Back in the USA!

 

We are back in the USA (Seattle, to be exact)after driving through fog and rain into a windstorm as we crossed from Canada to Washington. All in all, the drive was still beautiful with the fog and the snow on the mountain tops. We had a great time in Canada and will take the ferry to Victoria in the morning. I hope that the fog and wind have cleared so that we can see all the beauty that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. God is just amazing with His creativity in how incredibly unique each part of the country is. I have never been to the Northwest before and it is breathtaking. It is Fall and I had almost forgotten how beautiful it was. After being in the cold weather, however, I will be glad to return to sunny and warm South Carolina. We will return to SC late Saturday evening.

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Another beautiful day in Canada

 
 
 
We had another great day today, a little warmer and clear skies. We took a nice hike to a waterfall and saw more of Mother Nature's beauty. Tomorrow may bring a little rain, so we need to get outdoors while we can. They get 33 feet of snow a year here, but we will be long gone before that happens.

Bobsledding Tom

This picture did not make it to the last post, so here it is!

We Have Arrived in Canada!

 
 
 
 
What a spectacularly beautiful place! We arrived in Seattle on Friday afternoon. Drove for 4 hours into the Canadian wilderness to the beautiful resort village of Whistler, a world-class ski resort. It is so beautiful I could not believe it. The fall leaves are spectacular......here are some pics. The one with Tom and the hydrant gives you an idea how much snow there is in the winter. Note the flag at the top of the pole! You can also see that Tom is signing up for the bobsledding team for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Go, Tom! There is snow on the mountain and it is quite cold, believe me! This place will be jam packed in the winter with more than 38 ski lifts......more pics to follow.

Jackie and Tom go kayaking!

 
 
 
 

Will wonders never cease? Jackie has wanted to go kayaking for some time now, and Tom has not been too receptive to anything smaller than an aircraft carrier....well, after a stroke of luck and running into someone who happens to own both canoes and kayaks, we decided to take the great adventure on the Cooper River. I loved it and Tom was a little less than enthusiastic....the getting in and out of the kayak was a little challenging. BUT, we did not flip them over, which was a major concern. The river was just gorgeous and we navigated some creeks so that we could stay away from the "big boats" and crazy people. The wildlife was abundant and it was incredibly peaceful. The water was like glass, and it was a perfect day except for the heat. I would love to do it again, not so sure about Tom!

Fun in the sun with the sons and the kids!

 
 
 
 

What a great Labor Day Weekend. We took a 12-hour jaunt to Ocean City, MD, to see the kids (Jeff, Monica and Jason) and the grands (Andrew and Abby). What fun. The weather was spectacular and the beach was great. We spent quite a bit of time at the beach, with some time at the playground and a boat ride thrown in for good measure. It is always a joy to be around the kids, although it makes me realize why we have them when we are young. God knew what he was doing with that one! Abby and Andrew go non-stop from morning until night, just being kids. Ocean City is a fun place to raise kids, with lots to do in the summertime. I am so glad that we oldies get to be a part of it!