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“Canada Strong” by N&J
Whistler, BC (Mar 19/25) – The past few weeks in Canada have been a whirlwind of emotions, of confusion & anger due to the idiotic ramblings of the ‘Orange Blob’ who resides in the big white house in Washington, DC, USA. It is one thing to elect a leader who may not follow your personal political preferences, but to elect someone who apparently is devoid of any logical thought, who ‘bobs & weaves’ (his words, not ours) from one extreme to another, challenging historic allies while embracing perennial foes …it boggles the mind. Is this really happening? AMERICA WTF??? …YOU CAN’T FIX STUPID The constant barrage of caustic comments calling…
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“Merry Christmas” by N&J
Whistler, BC (Dec 24/24) – Whew!!! Where did the year go? So much activity, so little time… Certainly a lot of stuff crammed into 365 days, between road-tripping in HOBBES on land, or sailing in SPIRIT BEAR, the traveling trio are keeping very active. Cheers!!! NOTE: Multiple post from this past year that were NOT published on-time due to an overwhelming schedule, will be published shortly. Better late than never …enjoy!!! N&J would like to wish all our faithful readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 🙂 …SPIRIT BEAR at dock for Christmas
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“Happy Thanksgiving” by N&J
Vancouver, BC (Oct 25/24) – This year Thanksgiving will be different for N&J. Every year at this time, the Vancouver Rowing Club yacht club (VRC) of which N&J are members, hold their annual Thanksgiving Weekend at Camp Artaban at Port Graves on Gambier Island. What better excuse to get out on the boat! ICONIC and SPIRIT BEAR rounding Pt. Atkinson enroute… The location at Camp Artaban, a church-based summer camp has been the go to off-season destination for many boating groups, located in the bay to the west of last months anchoring …Halkett Bay. On this occasion N&J invited fellow marina neighbours Michael & Glenna (M&G) on their SeaRay 40…
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“Camping on the Water” by N&J
Vancouver, BC (Sep 15/24) – After what seemed like forever preparing the new boat for travel; lots of cleaning, outfitting the galley (kitchen), installing new gear, repairing, and getting to know the new boat, etc …finally Spirit Bear was ready to set sail. Spirit Bear at dock in False Creek It was a clear sunny day in mid-September, light winds & fair seas, typical fall weather on the coast of Vancouver. Much excitement and pent up anticipation of their first overnight excursion made for a fun adventure. The maiden voyage would be a simple three day cruise to a nearby cove on the southeast tip of Gambier Island …Halkett Bay…
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“Wild West Coast” by N&J
Whistler, BC (Jul 23/24) – This trip was in the works for many months, a plan to get a family camp trip in for N’s brothers birthday and while the nieces were still available (the oldest just graduated from high school & about to embark on an overseas trip; the youngest busy with her new job). So a week on BC’s ‘Wild West Coast’ was planned. Meeting in Vancouver and staying on ‘Spirit Bear’ allowed time to have a visit with Nanna on the sea wall and go for lunch. A hippy start to the adventure required making custom ‘tie-dye’ shirts on the dock. Everyone’s creative spirit being channeled, a…
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“Alberta Bound” by N&J
Whistler, BC (Jun 27/24) – From what has been a very wet & weird spring, the road is calling N&J back to their first love… traveling & camping in their beloved HOBBES. The first half of 2024 has been a been a very busy time for N&J, dealing with their new acquisition… ‘Spirit Bear’ the boat. In these times of high gas prices, the cost of a road-trip sometimes can be warranted for various reasons (family, friends & material purposes). As chance would have it, a ‘technical piece’ of equipment from N&J’s new sailboat required a warranty repair in Calgary, Alberta. The cost of shipping this equipment including insurance was…
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“Nautical & Nice” by N&J
Vancouver, BC (Mar 18/24) – Some of our avid followers would recall N&J owning a 33′ sailboat named HERMES back in the latter ‘twenty-teens’ https://westfaliajournal.ca/itchy-feet-by-n-j/, later a purchase of a Whistler home that required major renovations (and lots of blood, sweat & tears) …thus the sale of that same boat (no time for sailing, only renovating). It has been years since those house renovations were completed & there always a yearning for another boat …well yearn no longer N&J. About half a year ago, N was pondering about the possibility of having a small place in Vancouver to use when we visit the city, hotels are brutally expensive ($400+ a…
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“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by N&J
Whistler, BC (Feb 21/24) – Early yesterday, Tuesday morning, after a courageous but short battle with cancer… N&J lost their beautiful friend Vicki Romanin. Those who follow this blog will remember Vicki & her husband Michael on our week-long visit to Tofino a couple years ago, where we shared an ocean-front beach house (see post Toe-Fee-No). click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery An absolute ‘ball of energy’, Vic would think nothing of going for a 2-3 hour run through the Whistler mountain forest AFTER skiing the day!!! She was an avid extreme mountain runner, competing in events as far away as the Tor…
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“Life is a Beach” by N&J
Whistler, BC (Oct 01/23) – Ahhhh!!!! The spectacle of summer… hot sun, warm breezes, picnics, BBQing, swimming, camping, paddling, basking in it all. Traveling our vast province of British Columbia comes with many attractions… mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, oceans. But the one thing that attracts more people (and animals) than anything else, always connecting land & water, it can be found everywhere… it is the beach. After a blissful voyage across the Salish Sea (aka Georgia Strait), N&J made their way up to Qualicum Beach, BC… where they were graciously invited to use a friend’s B&B located smack on the beach. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to…
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“🎶 Take Me Home… Dusty Roads 🎶” by N&J
Whistler, BC (Jul 10/23) – To celebrate their 9th wedding anniversary (and 10 years together), N&J and Jesse, set out to do what they love best… to pack their bags, hop in the van and hit the road in their beloved Westfalia camper van!!! Let’s go explore some areas ‘far off the beaten track’ but yet ‘so close to home’. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery Travelling north from the Village of Pemberton, passing through the flowering fields and scattered farms that produce all sorts of delectable delights (organic veggies, The Beer Farmer’s hops and the famous Pemberton Seed Potatoes). Finally crossing the…