Poking Around in my Head

 After many years of working short contracts with no coverage, I've actually been with a company long enough to get on the health plan, so as soon as my dental coverage was in place I booked a long overdue dentist visit. Modern dentists can take x-rays and then have them available on a computer almost immediately and, in a neat twist, can then email those x-rays to you the same day. Below are some teeth, and no cavities at all :)

Small clusters of teeth are all well and good, but it gets truly weird seeing a panoramic photograph of the inside of your own head. There's some obvious distortion in the corners as my jaw is not remotely that square, but its a pretty neat image all the same.

 Stranger still is poking around that image adn finding the back of your own eyesockets in the picture which I have enlarged below. It is a strange thing indeed to see your own eyes through your own eyes.

Christmas 2012

 I can't believe how spoiled Geordie, Kodiak and I are.  Every year we try to cut back and every year I feel more doted upon. I hate to use the word swag in anything else but piratey jargon. But seriously, look at that swag!

Geordie is opening his stocking!  Kodiak is helping and looking jolly in his christmas collar.  The eyes are evil giving lie to the fact that he thinks that he his a good cat.  Every year I get Geordie ginger beer. (And every year it is very much appreciated -G)

Every year we go on a Christmas walk armed with treats for the animals. We go in search of whatever woodland creatures want a snack and even squirrels get a bit of corn (but we don't usually feed them as they can be aggressive and run up Geordie's pant leg or perch on my leg).  Chickadees are always a favorite for hand-feeding.  Happy Xmas!

Alert Bay

I have always wanted to visit Alert Bay (Kwak'wala: 'ya̱lis) on Cormorant Island.  Over-rated Emily Carr paintings that don't do it justice aside, it is a lovely ocean-side community.  We did not dock but were able to view it from a boat after our dive.  Looks like a fantastic place to go ashore to stay or camp. 

It is located in traditionally Kwakwaka'wakw territory and post of the inhabitants are of this First Nation. The influence is reflected in the lovely ceder canoes that occasionally dotted the docks that ran the long towns length. 

The old residential school is in the back ground of the below photo. I don't believe it is being currently used for anything but I am not sure.  Alert Bay is home to the world's largest totem pole and also sports an inspiring collection. The totem poles are mostly in one area of the town but every once in a while there is another. My favorite thing about traditionally situated totem poles as that just as the trees they came from and the people who created them they eventually decay, fall over and go back to the land and are reabsorbed in the soils so you would never know they were there.

Scuba at Warbonnet

One day during the August long weekend Geordie and I did our first Vancouver Island Scuba Trip.  To be specific, a fairly North Vancouver Island trip.  We got up early in the chilly and foggy August morning to drive to Port McNeill.  We joined 2 snorkelers and our 2 dive buddies at Fun Sun Divers. The skies cleared half way through our 2nd dive.
I'm still a nervous diver but I think that is partly due to so many layers that I get constricted and lose mobility so I end up fighting myself.  Also with all the layers I need more weights than I can comfortably carry to begin with.  Layers are necessary as I get cold easily. The 2nd dive I got rid of some layers keeping just regular clothes and my 200g weight mountain gear and had a much better, more relaxed and longer dive despite the same amount of weight.  I need more dive experience to get the balance right as well as more comfortable being so far down (only 47 feet max depth but still....)

The picture below is at Warbonnet which was a great spot full of basket sea stars, fish and chitons that look like oily rainbows. 

Camping the Cove

For the first time, we camped in Telegraph Cove.  Rubes that we are, instead of using the tent camp ground that was about 1 kilometre or so in the interior (ie: in the mud), I was able to get us a spot in the RV camp.  We promptly lowered the property values as we were the only tiny tent in a lot full of swish RVs that belonged to either early retirees or rich familes.  A fact that was not lost on the gently mocking inhabitants who were in fact quite nice and gave some huge fillets of Pinks salmon!  And the cutest little boy/girl was having a blast blowing bubbles.

The below vessel is the Gikumi, named for a Native Chief.  It is an oft photographed boat and is featured in many a photo book of the West Coast and/or Vancouver Island.  Really. Pick up the nearest one and check. The building in the back is Stubb's Island Whale Watching (recommended) and the Whale Interpretive Centre (also recommended).

The building mentioned above, the WIC, is the one on the right side of the photo just where the big bunch of trees end.  This is a spherical plan taken from a dock that is almost in the middle of the cove.  Historical Telegraph Cove is at the top Modern Telegraph Cove is at the bottom.  Very differently styled sections. The result of two different developers.

The Strangest Tourist Trap in Coombs

The Old Country Market is a tourist trap in Coombs. It has all the proper things that you expect. Cotton candy, ice cream, hot dogs, dash and diner, market with over priced stuff, hippies telling tarot cards, and clothes.  The huge draw is the 'Goats on the Roof'.  I really like goats.

On top of the main buildings of the tomfoolery is a green roof. The grass and plants are naturally mowed down by a small group of goats.  Even their little goat house which I am informed is called a 'shed'. They are clearly lords of all they survey.  Did I mention  I like goats.?

Hopefully the roof has some kind of system to deal with goat....leavings so it does not drip down onto your cans of Spaghetti Sauce and tacky lanterns.  We spent about 10 minutes there and most of that was trying to find parking.  Took some goat pictures and a shot of the inside and bailed.  Worth it to see goats on a roof. Not worth it for over priced basic groceries, ice cream and stuff.  Goats in any way are highly enjoyable.

Nanaimo Art and Stones

Geordie and I stayed a night at a cheap motel in Nanaimo as I didn't feel like driving all the way up to Telegraph Cove so late and in the dark.  So we took a walk to find the elusive supper and found a wild plum tree.  Perfectly ripe and delicious.  We had to climb pretty high as it was pretty picked over all ready but still came out with about 5 each.  So gooooood!

Stone stacking seems to be a West Coast thing.  Vancouverites will know that this happens near English Bay and 2nd Beach like clockwork in the summer.  Here is Nanimo's version with bridges and a pretty painted heart shaped stone.

I think this guy looks like Baron Munchausen from the Terry Gilliam movie.  His name was Frank Ney and while he may appear to be some naval hero of note (and was an RAF pilot), the statue commemorates his time as a politician. He began the tradition of bathtub boat races between Nanaimo and Vancouver, often dressing as a pirate for such events.  

Under Niagara Falls - The Moistening

One of the things I really wanted to do was go Behind the Falls.  Since we were there on the off season there only a few other visitors.  At the entrance you could see the infra-structure made to handle huge lines though. So travel tip: go off season to avoid that nonsense.  Once in, you can go practically underneath the tons of white water careening over the precipice.

Tunnels led to outlooks right behind the water.  The spray was ever changing sometimes it came back through the tunnel enough to soak you.  It was very unpredictable.  The grey through the outlook below is a seething mass of water that was hypnotic in its intensity and nebulousness.

I had a great time at the lower outlook. You can get right up to the water and since the wind was strong and blowing in the right direction you need rain gear.  You get unattractive plastic ponchos (recyclable) to wear or else you get wet. It had a hood but I decided that hoods were for wimps and got happily drenched. Apparently the photo below does not capture my hilarious grinning according to a certain husband.  I was indeed laughing my head off.

Niagara Falls

I was finally able to visit one of Canada's most famous attractions. Maybe THE most famous thing to see. Geordie has seen it before but I was a first timer.  That is, of course, Niagara Falls.  The Canadian side of the falls on the far right of the panorama below is supposed to be the most spectacular.  It is loud, wet and mist shrouded.  I liked the American falls as well which are located to the far left of the panorama. 

Here is a closer view of the American Falls.  The reddish stairs on the bottom left are to the Cave of Winds which was closed because of a rock slide a few days before. Rock slides are common as the falls erode and move further back.  This was taken on Maid of the Mist which may not be operational in the future.

At night the falls are illuminated with colour changing floodlights.  I recommend seeing the falls at different times of the day in order to get a full view and experience of them in different light settings.  The constant mist makes the light diffuse in a very soft way.  Being there in the fall was great as there was no where near the crowds you get in the Summer.

Niagara Falls - The Side Show

On the way to the glorious bit of natural beauty that is the Falls is carny central.  I like Niagara Falls but could really give all the touristy midway crap a miss.  Tacky and kitshy.  But for others it's there thing so i guess I am stuck with it. It was neat for about 40 seconds and then got jarring.  That Toucan below has just removed your soul and stored it in his hat.

Full of haunted houses, 4D, cotton candy, souvenirs, fudge (which was totally bought) and other nonsense.  Below is a fairly typical scene.  It was off or shoulder season so it was pretty quiet.  I can see it really hopping in the Summer. 

No tourist trap area would be complete without a mini-golf course. Especially if it is dinosaur themed with a smoking volcano that periodically spouts fire.  T-Rex there ruled over the whole thing.  The falls were gorgeous but I feel like it detracts from nature's beauty having all this about.  At least it is not physically at the falls themselves, them being a short walk away. 

Downtown Toronto

I have to admit, I am not a fan of Toronto.  I find it a brown and grey concrete jungle with an over taxed mass-transit system and scary crowded freeways.  It is not being improved much with a huge condo boom going on.  It raises the questions: where are people going to park, live, commute.  The mass transit system is already overtaxed. 

Everywhere in and around the downtown core and elsewhere too, these huge condos are going up.  I guess there is a demand for them but it leaves the city feeling like its being built entirely out of identical glassy towers.  It sounds like condos aren't as expensive as they are where I am in Vancouver but its getting pretty close. Hope I don't sound hypocritical!

I wanted to at least go into Top Shop which is new in TO.  For reasons of a Mighty Boosh like nature. If you don't know what/who Mighty Boosh is consult your nearest BBC TV guide.  I did not go in because I think I was the only one who wanted to. I probably would not be able to afford anything anyway.  The downstairs window display was magnificent featuring a life-size orange spotted moose because of Why Not.

Sarah and Aric's Wedding

A few weeks ago Geordie and myself were honoured and privileged to be invited to his cousin Sarah's wedding to her man Aric.  It was a lovely and unique ceremony.  How often do you get to see two people tie the knot in a trolley car from 1952 moving through downtown Toronto.  Ding Ding!

And there is the really happy couple.  YAY!  Not too much to say about that besides heart felt Congratulations and of course Best Wishes!

So it was in our wedding best that we toured around Toronto before and during and after the ceremony until the dinner and reception.  It was neat to see friends and family dressed to the nines on the vintage trolly.  This was the first time anyone had done a wedding like this!

This Be Wine Country

Love at first sight. Unfortunately the luggage monkeys destroyed my huge tun of wine.  Well not really.  They were decorating a lawn (empty) but I couldn't help going up to one and hugging it in the glorious fall weather of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Now for the context.  Geordie, Peter, Sharon and myself took a drive around Niagara-on-the-Lake wine country.  Lots of orchards, nuts, cheese and a winery or two or three or thirty.  The different colours of the grape vines are different species of grape for different wine types.

This is a peek into one of the operating wineries.  This one is an ecologically run one that utilizes solar energy and no chemicals.  Very nice.  It smelled really good in there too.  It had a scent of oak casks mostly.  It was a great day driving about lovely countryside.

Thanksgiving Guest

My cousin Carolyn was in visiting us for the Thanksgiving week-end.  One of the favorite things we like to do with our out of town visitors is take one of the little false creek ferries over to Granville Island for some browsing.  Its a good way to get a different perspective of the area and it has the possibility of spotting a harbour seal.  We were lucky as we had glorious fall weather the entire time.  And pumpkin spice lattes!

We also used the aquarium as an excuse to renew our memberships and visited that as well. We gently prodded various sea binkies, anemones and cucumbers.  We got splashed by a beluga whale too. It was good seeing my old friends Jack and Daisy. We also saw caimans, bats, sharks, otters and the South African Penguins which are a delightful new addition that Geordie and I will talk about more in a later post.

Carolyn and I are mature serious adults so we made a tacit tandem decision to put on the dolphin costumes in the kids area.  Here we are frolicking like the mature and serious adults we are.  We are quite the trend setters as when we were done others decided that we were on to a good thing on copied us.

Dinosaurs! New Ones and New Finds!

I am still 5. Geordie is too.  We love dinosaurs!  They are big!  So we went to the Royal BC Museum that had a great dinosaur exhibit. All about new discoveries.  You know its going to be good when a big Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton greets you.

Psittacosaurus is this neat little fellow. Either that or I typed by sneeze.  He has the cutest cheek tusks.  They are a newer discovery.  See the little ones?  The display had great dioramas recreating a few different periods.  There is some amazing stuff coming out of China right now. These guys are believed to be a very early ancestor of triceratops even though the adult shown would be less than 2m long.

One of the newer discoveries is that dinosaurs may not have used some of their spikes, plates and bone for defense against predators or like the pachycephalosaur skull below to joust for females like mountain goats.  Instead of heat butts and defense it might be used to attract mates! Apparently the curvature of the bone would allow for only glances rather than crashing charges and the structure itself isn't built to withstand those sorts of impacts.

In conclusion, dinosaurs continue to surprise and kick ass in equal measure.

I got bugged at the Victoria Bug Zoo

On our Victoria Bucket list was the Victoria Bug Zoo.  This is a small zoo dedicated to bugs. But you likely guessed that. But unlike most zoos that don't let you pet the tigers, this one is different as that you can hold some of the large leggy creatures inside of it.  Below I am holding a leaf insect.

Geordie is holding some kind of demon bug from hell.  The creature alien from the first Men and Black movie was based on that creature.  And yes it is terrifying. I held it after this tiny blond girl was completely fearless like a boss.  I couldn't let myself be outdone by that.  Geordie was braver and is all getting into it.

One of the prettiest is this Mantis who specializes in hiding among the petals of a certain orchid.  It took forever to spot her. She is a graceful lovely thing just like the plant that is her home.

Butchart Gardens

Butchart gardens is pretty pricey for a bunch of plants. Never the less we went.  We were there in the late afternoon and stayed for fireworks.  I got to ride on this little bronze statue named Annabelle sculpted by Nathan Scott.

This is the sunken garden.  On the top right you can see some people. It is this old bit of limestone left behind when the whole place was a quarry. You can climb up it and look over the plants and trees.  We were there over the September long weekend so the summer plants were still blooming nicely.

As always, Geordie has his fish-eye and took another planet panorama.  I think this is in the Japanese garden.  It is a very nice bushy sphere.  The path running throw it is a nice divider and gives it some pleasing symme'tree'.

As always you can click on the little planet panorama above to enlarge it.

Vivacious Visit in Victoria

I was so excited when my lovely cousin Carolyn got accepted in to the MA program at University of Victoria. Hurrah!  So Geordie and I went to Victoria to help get her settled in to her gorgeous dorm and see her and her mom.  This is us below being kind of gangsta'. Carolyn and I are wearing our new sunglasses.

We were big tourists too. Auntie wanted to do a high tea so we did. This is at Gatsby Mansion. A lovely high tea half the cost as that at the Empress in the same area and just as yummy.  We are holding our pinkies out to drink it properly.  Witty banter was exchanged.

We went to Bouchart Gardens as well. Auntie had been there a while ago but it was a first for the rest of us.  We saw fireworks and lots of lovely grounds. Expensive place but very pretty.  It was an excellent weekend and I was sad to go.  Fortunately I get to see my cousin more often so YAAAAAY!!!!!