Kitty's Memorial

Went out this morning to find a new cache near 37th & Oak.  Ran into biker44 and his wife.  Took a while to find even though it was right where our GPS units took us.  Had a good visit.

Kitty's memorial was at Moberly this afternoon.  The gym was full.  Saw many old friends I hadn't seen for a long time. 

A memorial website has been established for those wishing to share comments and photos at Respectance.com/kitty_ocalIaghan/ 

Finally organized my photos:

Quiet day

Slept in today and then just spent the day reading the newpapers and watching TV. 

Enjoyed the last 2 games of the World Series.

My hand is still quite painful and weak.  I just got the notice of an appointment with the rheumatologist in December.  Still no word from Mary Pack.

Finished logging

Met Lori and Pam at COSTCO off Lougheed this morning and we went up to SFU to find the final of a pyramid challenge we've completed.  Found a handicapped parking spot fairly close.

Did some shopping at COSTCO and then took my Purdy's order to Rum at Weir.  Stayed and visited through the lunch hour.

Spent the rest of the day logging finds and finally finished.  I now have 4,674!

Logging

Spent the morning catching up on the back newspapers - so much easier when I read them online.  

Watched a bunch of shows on my PVR and logged caches all day.  500 to go!

Home

Up early and spent some time donating more money to the local economy.

Took our rental van back and the woman didn't bat an eye at the condition.  The desert dirt wasn't kind to it.

Our flight was just after 1 and we made good time to Bellingham.  Didn't get Penny to the ferry in time so she went back home with Lori until the next one.  Picked up Chinese food and was home by 7.

The next few days will be full of logging all those caches.

Tropicana

Found a few caches around Tonopah and then headed for Vegas.  It was a long drive.  Mostly a straight road through nothing.

Checked into the Tropicana and then took a walk up the strip to find a few caches and do a bit of shopping.

Had dinner in the hotel and gambled for a few hours.  I am not any good at it.

Finished!!

We completed the power trail well before sunset.  There were 1500 plus 3 extras.  We also found the oldest cache in Nevada and another old one at an abandoned mine way out in the desert.

We saw scorpions, big beetles, little scurrying ground squirrels, antelope, cows, wild horses, lots of birds and dirt.  Our car was sooo dirty since we didn't close the sliding door.  We were beyond dirty.

Lori & Penny cleaned the van and Pam went to the laundromat.  I dozed.  My hand is sore, my nose aches and I am a bit short of breath.  No wonder with all the dirt.

Good Mexican food for dinner.

Another hot day

We found over 500 caches again today. Most were on highways but we began the section that is on dirt roads. Not as dirty as yesterday.

Saw lots of birds and little scurrying critters.


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Location:Tonopah, NV

Dust

We were up at 7 this morning. I slept in so needed a knock on the door. We found over 500 caches today! I did most of the driving. Lot of it was on a dirt track next to the highway.

We backtracked to Rachel and the Little Alien Inn. We are in a large trailer. The shower didn't work in the first one so we had to move. Definitely needed a shower - we are beyond filthy!


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Location:Rachel, NV

On our way

Lori picked us up at 7:30 and we got off the freeway at the Bellingham Airport an hour later. Ate breakfast at Jack in the Box and then went to check in. Went smoothly. The terminal is a big improvement.

The flight was smooth and we landed early. Takes a long time to take a train to the luggage pickup and a shuttle to Hertz.

Stopped for groceries in North Vegas and then hit the road for Alamo. Logged 7 caches before dark. Our motel, the Alamo Inn is a relic. We missed it at first because there is no sign. Could be why it cost $100 for 2 rooms.

Had a good dinner at Windmill Ridge. Early to bed tonight.


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Location:Alamo, NV

Packed to go

Up early to meet Matt for breakfast at the White Spot. Heard all about Disneyland.

Picked up pills for my eyes and then went to my mets group at the Cancer Agency. Good to hear so many others have as much trouble as me in doing housework.

Stopped at London Drugs and then home to rest and pack. Arrived at Am's at 5:30 and we found a couple of caches along the dyke.

Lori and Penny came by after dinner for final planning session. ET here we come.



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Trip prep

Last night at home until next Tuesday.  Almost packed for our big adventure on the ET Highway.

Had lunch at Pajo's on the beach in Steveston.  A big lab ran up and tried jumping in my lap as I ate on a bench.  I was able to kick him away - several times.  The owner didn't even appologize.  What a jerk!

Found an easy new cache on the way home to fill today's calendar spot.

Busy day

Up early and actually had laundry in by 8.  Did 2 big loads but not sheets as I didn't want to go up and down the stairs any more.  

Met Lori, Anni & Georgina at Tim Horton's for lunch.  Lori helped me get a nearby cache that I couldn't reach and then I helped her get 2 more in the series that I'd already logged.  Stopped for a haircut on the way home.

Met Gwen and Wanda at the Cactus Club for dinner.  The room we were supposed to have our support group in was already in use.  Luckily Sarah was still there and saw the mixup.  We didn't stay long as no one else came and we had talked at dinner.

New iTouch

Productive morning.  Started at London Drugs and then found a cache on Railway, honouring the old Interurban.  Stopped at Roots for some leather cleaner and then to COSTCO.  Finally found parking but they have stopped stocking iProducts.  Tried Future Shop but the 3rd time the idiot referred to me as a man I told them to stuff it and went next door to Staples.  Bought a basic iTouch to replace my dinosaur.

Home in time for the Lions game.  Easy to set up the iTouch and load in the programs I want.  Big improvement over the old one.

Trip prep

Worked on caches for our trip.  My iPod Touch is so old that it seems like every day a new program stops working as it needs the newer operating system.  Just lost Dropbox!  Don't want to buy a new iPhone (my battery is dying) until closer to November 2012 since Telus will charge me $15/month until then to buy a new contract.  It's a plot!

UBC hike

The owner gave us the final for the mapbook caches that we completed so we headed into the UBC bush on a mission.  Found it quickly and kept on walking to find the 2nd part of a multi.  Moved the cars and grabbed the final part of it.  Lori ran to get the final of a puzzle as we signed the log and started back.  I must have walked about 2 km!

Picked up some groceries at Granville Island on the way home.

Lily wacked her head in the hotel at Disneyland.  Hardy munchkin. 

Surrey puzzles

We met bigbopper1 and his wife at Starbucks in Surrey this morning and had a good time trading geocaching stories.  Then we found his latest puzzle - still needed to call him for a hint after Lori met a rat in a thicket.  We needed to know that we didn't need to keep looking there.

Drove all over Surrey finding puzzle caches that we had solved.

Stopped at IHOP for dinner on the way home.  Lots of traffic!

Time for heat

Finally have to turn some heat on so I guess Fall is here.

Coffee with friends cancelled as only 2 of us were able to go.  We'll try again soon.

Spent a long time updating the iPad operating system.  It was cranky and duplicated all the Easter holidays several time.  Took hours.  I won't try the iPhone for a couple of days.

Flushed

Met Pam and Lori in Tsawwassen to find a cache Lori looked for 3 hours yesterday. We looked for another hour with another cacher before Pam found it lying on the ground. We got few more and then Lori and I went to Richmond for some more. Stopped at Dave's for fish and chips.

Went to my GP and had my ears flushed and then to to Cancer Agency to have my port flushed.


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Tired

Slept until nearly 10 this morning.  Last night was just too much for me.

Just watched TV all day.  Watched PVR'd John A. Macdonald and then The War of 1812.  Excellent!

Happy Thanksgiving

Up early to make cranberry sauce.  Met Pam at Garry Point Park.  We walked to the tip to watch Lori & Wayne paddle to Teddy Bear Island for a cache.  Wayne & Pam then went over to the caches on Steveston Island that she needed.

Picked up Pru, Jesse & his girlfriend and drove them to John's for dinner.  Lucas did the turkey and it was really good.  Love the traditional stuff.

I am so tired right now that I am going right to bed.

Steveston Island

Sat in the sun (intermittent) on the banks of the Fraser near Steveston and read waiting for Lori and Wayne.  They called just after I left, so I went back.  They set off for Steveston Island in a borrowed canoe.  I was the shore crew.  Took some photos, finished my book, visited Starbucks and the bathroom and was waiting with my trusty little flashlight.

Lori called a couple of times as they rounded the island.  They finally returned in the dark.  It rained hard a couple of time.  Amazingly they found every cache they were looking for except one on Teddy Bear Island.

Picked up Chinese on the way home and listened to the blacked out Lions game on the radio.  What a game to miss!

Turkey

Met Moira at the White Spot for a turkey dinner.  Then stopped at Safeway.  Huge lines and not many registers open - funny at 7:45 at night.

Pam and I plotted a couple of new geocaching projects tonight.   

Still having intermittent bouts of nausea.  Nerves or the Tamoxifen?

White Rock again

Met Pam and Lori in Surrey and we headed to White Rock to clean up those pesky new caches that had appeared on our map of happy faces.  We finally found 10.  

Did a bit of shopping on the way home.  Really tired now.  Should sleep well.

Recovering

Had a pretty good sleep last night so went to my metastatic support group.  The coffee wagon women had a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit waiting for me.  

Picked up some groceries on the way home and had a bowl of chicken soup at Characters.  Didn't eat much to let my gut settle down.  Sipped Ginger Ale. Still feel a bit nauseated and really tired.

Sick today

Had a quiet day reading and watching TV.  Did some work on caches for our Nevada trip.

Something didn't set right and I've been quite sick tonight.  Hope a night's sleep will help.

Autumn weather

It was chilly today.  I found a cache in Richmond between the showers.  Bought a vest at the Mark's next door and some fresh produce at the Richmond Country Farm.  

Made bread when I got home and settled in to read and watch TV.

Starting to have hot flashes with the Tamoxifen.  At least they don't last long.

Ioco Ghost Town Day

Found a cache in Port Coquitlam.  Made a large loop to avoid the motorcycle Christmas toy run that I have been stuck in for the last 2 years.  

Met at Matt's and we all headed to the old Ioco townsite for the best little fair for small kids.  Jane was there with her son and his family.  Cuddlefish recorded seeing the geocaching decal on my car.

Dropped Andrea off near Brentwood to pick up her car.  Stopped at Safeway for a prescription and some groceries and was home by 4:30.

I am so tired that I didn't even want to stand up to go to bed.

How do you play rugby?

Amazing how I can take all day to read the Saturday newspapers.  Also found time to fix new GPS I'm giving Sadie tomorrow - GeoMate.Jr

Watched Canada play the NZ All Blacks in the World Cup of Rugby.  I've never watched a game before so had to study the rules.  They are surprisingly simple.  They scored more points than any Canadian team has ever had against a NZ team.  I really enjoyed the game.  It was like football with no stoppages.

Lions roar in rebuild stadium

Stayed home and actually got through a lot of piles of paper.  Even cleaned out my fridge.  Took out the garbage and grabbed the wrong keys.  Had to walk around the block to the front and try a few suites before someone was home and let me in.  Duh!

Enjoyed the first Lions game in the renovated BC Place. 

Watershed Park

Met Pam at the Delta Watershed Park this morning.  We parked near the artesan well earthcache.  Filled up a jug to measure the flow and hid it until we returned.  It is now in the fridge.

We must have walked about 2 km to find some more hides that Pam already had.  At least the way back was downhill!  Failed to find one.

Had lunch at the Applewood Country Gifts, Tea Room & Bakery for lunch and then found a few more caches in Surrey.  A couple of others eluded us so we have watches on them to see if others find them.

Lots of dreaming and hard to wake up in the morning.  Side effects of new treatment?

New West

Headed to the Waffle House for lunch and then found 3 nearby caches.  Didn't find 2 others.  

Traffic was wicked on the way home so I used several loops around the trouble areas.  Glad to get home.

UBC Bushwacking

Met Pam and Lori at Pacific Spirit Park and we headed in for a couple of caches. Neither were near the posted coordinates. Part of it is the size of the trees. It took a while but we found them both. Loved the trails.

Found the wine from Sunday at Dunbar & 41st in the Village VQA Wines.

Stopped at London Drugs and Choices on the way home.



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Stormy day

A good day to stay in.  Read and did some paperwork.  Caught up on new shows on PVR.

Really tired tonight.  Tamoxifen kicking in?

Awaken Your Senses

Drove Louise to Brew Creek today for a Callanish fundraiser.  We arrived right at 1:00.  Not too many familiar faces.  Many were those who donate time and money to the Society.

John Bishop served us this wonderful lunch.

We then went to one of their new buildings for a concert.

A wonderful day!  Makes me want to return for an Alumni Retreat soon.

Dropped off Louise and was home by 7:30.  There was very little rain while I was driving.  Even saw a large rainbow on the way up.

Day of rest

Got up at 9:30 and did nothing all day.  

Read the newspapers I'd missed and watched the Lions demolish Saskatchewan.  Then watched several shows on my PVR. 

Whidbey Island

Found some caches near Maple Falls and Deming.  Then headed for Whidbey Island to continue our quest.  Threw in a few earthcaches for good measure.  I counted 20 caches for the 2 days.

Stopped at the Front Street Grill in Coupeville for an excellent lunch and view.  The only bad part was a speeding ticket.  The speed changes so often it is hard to keep track.  I had just left the parking lot at Deception Pass and hadn't noticed any speed signs and hadn't looked at the indicator on my GPS.  Stupid! 

Home at 9 after 950 km in 2 days.

Thursday Mission

Picked up Lori and Pam, after an extra 30 minutes getting through the tunnel traffic, and we headed to Washington on a mission.  We were looking for caches placed in certain months and years and for specific combinations of terrain and difficulty to complete our charts.

Started near Blaine, then stopped in Bellingham, the Skagit Airport (good cafe), east of Seattle & Marysville.  We spent the night in Pam's trailer in The Glen at Maple Falls.  Great spot.  Felt like the Provincial campground in BC - each site surrounded by trees.  Slept almost 9 hours.

Packing

Thought it was a day off and then remembered the metastatic group.  Met from 10:30 to 12.  We decided that chemo brain and age is making us forget nouns and depend on adjectives.

Bought a new set of walking sticks at MEC.  Wanted a better grip for my sore right hand and found a pair that break down to about a foot long.  Stopped at London Drugs and Characters (for a cinnamon bun) on the way home.  Bought a better brace for my wrist and it seems to be helping.

Had to go back out for the GPS I ordered for Sadie - geomate.jr  Pickjed up some Chinese food on the way home.

Backroad Maps

Lori drove today as our caching trio set out on a quest.  We found a couple of caches in Whistler and then Pemberton.  Only 2 more pages of our mapbook to finish our challenge of 30 pages.  The next stop was in Joffre Provincial Park and a nice walk to the lake.  

The final, south of Pemberton, one was a doozy.  I was so glad that Lori was driving her SUV!  They had studied maps and were sure they knew the way.  My GPS was out of it's depth in the hills and didn't know the road we were on for some time.  Road?  It wasn't dirt or gravel, it was rocks!  With some large potholes!  Lori persevered and we finally found Mosquito Lake and the cache.  We asked some Forestry Service people in a pickup that had to edge past us if there was an easier way.  They said we couldn't get there from here.  We tried to explain we already had been there and were on the way out.  

Found a few more on the way back to North Van and then headed into the woods near the Dollarton Hwy.  They sent me back when the trail got tricky and darkness was falling.  I started walking up the wrong trail but realized it in time to get back to the car safely.  Our bear bells kept any bruins away.

New carpets

They ripped up the carpet in the hallways today and started laying a new one.  I had to let them in the doorway to do that bit.  The moulding will be put on when it is all done.

Went out for the noisy and dusty part.  Found a cache along the North dyke in Richmond and then had lunch at the Waffle House.

Met Louise at the Cactus Club and then we went to our group at the Cancer Agency.  The parking meter didn't register all my coins so I now have a ticket.  They are investigating to see if it is malfunctioning.

Getting colder

Woke up to rain and cold this morning.  Was still pretty tired and decided not to go to the garbage cleanup event on Point Grey beach.  Waited for the sun to come out and found a quick cache in Richmond.

Watched a movie then the Emmy's.

BCTLA Executive

Picked up a latte and made it to the BCTF building by 9 for our meeting.  Small group today and think that makes us more productive.  We walked up to Milestones for lunch.  Finished by 4 and I drove Lynne to the airport.

Found today's cache in Steveston and then stopped at M&M Meats and London Drugs.  Listened to the 1st half of the Lions on the radio and was home for the 2nd.  They keep winning!  Now they just need to figure out how to do that at the start of the season.

My right hand is painful enough that I've been wearing my brace during the day instead of just in bed.

Burns Bog

I met Pam & Lori near Burns Bog to find a couple of caches and we ended up with 12!  We walked around the boardwalks and went a fair way.  Had to be more than 2 km all together.  I was unsteady when we made it back to a Tim Horton's for lunch.

We then went to Lori's to plan our trip to the E.T. Highway in October.  Booked the flights and hotel rooms.  We are spending the last night in the old Tropicana on the Strip.

Had dinner with the VTLA Executive at Michelle's house at UBC.  Wonderful food and company.

A day of doing nothing

I love retirement.  I can just spend a whole day not getting dressed.  Watched a couple of movies and got GPS ready for tomorrow.

New plan

Saw Karen this morning.  She is pleased with the results of my last CT Scan.  It is obvious that she was expecting bad news, especially with all the shots of my head.  That part was normal but the tumour in my adrenal gland is growing.  There is also a new spot in the upper left lung.  It might not be cancer so they are going to watch it for a bit.  My tumour markers have finally stopped going up.  

We spent some time discussing options.  We finally decided that it wasn't time for the heavy chemo yet but it was time for change.  I am now on Tamoxifen again.  I took it from 1993 to 1998 as a preventative and the cancer was out of sight.  Who knows what it will do this time.

Dropped off the prescription at the Cancer Agency (at least this time it is paid for) and picked up Mae.  We had breakfast at Solly's and then I went back for the pills.

Met Pam and Lori at Cypress Bowl.  Actually walked nearly 700 metres up to one cache.  Wonderful view!  We stopped at the White Spot for lunch and finished up on the Baden Powell Trail near Capilano River.

The exercise felt good after a few stressful days.

Laundry Day

Did a couple of loads of laundry today.  That seemed like enough effort for one day.

Last market day

Had a good sleep so headed to the last Ladner Market of the year.  Found parking right at one end and took my shopping cart to avoid carrying too much.  Met 3 friends along the way.  Ate a bbq halibut burger with a mix of oranges, pineapple & melon on top.  Filled up the cart and headed straight home.

Spent most of the day watching 911 stuff on TV.  I remember how I was at the union office all that day without a TV and then worked the night at the Red Cross.  Went there after work for days.

I always thought life would be simplified after retirement.  Jane wants me to come for a visit after seeing my oncologist on Tuesday.  But there are other things I should do and I can't figure out how to juggle them:

Thursday: VTLA bbq, 

Friday: BCTLA Executive, 

Saturday: geocaching events in Stanley Park and Jericho Beach

Sunday: geocaching event in Arlington, WA

Monday: cancer support group

Wednesday: cancer support group

?: a trip around Whistler to Lillooet to get challenge caches

No point in making decisions until I see what Karen's new plan for me is.

Lions Roar

Up early and found a cache along the dike in Richmond.  Matt came by at 11:10 and carried the printer down the stairs.  I took it back to Staples for a refund.  It was too complicated and the online reviews right on the HP website said it was a terrible model.

Picked up Pru and we went to the last game the Lions are playing in Empire Field.  Picked the closest parking lot and they let us in after it was closed off.  The SPARC pass helps!  Not far to walk at all.  Our seats were right at midfield and in the shade on the East side.  Great game to be at.  The weather was perfect and we dominated every aspect of the play.

Met Moira at 7 in the White Spot.  Stayed for almost 2 hours.

Cancer Agency

Busy day today.  Picked up my prescription at Fairmont and then went to the Agency.  Started with bloodwork  on the 6th floor, then a CT-Scan on the 3rd.  The tech was a parent at Weir and recognized me.  It was a more comprehensive scan than usual and included several pictures of my head.  Didn't hear anyone saying "oh oh".  Then down to the 2nd floor for my shot.  I arrived really early in the hope they would just take me and it worked.  Once the nurse found my chart, she gave me the injection.  The orders didn't match the dosage in the prescription.  I've had that happen before and talked her into giving it to me anyway.  It will probably be the last time for this drug.

Just needed to get outside, so went to Steveston for fish & chips at Pajos.  Sat on the beach for a while and then found a nearby cache.

Fell asleep when I got home and am not staying up for all the news.

3,001 Caches

Picked up some geocaching supplies in Cloverdale and then met Pam & Lori.  We found some caches in Abbotsford and then went across the bridge to Mission.  After lunch at Mr. Mike's, we headed to Harrison.  

Lori swam around from buoy to buoy and then back a second time, looking for a cache that they found during a competition that would give me 5 for difficulty & 5 for terrain.  No sign of it after all that effort!  I'm wondering if the swimming area rope & floats aren't brought to shore for the winter.  Ice cream helped her recover.

We had to go back to one of the Abbotsford finds to replace a paper hint.  I was done in so stayed in the car while they did the walking.

Picked up chowder & caesar salad at the White Spot drive in on the way home.  Arrived after 8 - drove 330 km.

Queensborough

Went to the Metastatic Support Group this morning.  Picked up my latest tumour marker printout.  It has gone up to 130.  Not good.

Drove to Queensbourough.  After a good lunch at Boston Pizza, I walked along the river and found 5 caches.

Boundary Bay

Took Patience for a walk around the streets of the ghost town she lived in for a few months on 1947. It was a Signal Corps Wireless Station and Edna lived there while TJ lived with my grandparents and parents on Pacific St. It is a beautiful site with roads but no buildings and dozens of huge trees. We ate blackberries as we walked. Quickly found the new cache I wanted.

I drove Patience, Pru and Murray to Gastown to shop and then a quick drive by the convention centers and Chinatown. Stayed at Pru's for BBQ salmon.


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Good deed

Went back to Port Coquitlam area to find some more caches today.  Rescued a woman who had already been walking with a flat tire on her bike for 1/2 an hour.  It was 27 and far to hot to keep going.  I convinced her to throw it in my back seat and I took her back to her car, saving her another hour of walking.

Had a good lunch at Applebee's - Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp (Cajun-seasoned chicken breast grilled and served on a sizzling skillet topped with blackened-seasoned shrimp, garlic and thyme. Served with crispy potatoes and sautéed onions and mushrooms.)

I was home by 5.  

Family time

Spent the day on Pru's porch. Sadie and Lily were the hit of the day. They even helped Jesse make the hamburgers.

Still feeling pretty tired. Don't have to do anything tomorrow.


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Exploring Coquitlam

Met Louise at Waves to pay her for a ticket to a Callanish event: “Awaken your Senses” at the home of the Callanish healing retreats, The Brew Creek Centre (chef John Bishop will present a 4-course Sunday lunch, for 40 people, accompanied by select B.C. wines. An intimate concert with musicians Ariel Barnes (cello), Heidi Krutzen (harp) and Maryliz Smith (piano) to follow).  


Wasn't feeling great and decided a day in the woods would lift me up.  Found 7 caches in Coquitlam.  Pretty sure I came across fresh bear droppings but no sign of the critters.

Ups and downs

The day started out well.  I found 5 caches in Queensborough.  Couldn't find the one under a dock as you had to scramble under.  Terrain not a 1.5 for me!  Pam suggested meeting in North Delta to log the final of a challenge cache.

Stopped at Staples on Marine Way to buy ink cartridges for my printer - again!  Saw some criticism of this model on the internet and the salesman agreed.  I was looking at a sale model but he convinced me to get a more expensive one.  They didn't have one in stock so I got an even better one at the cheaper one's price.  Now I hauled it up I have to measure to see if it fits and I am still not sure if it prints emails.  Tomorrow!

Lucas called and said to come to Pru's to watch the Lions & have dinner.  The game was nearly over when Judy arrived.  She was standing between me and the TV and telling a loud story.  I said I wanted to watch the game and she got out of the way but kept talking.  She then told me I could watch but didn't need to hear.  Instead of getting into a fight in front of her daughter I just left.  I was starving by the time I got some dinner.  Luckily I still had some salad in the fridge.  I try to deal with being sick by not getting involved with such drama.  I was tired, hungry and sore from getting the printer up the stairs.  Just too much!

Sjögren's syndrome

Saw Dr. Narvis, my GP, today for a renewal on my Sjögren's syndrome medication.  A lot in the news toay as Venus Williams announced she has it as well.  He said to start wearing a compression stocking to stop the leg swelling.  First sign of an old lady.

Picked up the pills and groceries at Safeway.

Point Roberts

Picked up a couple of packages at TSB Shipping in Point Roberts and filled up with gas ($1.12/litre).

Bought some groceries at Thrifty's and found a nearby cache. Home by 2.




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Victoria?

Patrick drove Patience's car as we went to Victoria with Murray. The ticket agent mumbled and we got into the wrong lineup (yes, I now know it is on the ticket). After a nice ride to Duke Point, we drove the Malahat to Victoria.

Stopped for lunch at the White Spot. It was really slow and we didn't reach the museum until past 3:30. Explored until it closed at 5 and then went to an IMAX film called Rescue about Haiti.

We had to drop Butchart Gardens and just made the ferry at 7. The only one after that would have been 9 and there were no reservations left.

A good day even if it didn't go just a planned. Even did a couple of geocaching challenges.


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Failing iPhone

Took my iPhone 3 to Apple Store and they say the battery is failing and can't be replaced.  Need to hang on until 5 comes out and talk Telus into letting me trade up.

Out to Richmond for some produce, London Drugs & M&M Meats.  Lots of traffic today.

Met Moira at Applause for dinner.

Puzzle bug

A puzzle travel bug was placed a few blocks away so I went quickly to retrieve it.  A man came over to see what I was doing and helped look.  He was obviously addicted to something but was quite sweet.  I had found this one before so quickly had it in hand and took out the TB that had a switch and lights attached to it.  I left a coin in exchange.

Found a new cache in Port Moody and failed at another.  Spent the afternoon at Matt's watching the girls play in the princess pool on the deck.

Got some groceries at Thrifty's.  Got the finger from a jerk who didn't want to let me use the handicapped parking spot.  Where is a policeman when you want one?

Granville Island

Went to Granville Island with Pru, Patience & Murray.  We wandered the shops and had a scrumptious lunch at the new Edible Canada at the Market - Lemon ricotta stuffed waffles with seasonal fruit, amber maple syrup.

Picked up my car at Pru's and did a quick trip to Richmond to get the cache I needed today.  Back for a nice quiet read on the front porch and then wonderful baby back ribs for dinner.

Down time

Spent the day cleaning up cache records for the last couple of days.  Couldn't see my GPS in the dark last night but it was in the trunk today (too tired to worry about it).

Couldn't get it together to shop or cook so went out for Chinese takeout from a Richmond mall.

My foot is still sore but is much better than yesterday.

Lund

We drove as far as Lund and then worked our way back to Langford, finding caches along the way. It was like driving past a series of postcards.

Home at about 9:45 and am really tired. Don't do well sitting and my leg is a bit swollen. That hurt my foot.


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Sunshine Coast Geocaching

Lori & Pam picked me up at 7:45 and we headed for the Sunshine Coast.  We had a reservation to get on the first ferry and the day was perfect for the ride.

We found our first 2 caches in Langdale and then worked our way to Powell River.  We logged about 100 points (Difficulty plus Terrain) before crying uncle.  We finally had dinner at Tim Horton's at 10 pm.  

Haven't logged them yet and was too tired to remember to blog last night.  Also forgot to bring cane and SPARC pass.  The paper said making mistakes helps the older brain to get better.  I must be getting so smart!

Day of of news stories

Had a good sleep last night and was feeling better today.  

Went to Byrne & Marine Way to shop at London Drugs, Mark's, Cobb's & Staples.  Love having my favourite stores all in one place.

Spent the afternoon logging coins and reading puzzles.  Didn't feel like cooking so had dinner at the White Spot.

On the news today: Jack Layton's death, the fall of Libya, a major hurricane and a big earthquake...

Rainy day

Didn't have to go out in the rain today and enjoyed the coolness after the heat of the last few days.

Got my GPS units ready for our road trip Wednesday.  Spent some time sorting all my puzzle and multi pages in a couple of binders.

Sad day, loosing Jack Layton.  Social media sent messages around the country so quickly.  His final letter was perfect.  This man should have had a chance to be Prime Minister.  Other politicians should honour him by being more like him.

Home

There were barking dogs in the hotel breakfast room.  Couldn't find hot water for tea and there were too many people so I left with just juice.  Told the man at the desk as I checked out about the dogs and he took off down the hall in a fury.

Went right to the ferry to Whidbey Island and was on the 8:30.  Found an earthcache and then my GPS stopped working.  Since I can't use the iPhone in the U.S., I gave up and headed home. 

Did some shopping at The Olive Shoppe in La Conner and had a good lunch at the Waterfront Cafe.  Bought gas at COSTCO for $3.599/gal (94.6/litre).  Stopped at the Duty Free for a bottle of rum.  It cost $4.50 since I had filled up my card.  

There was only 1 car ahead of me in the NEXUS lane so I was home just after 3.  I was glad I had come straight home.  I had a bit of a headache and I had a few other aches and pains.  Don't need to do much tomorrow.

Mega Block Party

There was no room to sit for the free breakfast at my hotel this morning so I just drove straight to Seattle.  I had the coordinates for a parking garage and ended up on a bridge on top of it!  Got back to the right side and parked for $5.  Had tea and a scone in a coffee shop at about 9:30.  

Wandered over to the Block Party early and was able to get in line to buy a t-shirt and coins before things got too busy.  Traded some geocoins and bought a bunch of stuff at the vendors.  Ran into several Canadians I knew but was pretty tired out from the heat and standing so left just after noon.  It was very well organized.  Apparently they learned from mistakes they made last year.  I see that over 500 have now logged that they were there which officially makes it a mega event.

Took ages to get through traffic and find a parking spot near Pier 54.  Had a great lunch at Ivar's Acres of Clams.  Haven't been there for years.  Had Seafood Cocktail (Lemon poached tiger prawns, white shrimp, Snow Crab claws, Dungeness Crab, Along with a mango avocado salad. Garnished with shredded fresh horseradish), Seafood Chowder (Alaska halibut, wild salmon, white shrimp, clams and hard-wood smoked bacon) and Caesar Salad.

Found 7 caches on the way back to my motel in Everett.  One was on a hill looking down on an aircraft carrier.  Loaded in a new bunch for Whidbey Island tomorrow.

Walked next door to Hunan Restaurant for dinner.  Mediocre food.  You know you aren't in Vancouver when you have to ask for chopsticks.

Washington geocaching

Left home before 9 this morning.  The lineup at Peace Arch went north of the duty free, but there were 2 cars ahead of me in the NEXUS lane!

Arrived at the Bellevue Mall, east of Seattle, by noon.  Bought some clothes at Macy's and goodies at Harry & David.  Had a great lunch at Z'Tejas.   

Drove to Redmond and found a cache placed in January 2004 for a challenge.  As I was making notes in the car a security guard popped up out of nowhere and asked what I was hiding.  I tried to explain things to him and he wasn't interested.  He wrote my license on his hand (well organized idiot that he was) and said he was calling the police.  I showed him my maps and offered to show him what was under the lamp skirting but he just stomped off.  He was on the phone as I drove off.   Wasn't going to waste the afternoon waiting for the police who might never have come.

Took a long time to get back to Everett and check in at the Best Western (on Aerogold miles).  I've stayed here before.  The room is nice but someone had taken a shower after it was cleaned.  They redid the bathroom while I was out for dinner at Famous Dave's in Everett Mall.  Looked for a cache nearby but no luck.

The traffic here is absolutely nuts.  So glad we stopped freeways from cutting through Vancouver.

New tires

Dropped my car off at Cloverdale Service to get 2 more tires to match the ones I bought a while ago.  Seemed silly to have 2 new and 2 old on at the same time.  I costed the same model at Canadian Tire and they wanted $50 more and weren't the least bit interested in matching the price.  

Pam and I found a bunch of caches in Delta, Surrey and Ladner.  They were to fill some gaps and a couple were ones that I hadn't been able to see earlier.  

We had a really good lunch at Choo Choo's in Langley - Round The Beet Spinach Salad (Spinach , red onion, beets & honey roasted pecans tossed in Maple Pecan dressing & dusted with feta and topped with Cajun Chicken).

Home by 4:45 and had a rest before going to John's for Lucas's birthday.

Planning day

Spent the day organizing caches for tomorrow and for my weekend trip to Washington.

Did the laundry and started packing.

Met Moira and her daughter at White Spot for the Adult Pirate Pak Day.  Money from each goes to a camp for special needs kids.

Puzzles

Stayed in today and did a bunch of stuff.  Worked on some geocaching puzzles and organized that database a bit better.

Put my new IKEA lamp together and it is better than the broked tri-light when it worked!  Put a new set of sheets on the bed and will do laundry tomorrow.

Mary Pack Arthritis Program

Slept well and had a quiet morning.  Spent the afternoon at the Mary Pack Arthritis Program (VGH).  Today was a 2-hour introduction to the services offered.  I'm not signing up for anything until we get my cancer treatment sorted out.

Found a cache in Dunbar Park and then spent some time reading at Spanish Banks.

Met Louise and Gwen at the Cactus Club for dinner and then met a couple of others at the Cancer Agency for informal group meeting in the lobby.

Shopping

Pru & I went to IKEA this morning and she helped pick out new sheet sets and floor lamp.  We then got her a new work table for the kitchen.

We then went to the Ladner Market and filled up a few bags with bread, jam, pickled beets, cheese...

Got home at the same time as Jesse & he and his girlfriend started putting the table together.  We went out for dinner and then back to it.  They were still working when I left.  I remember putting those IKEA things together!

Two Geocaching Events

Managed to attend two events today.  Met Pam at Deas Island Park where there was a gathering to celebrate the end of this year's cache contest.  We all went looking for a new multi & a traditional cache nearby.  Getting better at putting names to faces.

A couple travelling from Australia then had another event at Sharkey's Pub in Ladner.  A lot of the same people came along but there were some new ones as well.  Traded geocaching stories and hints.

Linda Dunbar came in for lunch. Haven't seen her for years.  

Dropped down to Point Roberts for gas ($1.12/litre).  There was a long line but not one car in the NEXUS lane.  I sailed right through and it was the same coming back.  Picked up a few things at Thrifty's and then home.  Too tired to look for any more caches.  Am sitting at 2,892 and will add the 2 new ones when they are posted.

Shot day

Picked up my drug at Fairmont and got the injection at the Cancer Agency.  I looked at my schedule and am having bloodwork & a CT Scan on Sep. 9 and the Dr. on the 13th.  The next injection is not booked on the 9th, so I'm not sure if this is the last one.  I'll have to call next week.

Headed to Port Kells area of Surrey & worked my way to Fort Langley.  Found 7 caches.  Was chased away from one by a swarm of mosquitoes.  I'll return in the Fall.

Bought some wine at the Fort Winery and had a perfect lunch at The Lamplighter.

Home by 5 and just sat for an hour.  Will sleep tonight.

White Rock map

Met Lori and Pam in White Rock and we finished off several multis.  I only have a couple of tough terrain caches left on my map.  We also did a virtual at Peace Arch - had to answer a question & take our photo.

Really tired when I got home.

Carrying on

Had to be up early for 8 am bloodwork.  Found a new cache near VGH and then went to the Sunshine Diner for breakfast.

Saw Dr. Gelmon at 10.  She isn't sure what is going on.  My tumours are growing and the tumour markers are rising, but I am feeling well.  The plan is to carry on with my current drug and have a CTScan on September 9th and see her the next week.  She and the resident seemed concerned with my neck and are changing the scan so it includes my head this time.  Don't know what they are seeing but it isn't bothering me.

Went to COSTCO & Home Depot and was home by 12.

Met Moira at Applause for dinner.

Haircut

Finally got a haircut today so am feeling much cooler.  The colour is browner.  Maybe I'm getting younger.

Found a cache near Renfrew Elementary and then headed to Richmond to shop.  Changed my mind and just went to Steveston for a late lunch at Pajo's.  There were a lot of people around but no one in line to order at 14:00.  Perfect halibut and chips.

Boundary Bay

Walked about 2 km to find a regular cache (2nd try) and an Earthcache at Boundary Bay.  There was a nice breeze off the ocean this morning.

Bought fresh fruit & vegetables at Steveston Hwy stand and stopped at London Drugs.  Home by 12:30.

Headache gone today.

Wandering around

Found 4 caches in Surrey.  Hot enough that I wanted out of my apartment.  Love my car's air conditioning.  Bit of a headache since last night.

White Caps and Lions have now won games.  Enjoyed both!

I Love Lucy

Lucy was born 100 years ago so I celebrated by watching some of her early movies.

I was so tired last night that I went to bed early and slept in today.  Decided to not even get dressed and just vegged out in front of the tube.

Lily's 4th Birthday

Found a cache in Delta. Called to say happy birthday to Lily and Matt invited me over. Had her present in the trunk so I went to Port Moody. W had lunch at White Spot and then drove to Sasamat to see the camp Sadie has been at each day this week. Very impressive. We then went back to PM to meet her bus.

Watched Tangled and Rio. Headed home after dinner.


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Hot day of caching

Drove to Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge area and found 8 caches today.  Best part was the air conditioning during the drive.  

Home by 5:30.  My apartment is too hot as usual.

New appointment

Attended Metastatic Cancer support group at the Cancer Agency.  Good way to get grounded.

Dropped off HST ballot at City Square and then stopped at Oakridge for groceries.  There was an appointment card from the Agency in today's mail.  I see Karen on  the 10th to figure out what to do now.

Went to Pru's for dinner to meet some relatives of Patience's husband, Bob.  BBQ salmon & fresh peach cobbler - perfect!

Laundry dance

Carted laundry down to find one free machine & one still sitting with clothes in it.  Waited 10 minutes and then took them out.  

Enough effort for one day.  After driving 600 km I wanted a day of rest.  Spent the rest of it reading.

Left a message with Karen's office asking if she was back and if I was going on with next week's treatment - I'm guessing not.

Home

Meandered home today, finding another 7 caches. Total for the weekend was 38.

Stopped at the Shrimp Shack for lunch. Came over the truck crossing so I could buy liquor at the duty free. Gave up trying to buy gas at COSTCO and it took ages to get out of traffic jam. Filled up at border for $4.04 ($1.02/litre). COSTCO in Burlington was $3.62 ($0.91/litre). Much better than our $1.38.

Listened to border services suggestion and went through NEXUS at 2:30 - 3 cars in front of me! Much worse later in the afternoon.


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24 caches

It rained before I got up and was cloudy all day,  Perfect geocaching weather.

Started with free breakfast at the hotel and then just wandered around Mount Vernon, Burlington and the area.  Found 24 caches but didn't find a lot.  This was to help with my total count for the 31st of the month.  Now I need 51 in the last 3 31sts of the year.

Mount Vernon

Dropped Pam's jacket off on my way by.  Drove along Hwy 10 and the the Fraser Hwy to Hwy 1.  Avoided a lot of traffic that way.  Got over the border at Sumas in about 20 minutes.  Worked my way down Hwy 9 to Mount Vernon.  Found 9 caches along the way.  It was a hot day so I didn't do a lot of walking.  

My GPS gave out as I arrived.  It started working after a few hours.  Garmin told me last week to update the software so that hasn't worked.  I'll write again when I get home.

Had ribs at Max Dale's Steak & Chop House.  Far too much food.  I am staying in a Best Western using Aeroplan points.  It is old but they found me a room on the main floor and it is clean.  Good TV and channels.

New PVR

Shaw man came this afternoon and pronounced my PVR dead.  Luckily it only had a bunch of movies recorded.  The new box is working fine.

Moira and her daughter at the White Spot for dinner.  Blueberry tarts are great.

Needed a cache today so found an easy one by Richmond Hospital.  Could get parked close since not many people around tonight.

Sunshine

Finally - a summer day!

Met Pam in Coquitlam Mall and we headed for Bunzen Lake, then to Alouette Lake (Golden Ears).  Stopped in Haney for lunch and then off to Rolley Lake.  We got 2 squares on our map of BC & 2 provincial parks for Pam.  A perfect day for doing this.  Pam scrambled for a few that were beyond me.

Took her back to her car and then went to pick up my old GPS at Georgina's.  Ended up staying for a great dinner and made it home at 8:50.   A long day!

Just called 911 to report 2 drunks trying to ride away on their motorcycles from across the road.  Didn't realize they were electric until they actually got them going.  The woman had a helmet but road away on the sidewalk.

Travel Insurance

Renewed my travel insurance at BCCA and picked up groceries at Safeway.

Since I don't have my PVR, I started watching Game of Thrones on Shaw on Demand (free).  I am totally hooked and made it halfway through the eighth episode.

Cool day

Thought summer might have been here a couple of days ago but it was a false alarm.  

Shaw fixed my remote remotely but can't fix the PVR.  Repair man comes Friday.  Must do housework now!

Irritating night

My neighbours are really becoming a bother.  There is a woman with a small child in my building who is friends with a motorcyle thug across the street.  They often talk by yelling across the street and he is often screaming at her.  It finally lost it and told them to be quiet and he threatened me.  No wonder someone trashed his bikes a few weeks ago.

Just to add to the ambience, planes fly low over head for a while every night about 11:00.

Started out doing housework but it didn't last long.  Just can't get motivated!

Poor Jack Layton looks really wasted!

Sunday dinner

Went to Elaine's for dinner tonight. Thought I'd find a quick cache in Dunbar Park but couldn't find it.  Joined by another cacher making his second attempt but no luck. 

Had a good dinner and visit and then headed downtown to try for another.  Failed at one by the Burrard St. Bridge but found one by Sunset Beach (at sunset).  Next empty day to fill in on my calendar is Friday.

Still have a bit of a headache.  Slept until 10:30.

Burnaby caching

Found a few caches near Burnaby Mtn then stopped for lunch at IHOP.

Matt texted to see where I was and invited for a visit. Sat on the patio in the sun. Hot enough he needed to put up the umbrella. Gave Sadie my old netbook.

Stopped at Thrifty's for groceries. Car GPS stopped working so headed home. It is fine again now.

Woke up with a headache and it is back a bit now.

Errands

Took my car back to Toyota to have a bracked put back over my battery.  A longer screw ($32) was needed to reach over the battery I bought in Salmon Arm.

Bought a Seagate GoFlex Satellite at Best Buy.  It was so new the clerk didn't believe they had it until I showed him online and he found it in the back.

Had to loop around all the traffic on Steveston Hwy heading for the tunnel so I could get to Richmond Country Farms.  Bought a pile of fresh fruit & vegetables.

Poor old Lions!

Princeton

Picked Pam today and we drove to Princeton, finding caches on map squares and in provincial parks along the way. The few near Princeton were too far so we stopped for lunch and headed back. Found more on the other side of the road. Went via Harrison and found a couple in Sasquatch and 1 in Kilby.

Saw a bunch of Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrels at Manning Park Lodge. Also an eagle, a bear, a deer, a snake, a raccoon & a pika.

Stopped in Cloverdale for dinner and was home by 10:30.



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