Archive for the ‘Egmont and Egmonsters’ Category

Hugo and I left home at 10:05 this morning rushing toward the 11:20 ferry.  Traffic was heavy at times but we made the ferry with not even enough time for Hugo to do his business once we arrived at the terminal.  He was a good boy and held it though!  I gave Hugo a treat before we left home this morning and now I’m starting to think the new treats don’t agree with him as he upchucked a bunch of yellow foam during our drive - and NO - it wasn’t my driving….  We stopped in Madeira Park for beer and a few groceries and were in Egmont by 2:00 pm. 

I saw the ‘open’ sign for the museum so stopped for a quick visit with manager Tom.  He’s made a few changes to some displays and added items.  It’s looking good and much friendlier - so here’s hoping the visitors start pouring in as the weather warms.

As we neared Pop’s, Hugo could smell the salt water and perked up.  I told him Sylvester was waiting to see him.  They actually seemed glad to see each other - after Sylvester established who was boss! 

Pop hasn’t mowed the grass yet and the daisies are everywhere - looking very pretty. 

Hugo stopped running and chasing birds long enough to smell the daisies but he didn’t like the way they tickled his legs and ‘pussy footed’ through them!  Sylvester didn’t care - he’s so laid back all it takes is a bit of petting and he rolls over for more.

Pop had been shopping in Madeira today and was ready for a rest - so I obliged and Hugo and I went upstairs for a snooze.  Of course the phone rang and the door was knocked but I drowsed.  Pop got up to answer both.  You’d think after spending the winter with me he’d have learned to let it go and not answer… but no.  Kent was calling to say the wind was howling and he couldn’t get across the gulf.

Kent left Nico Wynd this morning for Point Roberts, Washington - where diesel was $1.34 cheaper than fueling in BC.  4 fill-ups during the year and it’s equivalent to a free tank.  Kent said he ‘poked his nose out’ and the seas were so rough he decided to hole up at the marina for a few hours.

His was the phone call which Pop answered at 5 pm and he was on his way across the Gulf of Georgia to clear customs in Nanaimo then planning to anchor for the night.  He’ll be here tomorrow before noon, no doubt.

Pop and I enjoyed our chicken dinner and Hugo had a ton of fun exploring, barking at the one and only customer who is camping here and chasing the robins. 
Now, the porch is white with hail, we’ve had a few drizzles of rain, but we can see blue sky to the west.  Good weather is coming!

The Egmont Heritage Centre website has a new photo gallery.

When you finish your hike to and from the Skookumchuck Rapids stop by the Egmont Heritage Centre for a glimpse into the history of Egmont and the surrounding area. There is a great display of Vivian and Easthope engines, fishing and logging equipment, Native history, a bottle display and lovely depression glass.

Be sure to look for my little blue May Day dress which I wore at the Egmont May Day Celebration many, many years ago. I’m also very proud to say my Mom’s spelling test with 100% is on the school desk! My Dad’s boat the ‘Maryann W’ is depicted in the mural which you will see immediately upon entering the main door. Emily Gray painted the mural and when you look at the picture on the EHC webpage the totem pole actually looks as if it’s standing in front of the mural.

I’m very proud of the EHC which houses so much of my family history and Kent and I volunteer as often as possible. I’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg here, but I’ll be happy to walk around the museum with you, pointing out various family members and their contribution to our unique community of Egmont.

I AM AN EGMONSTER!

Sunday morning, Pop and I loaded his pickup with the accumulation of supplies he bought over the winter months and headed to Egmont. As we drove toward Vancouver, the North Shore mountains appeared in the high clouds - covered in new snow. Snow glistened off the roofs of houses high on the mountainside, making them stand out. When were those houses built? I hadn’t noticed them until the bright snow made them ultra visible.

The ferry was on time and we were in the wheel chair lane so loaded second which is great when you want to get to the cafeteria before the huge lines! I bought lunch for us and we ate in the truck.

Since I changed our plans to leave home Sunday instead of Monday, the Sechelt income tax office was closed. Pop said, “That’s one of the reasons I planned our trip for Monday instead of Sunday”. Ya, well, it’s not ALL about you Pop, I didn’t say, but that’s how I felt. I love Pop dearly and would do just about anything to make his life smooth - at nearly 95 he deserves that I think!!! He likes to make plans and stick with them but he knows Kent and I are absolutely certain to change his plans at the last minute. I always try to accomodate his plans, Kent’s plans, Crystal’s plans and my own, and they don’t always jive, so I’m flexible and ‘work it out’. I explained to him the hours Crystal is working this week together with her school schedule and how it is more important ‘WE’ fit her schedule so she doesn’t have to take time off to give me a ride home, from whatever location I return to.

At this point, I didn’t know if I’d take the bus home, get Pop to drive me to the ferry in Langdale or if I might happen to catch a ride with someone.

We stopped for gas then groceries (again with Pop ‘mentioning’ how if we’d traveled on Monday the liquor store and the bank would have been open). I got out to put the scooter lift down for Pop while he struggled with his seatbelt, the door, his cane and the cat. As opened the door to stand up, the damn cat darted out and ran. I set my purse in the bed of the pickup and went after him. Poor little Sylvester knew immediately he was in a strange place and looked for somewhere to hide. I tried to stay calm and talk to him while Pop stood and watched and worried. I could hear someone in the distance say, ‘Oh, look at the cat!” Sylvester led me around the IGA building, just out of reach, running each time I got close. I lunged for his tail when he was under a table and I didn’t let go. I had to pull him backwards, but got him, scolded him and carried his shivering little body back to the truck.

Pop had his scooter down by this time and he suggested I go get started on the shopping. Okay then, I grabbed a shopping cart and headed in to do my duty. 3 minutes in to the store, I realized I didn’t have my purse. WTF? I’m never that careless to leave it in the vehicle, but I knew I’d locked the truck doors and the parking lot was nearly empty. This was Madeira Park, you know - an area where the only thieves who’d steal anything are the crows. I turned to go back outside and there was Pop right behind me on his scooter with my purse in his basket. He’d noticed it in the back of the pickup and brought it to me. I was amazed! Nope, life wasn’t all about him at all - he’d saved my bacon when I least expected it. Thanks Pop!

25 minutes and we were ‘home’. I unlocked the gate, let Sylvester out of the truck, with Pop saying, “I wouldn’t have let him out until we got up to the house”. Cats are smart - heck, I think he’d have found his way to Pop’s all the way from Madeira Park if I’d left him… Actually, I wouldn’t have left him. I’d have waited him out and told Pop that which. Anyway… Sylvester beat us to the door of the house.

I unpacked the truck while Pop unloaded his scooter and went to the service building to turn on the water. Everything looked great around the house - inside and out. The grass is growing and will need cutting soon. The rhodos and lilacs are budding, the foxgloves I planted last year are growing like weeds and of course the weeds are growing fastest of all.

Pop and I worked for an hour unpacking and putting away. Pop makes good use of the scooter and has a system for unloading. He lifts whatever bags or boxes he can handle onto the scooter bed and rides the stuff to the porch or the picnic table and unloads. At 95 minus 2 months, he more than pulls his weight! Finally we had most of his goods put away and he said, “Well, I think we’ll be ready for a drink in another hour”. I said, “I don’t think I’m waiting another hour!”

I threw a yam in the oven to bake and Pop fried us a T-bone steak. By 8 o’clock I was ready for bed, thinking I’d read for an hour or so. I hit the pillow and my lights went out - for 12 hours. I woke 4 or 5 times through the night, as is usual for me, but it felt good to be back in Egmont!

This was one of our projects at Egmont. Looks like a lot of work, but with 11 of us working together it took about 12 hours to build the woodshed, saw the logs, split the blocks, stack the wood and clean up and rake the ground. Many hands made light work!

(You may click on the picture to enlarge it - sorry it’s so dark - but that’s British Columbia for you in December mid afternoon…)

Well, actually it was backbreaking work and we were all very tired on New Year’s Eve - everyone but me stayed up til midnight. I only made it through 2 bottles of champagne and I was out (and missed dinner) - darn - I feel as though 2008 hasn’t even arrived yet…

We’re off to Egmont today, to do the annual clean-up of Pop’s property.

Graeme and Lise, Mike and Tracy, Sean and Lee-Ann, and Jill, Jon and Spencer will all be with us. Don’t worry - we won’t work the entire time!!!

See you in a week or so…

Happy New Year!