the sister units and celebrations...

My sisters arrived in Richmond Saturday morning... ready to celebrate - one from Calgary via her favorite airline at YVR and the other from Nanaimo with her husband of many years at the wheel of the family sedan... via good ol' reliable BC Ferries at Tsawwessan. Interesting how quickly those who inhabit the 'Island (Vancouver Island, that would be) and all the many other islands and coastal communities along the left coast have come to rely on the BC Ferry services for far more than transportation to the lower mainland... the ferry service provides the physical connection for and between British Columbians - like the 401 provides for the physical connections of southern Ontarians and the North Sydney - Port aux Basques ferry service connects the 'Rock' to 'the rest of Canada'... and, it should be known, a great deal of what Newfoundlanders can purchase on the shelves at Superstore or Sobeys (food, I mean) depends on those ferries continuing to transit the Cabot Straights all year round. Too bad SWNova was forced to learn what life is like without such a service... but, alas, that is another story.
























Anyway, the sisters and one husband (only one is married) arrived at our Vancouver stopover place in the later part of the morning... hugs were exchanged and celebratory greetings followed. In case you were wondering... we (the sisters and I) have not all coexisted in the same space since our mother passed away in '97... also, this year marked the 'coming of age' anniversary for us all - one rounds the 65 year bend collecting $200 and continuing on to Baltic Avenue, the first sister is being set up for her ascendency at 60 and will be contemplating retirement from the active workforce... while the second sister has just begun living her second half-century. For those keeping count, that's OAS, possible CPP and.. well... still got a few years to go! Pity...












We decided, as such groups of sibling & spouses often do, quite arbitrarily (it was on the side of the street on which we were driving) to stop for a coffee & something at a local Tim's... and for a couple of hours , we caught up on each-other's live stories... and were entertained as we watched half the young families of Richmond all around us enjoy double-doubles and kiddy equivalents with no fries but lots of bagels - a scene no doubt replayed in Tim's all across the country.

Back to the hotel for a glass of wine was next on the order paper... but first, a stop at one of the city's finest wine boutiques was in order.... Found! in a very small suburban mall only two blocks from Tim's... an outlet store. Worst (by far) selection of wines - even BC wines - yours truly has experienced... well, maybe "worst" is an exaggeration... but "really bad" would certainly cover it.













A bubbly (for the better half), a BC gamay noir for us red-ophiles and some crackling apple cider for the Calgary sister... a good start to the evening. After a glass or two, we decided that driving was not an option. OK... its a celebration - lets 'grab a limo' to take us to the restaurant - the Blue Canoe on the Richmond waterfront - for our 1730 reservation. It was a great experience for the 'gang' and a "let's party" mood prevailed.























Won't bore you with the resto details but scenic views, good seafood, warm ambience, friendly service and content celebrants all come to mind.


Next - limo back to the Days Inn... hugs, good nights and early good byes - then off to the room to try to get a few hours of shut-eye before the next leg.











... and the trip back to do the final pack.


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Location:Richmond BC