vancouver on the ferry to visit the Aquarium in Stanley Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge and a night of "urban" camping. Next we headed to Whistler and Pemberton along the Sea to Sky Highway. Phew, lots of construction and congestion - it took us over 3 hours to reach our campsite. The journey continued on a very rough and windy road towards Lillooet and then onto the Shuswap for a final night of camping and swimming before arriving back in Calgary - rested and relaxed!!