Calgary, Canada 23rd September 2009

I'm halfway through my so far very rewarding, pilgrimage of remembrance.
Tonight I fly out to the UK for an introduction to our new grandson,
Thomas. His parents, Matthew and Julie are happily ensconced in Bath and
whilst there I plan to visit friends in England and Europe. Staying in
Sidney BC with Barbara and Gerry was a welcome renewal after several
weeks on the move. Using their lovely house as a base I ranged out to
visit Marilyn (a friend from Cordova Alaska) in Port Townsend where we
enjoyed the wooden boat show together as well as spending a day with
Sunshine, another intrepid ocean sailor now living on Saltspring Island.
On our journey in 2002/3, Lyndall and I really got to like the people
and the waterways in and around BC and I have been investigating the
possibilty of finding another vessel as a temporary measure to cruise
here for 6 months in 2010.
A short ferry trip from Sidney to Pender Island allowed me to visit Urs
and Judy aboard their beautiful yacht "Raven Song". They divide their
time between cruising the area and working on their mountain top cabin.
Urs is a wonderful photographer and a visit to his site is a feast of
images that will explain my fascination with the area. take a look at
www.ursboxlerphotography.com/
At the Vancouver ferry terminal I was met by Bob Miller. Lyndall and I
met him and Marg aboard their yacht Galatea in Singapore in 1981 so this
time despite grey hair and decaying memories we recounted adventures
from the days of our circumnavigation. Bob took me to The Vancouver
Maritime Museum where for the first time face to face, I met Chris and
Margie living aboard "Storm Bay" from Tasmania. We have been
communicating for several years thanks to this website and were able to
happily carry on as old cruising friends from way back.
A fabulous 2 days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, a luxury train from
Vancouver brought me here to Calgary, ready for the next leg and more
dear friends and family. It has been the life of a cruising yachtie and
the shared memory of a wonderful woman that has given me this privilege.