Saying goodbye to 2015 and welcoming 2016 in the Cariboo
03.01.2016 - 03.01.2016
It's been quite a holiday season for me. First a week in Ontario with my son Doug and his family, then Christmas with my daughter Heather and her family in North Vancouver and finally seeing in the New Year in Quesnel with my daughter Melinda, son-in-law Wayne, granddaughter Andrea and her daughters Kenzie and Erika.
Flying from Vancouver is always a thrill going over and through the Coast Range to the rolling countryside of the Cariboo. The route pretty well follows the mighty Fraser River and leaves the mild wet west coast arriving an hour later in the frozen north.
So, to sum up the highlights I would say the laughing and teasing are very welcome; we are all very compatible and enjoy being with each other. Is it tiring being around seven and nine year old girls? You bet, but wonderful. Where do all their questions come from? We went skating....well I watched after a few mild attempts. Ice skating is not like riding a bike. You really have to learn all over again if you haven't skated regularly. Melinda and I ate our share of red meat at places like the Cariboo Hotel and Billy Barkers Casino since this is cattle country and we wanted to help the local ranchers. And we had home-made tourtière and other good stuff at home. Holding tightly to Wayne I rode on his snowmobile and another time Melinda and I walked out on the lake on a path her neighbour ploughed after she told him that was something I wanted to do. There are ice fishermen in their huts, skating rinks made by people living beside the lake, walkers and snowmobilers galore.
We celebrated the New Year at midnight Rio de Janeiro time(07:00pm In Quesnel) with champagne for the adults and cream soda for the girls, then we all went out on the deck with pots and pans, screamed, kissed and then returned to a raging fireplace. All was well and we all slept soundly.
So ends another lovely adventure.
The last few pictures were taken at the Quesnel Airport on my way home.
