Memories What fun for you and great memories for me. I can taste the Pisco Sours from here. Do you remember after our trip when we made them for a dinner club? I am glad you had such an enjoyable trip!!
buff
Gail & Rick, Sounds like you're having a fabulous time in the Sacred Valley, especially with a local who can take you places and introduce you. We too really enjoyed this part of Peru and in particular Ollantaytambo. Regarding the altitude, we think you'll find Machu Picchu is a lower elevation than other places. Are you planning to hike into Machu Picchu? Envious in Calgary, Richard & Buff
Wow My comments keep disappearing and I am not sure if they are posted or disappeared??
Anyway, I just wanted to say that we thought you were traveling in the fall. If you actually got my last 2 comments you know I asked this question? Pictures and stories are great-keep them coming. Creepy Mannequin!!! Buff
Interesting, so far We have been following your trip via internet. Dale been looking at where you have been and reading up on it and looking at photos, so we have some idea of where you are and what you are seeing. Great fun!
Welcome Back Ditto to what Lynn said about your travel blog. It was good to stay in touch with you through your writings and pictures. So back in Canada and starting a new chapter in your life. Pat had a bit of a chuckle when he read about Rick and the early morning hockey games with coffee after!! Gail, let me know what books your book club is reading. Wishing you both a happy retirement. We'll keep in touch:)
Donna - our first book was "Olive Kitteredge' - by Elizabeth (Stout?) - I loved it. Second one is "A Time in Between' which I have read before and didn't like that much even the second time.
Hornby Island I have to tell you this story. My sister and I went to Hornby Island. She was in charge of finding us a beach. Guess what beach we ended up on...I think it was the same one you ended up on:)
Welcome Back to Canada! Wow, where did the time go? I enjoyed reading about your time in China, and the pictures really added to the experience. Thanks for sharing your adventures with me.
Now that you are back in Canada, I hope we will be able to meet up sometime for a visit.
Beth and I met up with Linda Tutt in Banff in September at the Melissa Road Race. She ran the 10 k, Kelsey ran the 22 k, while Larry waited at the finish line. It was good to see her.
Glad to see the pics! Hello to you both. I am glad that things are going well for you. The photos are beautiful. Thanks for posting them. Great news about Geoff. Are you back for the summer? Stopping by Abby? We would love to see you again.
Blessings,
Carrie & Jim
WOW, great to hear from you! Hi Gail and Rick,
I love reading about your adventures and looking at all the pictures you post.
Things are pretty much the same at GSS. Stephanie Dunlop is expecting this summer. Maureen is taking Amy's mat leave. A number of us are heading to LA for the Religious Education Congress in March. I'm looking forward to Victoria at Easter and heading back to NS for the summer.
I hope our paths will cross sometime and you continue to keep us posted of what is happening in your part of the world. Take care.
it has begun! you're certainly taking it all in! wow! i'm so glad you're doing this travel blog. i love the pictures, and love the commentaries. this may be as close as i get for some time.... my chances of making it to China this year are less than zero. i can't afford a free lunch right now. and rumor has it that utility costs could double over the coming winter. but i'll travel vicariously with you. thanks!
i sit in my little condo with the dog napping at my feet and the (electric) fireplace doing its best to cheer, the weatherman promises we'll go down to -29 tonight, and we already have 8 inches of snow. the increase in the paper of employment ads for tradesmen suggests we're heading for another boom here, going into winter. realtors and people in the oilpatch tell me that's where we're headed. Christmas lights are beginning to go up and the city puts on its festive face.
Habitat for Humanity is moving towards a regionalized structure, instead of the current situation with 73 separate charitable societies across the country, so we're joining with Edmonton. seems like a good thing for us, though not all affiliates feel that way. they've even hinted at giving me a raise, which would be awfully nice. if not, i'm going to have to look for another job that pays better.
i hope your (however short) holidays are blessed with good food, good friends and good times.
hugs and blessings
Diana
it has begun! you're certainly taking it all in! wow! i'm so glad you're doing this travel blog. i love the pictures, and love the commentaries. this may be as close as i get for some time.... my chances of making it to China this year are less than zero. i can't afford a free lunch right now. and rumor has it that utility costs could double over the coming winter. but i'll travel vicariously with you. thanks!
i sit in my little condo with the dog napping at my feet and the (electric) fireplace doing its best to cheer, the weatherman promises we'll go down to -29 tonight, and we already have 8 inches of snow. the increase in the paper of employment ads for tradesmen suggests we're heading for another boom here, going into winter. realtors and people in the oilpatch tell me that's where we're headed. Christmas lights are beginning to go up and the city puts on its festive face.
Habitat for Humanity is moving towards a regionalized structure, instead of the current situation with 73 separate charitable societies across the country, so we're joining with Edmonton. seems like a good thing for us, though not all affiliates feel that way. they've even hinted at giving me a raise, which would be awfully nice. if not, i'm going to have to look for another job that pays better.
i hope your (however short) holidays are blessed with good food, good friends and good times.
hugs and blessings
Diana
Hi Gail,
I was just thinking of you guys the other day and wondering how you were because I hadn\'t seen a post from you, and here it is! Amazing how things work, eh?
I was in Nova Scotia this summer too. To bad I missed you. I spent time in Halifax at the beginning of July and again in August before heading home. Hope you had good weather because it wasn\'t all that great this summer.
We are back into the swing of things at GSS. GSS hosted this year\'s Faith Day, aka Religious Institute. It was a hit. Lots of preparation prior but worth it when it is all done.
The leaves are turning yellow and fall is definitely in the air. I\'m hoping it warms up for another month. I\'m not ready for winter, just yet.
Take care and enjoy your time in China.
Congratulatiuons/Hope all is well in China Dear Rick/Gail;
Rick, we met briefly in Whitehorse, Christmas 1978, when you and Gail were visiting Bob and Kayla.
First off, congratulations on thiry five years together and the move to China.
My daughters, Emma and Sara, 15 & 17, have been after me for some time now to get on facebook and track down my old friends from the Yukon. They are very interested in my tales of the Yukon, most of which (?) are true, sort of, kind of, in-a-way.
I took their advice, and ended up in the Peace River Record archives, reading a story about you both retiring to teach in China. Great!
I was about to teach in Vietnam in 1989 (ESL) after graduating from Simon Fraser in Burnaby, but got sidetracked with Canadian Press in Europe. So it goes.
I was connected to the group, Vets with a Mission, a group of Vietnam Vets returning to Vietnam to teach, build schools, etc. They're still there, so if you go south, let me know, I can find you people for travel tips etc.
Facinating to read your blogs, some envy there. Canadian Press picked up some stories of mine, written while a student journalist at SFU, and I had done some summer work for them on conservation missions in the North Pacific and Bering Sea in 1987. So I had a coin toss to deal with and ended up in Amsterdam in late June, 1989, then just missed out on the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the various revolts on down to the Adriatic. This really pissed my father off, as he had fought his way from North Africa to Berlin in 1945 with the Canadian Army (First Division)and wanted somebody in the family to take down the wall, or least watch somebody else take down the wall.
I was told about the coming events in Europe, while in a bar in Amsterdam talking with American journalists, and couldn't convince my Bureau Chief in Vancouver what was about to unfold, then ended up in Florida. Too hot, even with the aligators eating hamburgers from your plate, but that's another story.
So it goes, and enough of that.
Wow! Thirty five years teaching in Peace River and now, China. Must be a welcome and shocking culture change/challenge.
I have enjoyed your blogs, and was fun to see your sons visiting you, as my daughters have been after me to take them to sea with me to do the 'whale saving thing'.
Your travels have re-ignited in me the travel bug,and I have signed back on for sea duty with a conservation group I worked with in 1987 and 1989 and now work with in Vancouver. Do you get the Discovery Channel in China? Check out 'Whale Wars'.
My assemmbled offspring (as previously mentioned, girls, serious females, 15 & 17 and junior, 13, who lives to ride his dirt bikes and scare the hell out of me with his stunts,)are old enough now
that with enough grovelling on my part, I should be able to do sea duty for the three to five months required to get the job done.
Wife, Becky, spelled Becci, will be glad to be rid of me for the above mentioned time, us having been together since 1985, and she still doesn't know what peace and quiet is. Probably scare her.
On another note, I am up to my eyeballs in courses now, perenial student,taking my Level Three Occupational First Aid, Marine Endorsement, after upgrading all my other Marine Qualifications,(Officer of the Watch, etc.)the others long since having expired,
so if you are so inclined, I am studying at all hours, and am at 604 462 1618. Check out the time difference.
I imagine you both have busy days leading to tired nights, so I will sign off now.
If you have the time, drop me an e-mail line and bring me up to speed on everything else in the world, and again, congratulations on thiry five years together and hope your travels and experiences in China make you and your world a better place.
May your God be with you,
Jim Montgomery
Wow! How time flies! Hi Gail and Rick,
I am glad to hear Rick made of good recovery and is doing the things he enjoys. That would have been scary, but thankfully he received the medical attention needed.
We had snow here last Friday! Can you believe it? The day before the temperature was +27 and the next day it went down to 2 with snow. Driving to GP the next day, we could still see the snow on the sides of the ditch and trees. Crazy! We have returned to seasonal temperatures this week. PATs start next week.
When will you be in Halifax? I will be spending another summer in Nova Scotia. Maybe we can hook-up? Otherwise, I look forward to reading your next blog.
Take care and safe travels home.
Another year in China - good for you! I love the saying "borrowing China"...you'll be able to see even more sites and have more once in a lifetime experiences. You said you will be in PR for a visit this summer so just let us know when and I'll arrange the coffee at Tim's or at my house. I know there are so many GSS staff that will want to see you. Some of us were counting the school days left for this year and hard to believe but there's only 42 remaining. As always - too much to teach in too little time. We are finally getting spring weather here in northern Alberta. It was sunny today with a high of about +19. Hope it continues but we usually see a snowstorm or two yet in May. Congratulations to Geoff on his graduation. So nice that Chris can be with him on that special day. Take care Rick and Gail. We look forward to seeing you this summer.
Hello Friends Thks. so much for the update Rick & Gail and congratulations on the new contracts. Boy, that sure didn't take long for the change. Looks and sounds like you have been very busy with work, and pleasure---good for you!!
We are on Easter break right now so the week off was sooo very nice. I think we can make the last 9 wks. now. Time really does fly.
We wish you both a Happy Easter and good luck with your next year. Keep the emails and pictures coming. I will say hi to all the staff from you.
Take good care.
Ken & Karen:)
Imagine - found you in China! Thought I would look you up and so glad I did. Enjoying your blog on China. Will keep reading it! Hope to hook up with you sometime. Beth
buff
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Memories
What fun for you and great memories for me. I can taste the Pisco Sours from here. Do you remember after our trip when we made them for a dinner club? I am glad you had such an enjoyable trip!! buff