Memory Bank Deposit

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve checked Kinley Travels to see ….when did we live in Botswana?……..where was that neat placed we anchored the boat?….what was the name of that amazing restaurant in Koh Samui? When was that big birthday celebration?  

It’s not only a chronicle of our lives, but my memory bank. And God knows as I get older, I make more withdrawals, so Kinley Travels continues. It may seem tame compared to our past adventures, but it feels pretty damned good to us. I’m always surprised when friends wonder when I’m going to update the blog!

The new year started with hopes of a Covid vaccine on the horizon.  Bubbles were not just for bathtubs, but for the very select people who formed our social and work network.  Zoom meetings and happy hours continued with the hope they wouldn’t last forever.

To break the boredom of the dreaded 2 day shot of winter, a friend suggested a snowman contest.  My creation was a masked kneeboarder.  It was one of many submitted, and a gloomy day was made brighter.

Roger was working shingling a neighbour's shed, and the tool slipped and cut his thumb.  He finally went to the clinic, and fortunately the tendon wasn't totally severed.  Thumb in a cast, he didn't take the advice of taking a few days off.  He cut a work glove and taped it on each morning and away he went.  Only a "flesh wound" as the Black Knight in Monty Python would say.

Winter finally made way to spring, and we got out on the boat in early April.  While there was snow on the mountains, Great Central Lake was glorious.

As the weather warmed up, so did the water.  Whether we were bobbing, tubing or knee boarding, we always had friends with us to share in the fun.

After a failed attempt earlier in the year, I was relieved and happy to get up on the kneeboard.

The Matheson Family joined us for a great day on the lake.

Poor Stu lost his wedding ring when he was in the water this time. He and Bev took
it in stride, and will be shopping for a new one.

Dancing to the tunes

Randy and Kerry Findlay joined us on a blistering day on the water.  Kerry had never
gone tubing before, and I can still hear the sounds of the two of us screaming with laughter as Roger pulled us through water.  Those are the kind of days that sustains me through winter.

It was 46C when we got back to the truck.  I thought we would melt.

We were so relieved to get our second vaccine. For a brief time, it seemed like the world was going to be o.k.  It was a short lived hope.

Celebrating our second vaccine at Dog Mountain Brewing

We did a very quick trip to Alberta to see Roger's folks in July.  We stayed with his mom, and sorry that somehow we didn't get a picture of her.  We had lunch with his dad, John and his wife, Zunny and it was good to see everyone looking great and having them fare well through Covid.  We wished we could have seen more people, but once we're retired, our visits won't be so short.

We had dinner with dear friends, Annette and Dwayne at Caesars.  The boys drove in Dwayne's
 restored 1934 Deuce Coupe, and Anette and I took the vette.  We felt like teenagers again!

Smoke and fires followed us through Alberta and BC.  What a horrific summer it was for many.

I am retiring in mid-December from my job at Oceanside Building Learning Together, and Roger swears he's going to slow down.  Stop laughing.  Really.

We decided to buy a trailer thinking it will be the most safe and economical way to travel in our retirement, and we enjoy doing it.  There are beautiful spots 20 minutes away from our home, but also hope to explore more of the north part of Vancouver Island.

Are you lucky enough to have friends that you've known for 35 years, and despite years and distance,
you can pick up where you left off?  We have such friends - Paul and Paula Williams 
from Calgary who visited us while they were on the Island.  Good times!

When we last said goodbye to Brad, Anette and Magnus it was March 2, 2020.  A very long 562 days later, we flew to Seattle and spent 6 days hanging out.  Despite FaceTime chats, texts and emails, there is nothing that can compare to hugging those you love the most.  We were so proud of how Brad and Anette safely navigated Magnus through Covid. Masks? No big deal. They created adventures and learned new things. Brad even showed him a graph of Covid cases in Maui so he would understood why a much anticipated holiday had to be postponed.  And he did.

Having wine and watching TV. Hearing Magnus reading to us, or dropping him off at school.  The smallest of moments were huge.  We had dreamt of being together, and yes - dreams do come true.

Brad and Anette belong to a boat club, and chartered a boat so we could visit
Port Townsend for the day.  We had a blast.

For a change - Brad was the captain, and we were proud seeing him at the wheel.

Port Townsend is a fabulous little town on the Puget Sound.

Seattle in the background and a happy man relaxing with a coffee. 
He was on a boat, with his family.  
Couldn't get better.

Sweet Magnus.  Still a loving, fun and smart little boy, who is now 8 years old.

Hitching a ride with RaRa

I didn't have to worry that he wouldn't want to cuddle with me anymore.

Magnus loves shooting hoops on his trampoline. 

The bets are on - when will Magnus be taller than me?

Drinking wine and hanging out making pizzas.  My idea of an amazing evening.

Brad and Anette had a date night out while we were there. 
And we got to look after Magnus!
Father and son have the same taste in cars!

Before we knew it, we were flying back to Canada.  Traveling internationally during Covid presented challenges with an array of tests, apps to upload, and questionnaires to answer.  But oh....it was all so worth it!

We hope the US/Canada border will reopen so we can visit the kids more often.  We also have plans for traveling south in January with our trailer. And hopefully go to Idaho with the trailer and boat in the summer.  All this depends on whether the US/Canada border opens and that depends on Covid numbers. 

I have been shamelessly pro-vaccine as I believe in science, and believe it is an ethical and moral decision to get vaccinated to protect ourselves and others.  

It is disheartening seeing anti-vaxxers protest health care workers who have put their lives on the line and are exhausted.  It's worrisome knowing that hospitals are beyond capacity and health care may not be available if we need it because those who aren't vaccinated are taking up beds. The vaccine is the only way out of this, and we all want out.

To those who haven’t been vaccinated for a myriad of reasons….just get the damn vax.  Please.

Do the right thing.  It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.

Mark Twain.