I too have noticed the time that's elapsed since our last story. Several have commented, even criticised our lack of updates.
No its not that nothing has happened since August. Quite the contrary. A lot of fun has been had and I just couldn't be arsed telling all the folks back home what we've been doing.
So chronologically I'll break down the situation. Firstly summer had to end. One of the hottest, driest and greatest summers in the history of British Columbia stubbornly defied the calender and September saw more sunshine and elevated temperatures. Consequently our white water rafting trip was sublimely timed. A drive through the Fraser valley en route with plummeting gorges and salmon run folklore set the scene. Then came the city of Kamloops. The Rockhampton of Canada. Kamloops is to British Columbia what Rockhampton is to Queensland. One great big shithole. This amused me slightly.
Its disgusting urban sprawl destroyed the otherwise impressive natural scenery. Fortunately the water rafting was much better than the accommodating city. They did however have Tim Tams at the local pharmacy.
Our drive back, through some rather unsettling back water townships made me more than a little anxious. But the dull, surprisingly dry farmlands, transformed seamlessly into more glorious conifer covered mountains with countless lakes and stunning views.
That same month we also went to the Canadian Sunshine Coast. Whilst not the white sandy beaches namesake I'm familiar with, Canada's Sunshine Coast was a striking equal. Its an area, whilst still on the mainland, only accessible by ferry. Loafing around is a popular pastime, because the crystal clear ocean, ever so gently lapping against the forested mountains causes a real slow down in pace. Postcard stuff and our accommodation was superb. We drank red wine in front of the fire place whilst playing board games after our evening stroll along the beach in the crisp night air.
September was also the month we embarked on our ice skating lessons. Let me make a clear statement right now, ice skating is not easy. Oh contrarier, its difficult. To look anything more than a buffoon wobbling helplessly on a pair of thin blades on top of unforgiving ice is a noteworthy skill, something that our 7 week course may not necessarily achieve.
September ended and October bursted onto the scene with sensational colours and a noticeable change in the air. And the hockey season. If you combined the Super 14, NRL and Aussie Rules into one, that would be the National Hockey League.
Shona thinks I'm cute when I say it for the 700th time, but I just can't get over the stunning transformation that is concisely and unambiguously defined as "Fall". I'm from Queensland. There are no seasons. Just hot - all the time - so when millions of leaves throughout the city turn a variety of wonderful colours and drop to the ground all in the space of a few days I get excited.
Another totally awesome fact about October was I got stocked up on vegemite. I've got kilos of the stuff now. And not a jar too many!!
October started with a sharp drop in the temperature. The rain clouds rolled in and the notorious pacific north west coast wet weather commenced. But thankfully for just a few days. The skies cleared revealing the peaks of the mountains surrounding Vancouver dusted in the first snowfall of the season. Like icing on a cake it was the beez neez. The stubborn warm, dry weather returned and it was awesome.
October is harvest season. The last straggling of summer fruit disappeared. Pumpkins start piling up. Literally tones in every retailer. The leaves on the ground, shortening days and cold evenings create an undeniable atmosphere. Time to eat turkey.
Thanksgiving is celebrated in October in Canada, as opposed to November in USA. Our housemate, a chef, generously helped out in the kitchen by preparing the turkeys. Oh yes, not singular, 3 of them. To be fair they were only turkey breasts but they were huge. And candied yams. Take a pile of sweet potatoes, add a cup of brown sugar, a block of butter and bake. Then smother with a packet of marshmallows and hey presto Candied Yams. Down at least two bottles of wine before hand, and one afterwards and THAT my friends is how Thanksgiving is done.
We got our hands a little dirty getting into the spirit of the Harvest by heading to a couple of farms and hand picking some pumpkins and apples. And getting lost in the hilariously titled Maize Maze. Shona grinned for the entire day.
But possibly the greatest joy I've had so far in North America has been carving pumpkins. That story and Halloween I will leave for next time.
Josh and Shona, the world's most indirect travellers.
