Well, where to start with this given the date of this holiday.  We all know what happened at that time, so why don't I start at the beginning.  In late August 2001, I flew to Vancouver to visit with my parents and help them out around the house.  The plan was for Joe to join me for our holiday, flying up on September 13th.  Unfortunately the real world intruded on our little plans with the devastation of the World Trade Center on September 11 and the grounding of all flights over US airspace.  A terrible, horrible, tragic day.

When we found out all planes were grounded, we didn't know what to do, but Continental couldn't tell us if Joe would be able to fly until the last minute.  So we waited and hoped.  At a time like this you want to be with your loved one.  Wednesday night, just before he had to go to bed to get up early for the flight, he found out it was canceled.  So he called me and I called all our reservations and canceled them.  Then planes started flying again.  There ensued some confusion about if Joe could fly now without extra charges, but finally we got it all settled.  I sorted things out with an agent, booked his flight, changed our return dates (since he was coming up 5 days later than originally planned) and called him.  I said: "Pack your bags, you're coming to Vancouver!!"  And I re-booked our hotels.  Joe told his office that his trip was back on and see ya in two weeks, then flew to Vancouver, the next morning.  I actually teared up when I saw him at the airport, I've never been so happy to see someone ever before.

We spent our first night with friends Rose and Neil in Tsawwassen, after a wonderful dinner at The Cannery in Vancouver.  Aaaaah, Lobster Bisque, the Salmon Special, the wine, the dessert.  Absolutely divine. Definitely not one of those places that uses it's view to make up for less than stellar food.  The wine list is quite impressive and we were especially glad to see so much BC wine, since the Okanagan Valley and the Wine Festival were part of our travel plans.  The following day we went into Vancouver for lunch with my parents at the Point Grey Golf And Country Club (where Joe and I had our Wedding reception).  It was a good chance for Joe to visit with them since he hadn't seen them since we left Vancouver.  Then a quick run down to Kits Beach for a latte from Starbucks and a nostalgic walk along the beach.  So good to see the ocean and smell the sea air and see the mountains.  It really restores the soul.

The next morning the Road Trip begins.  After stopping by my parents on the way to the ferry we headed over to Horseshoe Bay to catch the Langdale ferry to the Sunshine Coast.  Our destination: Robert's Creek and my other family.  My birth Mother, Rosemary, and lives there with her spouse, Michal.  Her children (my half- brother and sister) are grown and with families of their own.  River was coming over with her wife, V the same weekend Joe and I were up and Shad lives further up the coast with his wife, Tara and their children Lauren, Brychen and Donovan.  So it was a real special trip for me to be able to stay with Rosemary and Michal in their home with my siblings there and get in some good family time.  River and V (especially V) took to the bears, I wasn't sure we'd get them back!
 

We slept in a little the next day before setting off for Gibsons and Molly's Reach.  As all Canadians know, Molly's Reach is where the Beachcombers hung out.  After years of just being a set, it's now a full service cafe-style restaurant.  Joe really wanted to eat there or we might have gone to the Cultured Cow ?? a great take-out place that Mindy and I went to when we went to the Festival of the Written Arts in 1998.  We had the Chicken Pitas with the Greek Salad (an homage to Nick) and then for dessert -- Butter Tartts!!!  Made for a great text for a postcard Joe wrote to his friends in Houston.  A Canadian would have to explain it all to the Americans! After such a treat we spent a little time walking around Sechelt, poking into the stores.

That night River and V joined us and we had a wonderful time yakking with them and watching them plan their new kitchen with Michal.  The next morning we went up the coast to Pender Island and Egmont.  The air is so fresh there and the trees are wonderfully tall.  We found a little shop in Pender Harbour where I got some Starfish artwork and then headed to Shad and Tara's to have a visit with them and the kids.  They have a lovely place -- so close to the woods they have to chase off the wildlife to keep them from eating their garden.  Brychan and Donovan wanted to show us everything and we really enjoyed seeing everyone in their home.  Then back to Rosemary's for a comfortable dinner with Rosy & Michal, River &V.  It was soooo cool for me to be able to look at these women and see parts of me -- my collecting of stones and shells, my coloured pen fetish, we even have similar senses of humour and our spouses have similarities too.  After living my first 28 years not resembling anyone, it was wonderful to feel as if I 'fit'.

The next day we were back on the road to Saltspring Island and our favorite place, The Salt Spring Spa Resort (formerly known as the Salty Springs).  We had to get an early start as we were going to have to take 3 ferry rides: Langdale to Horseshoe Bay, Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo and then Crofton to Vesuvius.  This avoided having to travel through Vancouver to take a Tsawwassen to ? and then ? to Fulford Harbour.  There are three different Ferry terminals on Saltspring, so we had choices!  We found a cute gift / coffee shop in Horseshoe Bay where Joe got a great t-shirt and I got a gorgeous Batik pillow cover that so reminded me of the BC coast.  Then it was onto more ferries.
 

The mountains rise from the water in  Howe Sound -- our view sailing from  the Sunshine Coast to Horseshoe Bay.

Our view as we waited, drinking coffee for our sailing to Nanaimo.

We were so lucky the day we traveled.  It was a gorgeous sunny September day, and the wind was calm.  You can't count on such a good day even in the middle of summer!  But the traveling Gods smiled on us that day and we stayed outside on the ferry decks and watched the beautiful scenery slip by.  It was cool to be back on a ferry, the Queen of Surrey actually.  So I'm nostalgic!  Soon we were leaving the 'haze' of the Vancouver region behind, though sad to say, we could still see it in the distance, even when were were on Vancouver Island.  The pollution problem continues to worsen in Vancouver, especially when the sun shines and there's no rain to wash the crap out of the air.  We made the drive from Nanaimo to Crofton quickly -- you forget when you're used to seeing distances in miles how quickly the kilometers slip by.

Joe enjoys the sun on the  deck of the  Queen of Surrey.

Soon we were on Saltspring Island.  Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah.  The pace is so much more sedate here.  Why would you hurry?  We found our way to our much anticipated destination, The Salt Springs Spa Resort.  This is where we came for our honeymoon so this return visit was our Fifth Anniversary present to each other.  And what a great present it is.  Three days, three nights in a little A-frame cabin with a view of the ocean, a barbecue, a kitchen, a living space with a wood burning stove and best of all, the tub.  A two person tub that you can fill from a 60 gallon heater filled with the spring water from the island.  And jets.  Oh, it's sooooo goooooooood.  Also there's the no TV, no radio, no phone part too.  We just take off our watches and forget time.  Sleep when we're tired, wake up when we're rested and spend the day reading, relaxing, whatever takes our fancy.  There are bikes to ride, a beach (very rocky, but cool stuff to beachcomb for) and a games room if you can't keep yourself occupied with the books and games.  No worries with us, we both had a couple of books...  Aaaaaah, even the memory of it is relaxing.

We went to the grocery store once we unpacked so we could stock up on supplies -- and have some of our old favorites that we can't get in Houston.  We bought Cheemo Perogies (yum!) with local sausage and some Mexi Snacks for munching as well as standard salads fare.  Then we found our favorite pasta from when we lived in Vancouver -- Oliveri (just now coming into some stores here) and the sauce of all sauces, Oil and Garlic.  Ooooooooh, yum.   That we can't get in Houston, and it's probably a good thing -- I hate to think of what the calorie count on that would be!  But, heck.  It's a vacation!.  Since each cabin is equipped with a full (if not elaborate) kitchen, we were able to do our own meals.
 

Joe Demonstrates just how big that  tub really is.

The best part of all is the relaxing...

The day after we arrived we went into Ganges (the big town on the island) and walked around window-shopping.  It was a lovely sunny day and perfect for it.  Saltspring Island has a large artistic population, so there was lots of great stuff to see.  You can get a map in town that shows all the art studios on the island and go to them too.  I found a lot of things I would have loved to have, given unlimited funds (not likely), but there were many beautiful things to admire and I did find a couple of things to buy.  I found a lovely dish with shells on it and a crab tile -- my theme this trip seems to be oceans (I also bought a beautiful raku starfish by Ray Braemar at Oh Brothers! in Kerrisdale -- a great store for BC artwork).  We also browsed a bookstore where Joe found a favorite book from his childhood (Terror in the Starboard Seat).  Then lunch at a Greek restaurant, more window shopping before heading back for Joe's massage.  He came back from that as an (almost) gibbering block of Jello -- definitely relaxed!  Next time I'll have to get one too.  We went down to the beach for a bit and when we came back a friendly passerby too the picture of us at the top of the page.  The tree behind us is an Arbutus Tree -- they have a limited range (although not quite as limited as the Garry Oak) and I loved seeing them again.  Funny the things you miss from home!  All in all, a very good day.  The following day was a little rainy and gray -- not a problem!  We spent the day reading and just staying mellow.  It's so great to be able to just spend a day that way, guilt free.
 

A fishing boat heads out in the morning fog Chugging past our window as we sip coffee.

The Chalets of the Salt Springs Spa Resort look to the ocean.

We had two and a half days and three nights on Saltspring.  We should have booked more.  We've decided that when we go back for our 10th anniversary we'll book a full week and do the big spa packages.  It'll takes us days just to recover to the point of being able to leave!  I can't wait.  I wonder how many years in advance they take bookings...?  But we'd go back every year if there weren't so many cool places to see.  Who wouldn't when you can look out your window and see this fishing boat in the morning fog as you sip your coffee?  Everything about it was restful.  But all good things must come to an end, and besides, we had more cool stuff to see, so once we were really relaxed, we headed out again to the Okanagan Valley.