Bloom Festival in Abbotsford with the God Kids

Easter Weekend is always special with the activities of Holy Week, NSRU, and a long weekend away from increasingly treacherous work.  Laura and I loved the inspirational speaker at the NSRU Pan Pacific Friday night. So many of the people we know on Facebook but rarely see were there. It's an old home week shaking hands, hugging smiling, catching up. I especially loved seeing Bill and Archie from Whitecliff and Vivian and her son Steven.  So many friendly smiling faces.  The countdown is always inspiring.  

Then Saturday we didn’t make it out during the day. We’d had all manner of plans but read books instead.  I walked Gilbert. Laura made meals.  We  lounged  till early Saturday evening. The rain letting up, we then drove to the Pan Pacific with the Miata top down. Another great inspirational speaker and more friends. 

Sunday morning we got ready early for Easter mass enjoying the celebration of Risen Christ at Christ Church Cathedral.  

After we made arrangements with Kevin and Anna to drive out to the Bloom Festival in Abbotsford. They’d been staying at the Pan Pacific so had to pick up their children after their weekend ‘date’.  Gilbert and I headed back to Burnaby in the Miata leaving Laura to catch up in her little red Smart Car.  The plan was to transfer to my new white Ford F350 2017 Lariat truck.  I love my truck.  It was a great ride out to the country listening to my iPhone music played through the Ford Sync 3 system with the sun roof open.  Great views of Mount Baker. Sunshine and blue sky.  Synchronistically with divine timing we hooked up with Anna and Kevin and the kids on the highway..  

Parking at the Bloom, the late winter had delayed the tulips.  The daffodils were out but instead of fields and fields of spectacular coloured tulips there were only a few patches. But walking with dog and the kids was it’s own entertainment.  We doubt they missed the tulips since the mud was so much more interesting.  

After we enjoyed an early  dinner at the Abbotsford Cactus Club.  While the adults had peppercorn steaks the kids had little hamburgers and fries.  Service was great. Finishing before the adults the children began to explore the restaurant with their parents retrieving squirmy bodies between the discussions of Dean Peter’s sermon and the inspirational speakers.  Kendra was definitely in Christopher Columbus mode.  Somehow we didn’t lose any children.

Walking about the Bloom, Alex had decided that day that he wanted to hold my hand while Kendra informed Laura that she wanted to be carried.  They really are the best family.   Anna, the consumate mother had  delightful tete a tete's with Laura, a grandmother several times over with another grand child due any day.  

I admired Kevin’s calm.  He shared that the Buddha had left his family to seek enlightenment. I shared that Paramahansa Yoganada’s said that one could meditate on a mountain but the real trick was  to bring the mountain into one’s heart and meditate in the world.  Kevin had very much enjoyed Dean Peter’s sermon quotes from Thomas Merton and St. Francis.  

Gilbert who’d had to wait in the truck was barkingly delighted to be re united with his little hairless buddies. He didn’t mind the bits of steak I’d brought back wrapped in napkin in my jacket pocket. It took him no time to find that.  We all hugged good byes and headed back to Vancouver our separate ways.    

BC Boat and Sportsman Show, Tradex, March, 2015

While Gilbert the hunting cockapoo guarded the Ford F350 truck, Laura and I attended the Abbotsford Tradex  BC Boat and Sportsman Show.  I’d seen it advertised in the BC Wildlife Association’s emails.  It really was worth the stop and the $16 admission.  A month or two back, we’d been to the big Vancouver Boat show at Rogers Arena.  It features yachts and speed boats and everything you could want from marinas and ocean boating.
This show was the place where fishing boats for lakes and streams were highlighted.  Not that the boats couldn’t be used on the ocean but mainly they were fishing boats rather than cruisers.
I did love seeing the Sea Doo’s again. If I win a lottery I will get one of the snowmobiles and a terrific high speed sea foo just for the fun.  The Can Am exhibit of ATV’s, Sea Doos, snowmobiles and Spyders  was my favourite.  I loved the snowmobile too.  Living in Vancouver there's no need for a snowmobile but I think if I ever visit Eastern Canada I really should take one with me if only to get from my car to the house I'm visiting.
The Ninebot robot electric 2 wheel riding machine I tried out was good for 30 km's on a charge and did 20 km's per hour. I'm not going to trade in my Harley Davidson today but I could see packing that in a saddlebag for getting about at one's destination.
There was all kinds of hunting gear, rifles, binoculars, boots and gear.  Italian Sporting Goods had a great exhibit. Every rod and reel known to man was displayed at several different booths.  Just an all round heavenly show.
Laura and I had hotdogs and just loved looking at all the mouth watering "good stuff".  Somehow we got away with only buying a long leather leash for Gilbert and some motorcycle suspenders for me.  We did compare my toy hauler with the heavy duty ones there. The Kenetreks boot were awesome but I ‘m still loving my relatively new Keens.
I almost got a another spotting scope. I have one but it’s buried itself into the bottom of my storage locker where it’s setting up a defensive perimeter to ensure I never find it again.  Of course once I buy a new one, these old ones things hiding in the storage locker get jealous, suddenly appear and make me feel like an idiot.
The best design exhibit was the Langley guys with all manner of solutions for carrying boats and ATV’s on the back of a truck.  Their prices were spectacular and I can easily see myself next winter calling them up to improve my truck’s hauling capacity.  Right now I ‘ve no more money for toys.  When we returned we saw that good dog Gilbert had guarded not just the truck but my new Ruger Mini 14 which I’d yet to fire.  That's the reason I have no money for more toys.  My birthday present to myself this year.
The original plan for the weekend had been boating but both Laura and I came down with the cough sinus flu so plans changed to going out to Harrison’s for hot springs and rest.  (And shooting the virgin new birthday present rifle.)  Stopping on the way at this Tradex show was a real bonus.
Great show!

Harrison Hot Spring March Motorcycle Trip

I've been going to Harrison Hotsprings for a quarter century, and the last few years I've been motorcycling there.  I usually stay in the Bungalows, the Ramada or the Harrison Hotsprings and Spa.  I like the Ramada for it's love of Gilbert, Rockamoles Restaurant, safe underground motorcycle parking and walk across the street to the public pool.
I bought an new Honda CRF250L motorcycle for on road off road, for hunting and just getting about. Honda Marine outfitted a rack for Gilbert's dog carrier bag to sit on.  We didn't get away till 4 pm on Saturday but caught the last of the sun and warmth. It was great to be in the country riding along the river, smelling all the country smells. It got cold and dark after Mission but the bike performed marvellously. I was worried about Gilbert being cold. I sure was. But in his coat and box protected from the wind by me he was just fine. We had one stop on the way at St. John the Divine, the 150 year old Anglican church near Maple Ridge.  The other one was at the Hemlock Valley road where Gilbert and I peed in the woods. I took some pictures there too. The Honda CRF250L handled extremely well on the highway, even doing well when the road was beginning to ice in the dark.  The lights were perfect.
We arrived at the Ramada (nee Executive) Hotel and there was room.  Let out of his box Gilbert ran right into the hotel recognizing it from previous visits.  I checked in and took him up to the room before going down to drive my motorcycle into the locked underground parking.  Next I walked Gilbert some before going down to Rockamoles to order steak and prawns and mashed potatoes with apple pie with ice cream.  I ordered Gilbert a burger.  When it arrived it was delicious.  I watched I, Robot with Will Smith.  It may have been a sequel. I really enjoyed it and know I saw the original but couldn't remember this one.
In the morning Gilbert really sprung forward and woke us at 6:30 am which was indeed 7:30 am.  We walked about the lagoon before going to the local favourite Chuck and Kitty's for their breakfast sandwich.  I took some pictures of some of the many favourite places and stores in Harrison's. Gilbert had a couple of sausages he inhaled.  Back in the room I blogged about the same story as this eating my sandwich and drinking the great coffee.  Done that I left Gilbert and walked across to the public pool where I spent an hour meditating and praying while soaking in the healing springs.  I love it.
I packed up back in the hotel, checked out and was glad to get to the motorcycle.  Loading it up I drove out of town along the winding East Side of Harrison Lake past the Sasquatch Campground  onto the gravel dirt logging road.  The bike handled superbly. That' s where I took more pictures of Gilbert and the bike by a waterfall.  Then we circled back to drive onto Hick's Lake.
The drive back to Harrison's and onto Chilliwack was chilly.  In Chilliwack I stopped to use the Scotia bank letting Gilbert stretch his legs.  Then we headed onto the freeway where I was doing 115 km  just fine and could have made 120 or more if I'd had full open throttle. Because it's a brand new bike I've not been pushing it. Also with Gilbert in the back with me I drive like I have a child along.  That's good for both of us.
At Abbotsford I filled up again. I'd filled up in Agazziz on the way up.  I'm getting good gas mileage considering a tank costs about $6.50 for 91 premium gas and I only filled up twice doing 300 km.  I had coffee inside at Mugs Coffeeshop, having some mushroom soup as well. I was cold but Gilbert was just fine, happy to have a couple of the dog treats I put outside for him.
It began to rain cats and dogs around Langley.  That took the chill off.  I detoured to Golden Ears Bridge to get back to number 7 highway and off the freeway.  I'd come up the other side of the river on the 7 and Barnet Hwy then come back on the freeway on the other side of the Fraser River. I crossed it at Agazziz.  Now I was back on the route I'd started on.  The rain let up in Port Coquitlam.  Gilbert didn't seem bothered at all.
I was glad to get to Hastings and cruise on home putting the bike in the back of the truck till I take it out next.  It's a great bike and what a great weekend we had. I love Harrisons. I love Gilbert.  And I  love the new Honda CRF 250L.  I put a fire on. I'm aching but I'm going to sleep well tonight.