Here and There Blog

It comes to this when it's crunch time on the road. Time for the one hour side trip is gone and you're left with a 5 minute detour to the traffic circle in a random town. In this case it was the giant berries that drew us in. I'm hoping the next few days will keep me too busy to blog except for the random post if I see something static to snap. Hmmm. I think I remember a salmon, somewhere.  

The Fraser River is below. Looking north a few streaks of snow were slightly visible on the mountains.

This is the family dining room. It's set up for the ladies with the pink plates, easy reading, the piano for entertainment. The traders had this table set up as a predecessor to today's meeting room. Note pads and ink quills ready to go.  Stocks for trading.  The barrel making room. For more on Fort Langley to to: http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/langley/index.aspx

A small corner of the fort is home to chickens, rabbits, swine and goats. The pigs were more interested in building mud holds to sleep in. The pigs were not doing much but the goats were sure communicating to us. "Escape! Escape!" "More food! More food!"  "Fine then. I shall watch you from afar." The chickens and rabbits did not pose.

While I'm working in Chilliwack, I'm staying in Langley which is home to Fort Langley. Fort Langley has a history of burning down and getting rebuilt. Developed by (as every single sign will tell you) the Hudson Bay Company for fur trading the fort survives in it's present form as interactive history. I'm pretty sure these raccoon and fox pelts are not fake fur. The bear is fake, the rubber mouth gave that away.  View of the fort from the wall The white house below is a reconstruction of the fot's office and residence of the chief trader, the clerk, and their families. The building on the left is the only original building. It dates from the 1840's and has been used as a storehouse, barn, and residence. 's

It's come to this. I am finally in a place where I have some free time around work and this is where the fun is. Always in the corn field or near the barn.  Moo.

About 15 minutes east of Chilliwack on TC-1 is a turn-off for Bridal Veil Falls. A short walk (easy but does require coordination and stamina) is a trail that takes you along the creek and up a hill.  Most of the time the trail is easy but watch out for tree roots and rocks. At the end of the trail is a lookout point for the falls, with plenty of warnings not to go past that point. Of course everyone went past that point and several of them took a tumble to the amusement of everyone else.  The falls still were loud and flowing even this late in the season.

There has to be a first for everything even those things you've never thought of doing. Or maybe you've thought of doing but never told anyone. For me, it was the corn maze. A mysterious thing that does not exist in Carlsbad and the closest one I've ever seen was in Utah. Never did it occur to me that on a work trip I'd end up in one but here I am. A co-worker picked up the brochure in the hotel and said "we're going here today after work." Okay then and so we did. The corn is at least 10 feet tall and in some places maybe higher. You can't see above the corn. You're given a map but even so after 45 minutes you can be tempted to let the corn know what you really think. This is a family corn maze so only thoughtful pondering of your steps is allowed.  It's endless at times. This year the Chilliwack Corn Maze benefits the Canucks Autism Network. Fun + a good cause is a win. I had fun in the hour it took to navigate the maze. For more on

It's all about the corn right now. After work we stopped by a cornfield (more on that tomorrow) and hung out for a while. I couldn't quite get the sunset over the corn photo but it was everything peaceful that you think about the country.  Moo!  In the corn field, looking up and north.

I've seen many drive-thru concepts but the seasonal Corn drive-thru was a first. From now until around the 1st of October various farmers will have their corn stands open. Tourists like me are a hassle for locals. I was blocking the drive-thru and people actually parked their cars to buy corn while I was there and after I left, regular guests drove on up.  The corn is fresh from the farms but you have to cook it your self.

I didn't wake up smarter today even though I'm staying at a Holiday Inn Express. My ability to do math in the morning forsake me. This should be my home away from home for the next two weeks.  

Wow! One week at home in my own house.  Canada part 2 for the year starts tomorrow. I'm off to work in Chilliwack, B.C. I'm hoping to hike along river and catch a glimpse of the local waterfalls. And hoping not to get lost on the roads that are all under construction from Vancouver and mess up the GPS. The tourism site looks good and I hope that I get to some of the great outdoors! http://www.tourismchilliwack.com/index.php

     

Water options of all sorts are available in Cabo. Our group activity was a 2.5 hour trip around the bay and shoreline.  The beaches are plentiful but some are hard to reach and the tide makes it impractical for sunbathing. The Arch  Glass bottom boats, small fishing boats, luxury yachts are all available. Bring suncreen.

I think this is the best way to end a day of long meetings in a room with no windows!

I've been in a meeting room all day and haven't been able to enjoy my great view! But I'm back in for a few minutes and here's the side view.

Not too bad! I finally get a real winner of a view! And even a balcony!

Still here. Work has consumed me for a bit. Pictures back when I'm in Mexico this weekend.

Giant book  St. Issac's Cathedral from the water side  The Sphinx(s)    Time for a break!