Nanaimo Exodus

Our 8 month stay (other than a week at Christmas) on Vancouver Island is drawing to a close. We leave with mixed feelings - sad to leave new-found friends, happy to return to old friends. The geography of the island mountains, sea coast, and forests (albeit with more logging than a tree hugger likes) has
captivated us and we hope to find a way to return (but not in the rainy season). I will be back for a 5-day sea kayaking course in a month, but beyond that nothing is scheduled yet.

Eli will leave two artworks in Malaspina's art gallery as part of the end of the year students' exposition. If the art pieces are still here when I return for the kayak course, I'll bring them back to Sandpoint. I expect they'll be gone by then.

Yesterday evening we loaded our newly purchased (but used) single kayak on Sailor Tom's truck, whose shell was also heavily laden with our stuff. We (Eli, Oz, Dave, Tom, and I) then went to Aladdin's for Tom's birthday dinner. Hopefully he'll make it smoothly through customs and arrive swiftly in Sandpoint. We leave Friday morning for the same destination and are doubtful that all will fit in the Subaru.

Our trip back is less direct because of an intermediate stop in Friday Harbor to retrieve our newly purchased (but used) tandem kayak. Then on Saturday morning, we'll head for Sandpoint, once through customs.

Between now and departure, I'll grade final exams, Eli will clean the condo, we'll return borrowed furniture, give items to unwary friends, return thinglets to one of Nanaimo's 573 thrift stores, and pack. We are currently on schedule - the Sydney to Friday Harbor ferry ride is reserved, etc.

Richard
2007.04.24