Mini golf, sunsets and rental cars

Monday 9th July 2007

I got up without having any plans for the day and decided to make a few phone calls including one to an old friend, Mike Johnston, who now works as a hydroponics account manager up and down the Island. It was the first time I'd spoken to him on the phone and he happened to be a 15 minute walk down the road. I met up with him and he took me to lunch at the Whistlestop pub. After a good lunch we drove to Rent a Wreck where I picked up my awesome Chevy Lumina. We were supposed to go tubing in the river that evening with his brother but he didn't turn up in the end. Which was annoying!


Unfortunately the only picture I have of my beloved Lumina

Tuesday 10th July 2007

I arranged to meet up with Sherry Bernauer, a friend who I've become reaquainted with, like so many of the people you'll read about on here, on facebook. She picked me up in a minivan with her four kids (two sets of twins - 3 and 2 years old!) We picked up some McDonalds and headed to the Courtenay Airpark (basically a walk around a bay and an small airstrip). I managed to put too much sun tan lotion on my face so I ended up sweating the stuff into my eyes. I could barely keep my eyes open in the hot weather! I ended up having to go into the bathroom of a small cafe to wash my face. So that was embarrassing but I don't think the kids will hold it against me. After the walk we went back to her mother's house (Sherry lives in Alberta now) and played in the sprinkler with the kiddies. They really started to take a shine to me when I let them pour little pots of water over me! Had a really good afternoon hanging out there, looking at pictures, playing with the kids and reminiscing about old times. It was amazing to see how well Sherry was doing with the four kids! Seems to be an incredible mother to them.



In the evening I drove to Black Creek to meet Rhonda, another old school friend. Before I got to her house I walked around my first proper school 'Black Creek Elementary' which is no for sale and no longer used. Peeked in a few of the windows that weren't boarded up. Again, it was all so small compared to what I remembered! It was also kind of sad to see it not being used! Its all yours for $400k!



Rhonda and I started off the night with a game of minigolf, which was hilarious! After giving Rhonda a good thrashing we headed off to the Lucky Dollar for a munchie run (twizzlers, sour gummy candies, root beer, kettle chips) we headed to Saratoga Beach to chill out and watch the sunset. We found a log on the beach that took our fancy and we sat and talked (what the hell was that huge glowing thing on the shore of the mainland?!?) until it got a bit windy and the sunset disappeared.



Driving in Canada

I was a bit afraid when I got over here that I would turn the wrong way down a one way street or go head on into another car down the wrong side of the road. Thankfully that hasn't happened yet. The roads are wide enough for two cars to fit down one lane, and the fact that the wheel is on the left hand side of the car reinforces what side you're supposed to be driving on. I haven't found myself ever thinking that I'm on the wrong side. Getting into the car, however, is a different matter. I've only just started going around to the side of the car I'm supposed to be sitting in.

Rush hour on Vancouver Island (except for Victoria) is a joke. The only difference between normal and rush hour is that you're still travelling the speed limit, but you can see a car down the road in front of you. Literally, thats all it is! Its incredible.

There is ALWAYS parking wherever you go. There aren't any NCP's (National Car Parks) that you have to pay for, you just drive to where you want to go, park and then leave! Its the way its meant to be!

My Lumina rental was a great little car. I think it was made in the late 90s, an automatic, thankfully; it'd be weird trying to shift with my right hand. The total cost of my weeks rental was $300 which I thought was just dandy! :P I also borrowed Maureen's Mazda as well as taking out Jane's (the lady I'm currently staying with in Penticton) Jeep and a Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet. I've never driven so many different cars in such a short time. Its been great!


Anyway, its getting late now so I should hit the old dusty trail (Yawns and stretches). I've put up a new batch of pictures onto my photo page so check em out for an advanced preview of stories to come!

Good night y'all and enjoy the rest of the weekend!