May 17th to June 06th, 2008 VANCOUVER, BC CANADA (FEATURING TRIP TO TERRY & JOANN'S CABIN)

Sandra, the "Canadian Patient", wounded in the Mexican "Sidewalk Wars". She has refused all offers to autograph her cast, including the crew for the Alaska Airlines plane that flew her home. BORING!!!

Sandra with "Dr. Mom" Loretta and visits from friends Mike & Cathy, Dave and Debbie and Bob & Carol.

Terry and Joann's cabin near 70 Mile House, BC. View from the top of Forestry Road "B". I gave a pint of blood to the mosquitoes to get this picture. At this elevation there was still ice on some of the water, but these Canadian mosquitoes are tough. The dam overfloweth.

We worked each morning starting, after breakfast, at 06:00 or 07:00: putting in the dock, fixing a flat tire, washing the "Quads", working on the Chain (saw) Gang, burning slash, fixing the roof and pumping lake water to the water tank.

Afternoons were spent test driving the new kayak and driving the "Quads" up into the surrounding forest. The devastation caused by the Pine Beetle is everywhere, with more than half the trees dead (red is dead). We saw lots of wildlife, including a black bear, a bull moose and several mule dear. They were all to fast for me to get a picture.

Terry eats the last chicken leg, while neighbour Craig, Terry's dad Ray and dog Lucy look on as if starved. Fact is we had all just eaten and were stuffed.
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Woodlot art. The first letter was missing at the top left. I was told the letter was "T" for Tucker, the family dog. Ya. Right.

May 05th to 16th, 2008 PUERTO VALLARTA TO LA PAZ (VIA SAN BLAS, ISLE ISABELA & MAZATLAN)

Farewell BBQ at Puerto Vallarta Yacht Club. Nuevo Vallarta skyline as we leave for San Blas. The Palladium Vallarta Resort from the water (site of niece's wedding detailed in previous posting).



Sunrise through the smoke at Matanchen Bay (San Blas). the smoke from ??? was so bad we had trouble sleeping. Brother in Law Barry reading in the shade of the sail. It was too hot to sit in the sun. Hitchhiker on the Anchor windless.



Motley crew and beautiful damsel at Isla Isabela. Water fun.



Back at Mazatlan. Two "twiterpaited" birds at El Cid Marina. They were trying to build a nest in our boom. Little mermaid "Airel" pinata for birthday party at El Cid. The "last supper" with SV "Dream Weaver" crew Don and Jim. They were heading back to the USA after years of sailing in Mexico. Just after this picture was taken Sandra's knee cap was broken. Contrary to popular belief, this was not due to missed payments on a shark loan. She fell on the sidewalk returning to the marina from the restaurant.

The accident happened the evening of May 9th. Super woman (aka Sandra) refused medical attention until the next morning. She then received great care from the Marina El Cid doctor and the Sharp Hospital. On May 11th she flew to Vancouver to recover in the care of her Mom and Sister. She will be in a cast until the end of June and then will need physiotherapy.



BIL Barry and I carry on from Mazatlan to La Paz. Only vessel sited on the 38 hour trip was the car ferry, passing just as before the sun set.




Safely at dock in Costa Baja Marina, La Paz. After working on the boat in the morning I siesta at the pool. Temperature highs in the low 30s C and lows in the mid 20s C. Bird fishes of Passat's bow in the marina. The water is crystal clear and full of fish.



Night on the town in La Paz with BIL Barry, before flying to Vancouver to join Sandra.