Makers gotta make!

Three nights into this trip and three different beds! 

After finishing the blog, I left M's house, got my stuff packed back into the car, and headed out to Tim's. OK -- so if you are from Toronto, there is a Tim's on every street corner. OK - perhaps not that bad, but there are three of them that I can walk to from our house. The maximum distance is probably 2 KM. Here? They are few and far between. There are loads of other options, but when you're in a hurry and not familiar with the terrain, you seek out what you know. 

At this location, they sold little buttons. It's Smile Cooke week, and if you want something permanent, you can get this. 

Smile Cookie buttons

It didn't take long to get to the airport because at 5 AM on a Sunday morning, there isn't much traffic. I returned the rental car, which was easy, but it takes time to get yourself organized. I had to get all my little bits out of the car and into my suitcase or my hand. I left the large bag at M's house as I don't need it for the next couple of days. 

A new art installation is happening in the main terminal. Several different totem pole sections - I'm not sure what it will look like, as there are large pieces still wrapped in plastic on the floor. 

A new art installation at the main airport

Once I got myself organized, ate the rest of my breakfast, and had my tea, it was time to get moving to the next destination. I had to take the shuttle bus to the seaplane dock. It's quite a distance from the main terminal, and I wasn't sure how often it ran, especially on Sunday morning. But the shuttle was sitting at the curb, and shortly after I got on, it departed. 

The airport shuttle bus

It is still dark at this time of the morning. I made it to the seaplane dock and checked in. My plane didn't leave for an hour. See how good I'm getting at not rushing things!!!  

As we walked down and along the dock, it was very windy, and this is a tiny little plane! But the skilled pilot had no issues dealing with the wind. It was a smooth take off and all the landings were smooth as well. 

The seaplane

 

There were only two passengers on the plane , and the other scooped the front seat, but I'm OK with that. I've sat up front, and it's no big deal. I'd rather sit in the back so I can take pictures without anyone thinking I'm a geek!!! 

It always amazes me where the main runways for the big planes are located. They are right along the edge of the land! A false landing and you're in the water! I wonder if that has ever happened here? Anyway, we were up and off to drop off the first passenger at Pender Island. I LOVE how they do a steep bank to get down into these waters in the Gulf Islands. After my open-door helicopter ride in Hawaii - that's no big deal! 

The main runways at Vancouver Airport

After dropping that passenger off, we were airborne again, heading to Salt Spring Island. Yep, my aunt still lives here, and I haven't been to the island in a couple of years. We used to be here every summer for many summers. And we had lots of family gatherings here as well. Loads and loads of memories about Salt Spring Island. 

It was easy to use Google Maps to see which island was which! You have to love that! Because we flew in from the back of the island, it required another steep bank to turn around to get into the Ganges Harbour. We were slightly ahead of schedule because with only two people, once we were on, we could go! 

Flying over the Gulf Islands

We taxied around the Vancouver harbor a bit before leaving to warm up the engine! You have to love seaplanes. It's not that expensive, and in thirty minutes, you'll be here! Of course, we've taken the ferry many times, but I only recently started taking the seaplanes. When you are traveling alone, with minimal luggage, it works! 

My aunt was there to pick me up, and it was very quiet in Ganges at 8 AM on a Sunday morning. I wasn't a fan of traveling that early, but the next option was 2:30 in the afternoon, and that would have wasted most of the day. At this time of year, there are only two flights a day, so I picked the early morning flight!!

It's so nice to settle in for long conversations, and while we don't see each other often or talk that much on the phone, it's just like nothing has changed. Well, we both may have a few more gray hairs, but who cares?! 

She has this fabulous collection of Dutch houses that KLM gave away to business-class passengers. They came with booze in them!! She had collected some, and some were given to her. They are adorable. I always admire them when I visit, as they sit in the kitchen. When we traveled business class this past summer, it was on Belgian Airlines, and we got a box of chocolates!!!! Hmmm -- a porcelain house or a box of chocolates? 

Half of the Dutch house collection

I had to chuckle because I got home-made cookies, but one at a time in a small tin. Homemade cookies are the best, and of course, we had to compare them to the store-bought ones, but the homemade ones were much better!!! It sounds like I'm going to miss all the church bazaars and such, where all the good home baking comes out, and artisan works, but that's OK - I don't really need anything and certainly not a lot of cookies. 

My cookie ration!!! 

While I was prepping for this trip, I hadn't really given thought to bringing something to do. I have my ebook, but no hand work. It was only on the plane over that I thought I should have thrown my little bag of hexagons that was sitting on a table back home. I didn't, and there isn't really a place to buy craft supplies on the island. 

After chatting with my aunt, she mentioned there is a new yarn shop in town, with fancy yarn! Hmm, then she showed me these cowls that she had knit, and I saw the vest she was knitting with this beautiful yarn. It was my grandmother (my aunt's mother) who taught me how to knit many, many years ago. I don't even dare say how many! 

So we got out the pattern for the cowl, and there was some red knitted worsted yarn, and I'm knitting a cowl!!! The red yarn will be perfect because it can replace my red scarf!! 

The start of my cowl

It's going to be the perfect thing to keep warm. I could live without wearing a jacket, but I need something to keep my neck warm! This is going to be perfect. I just hope I'm not knitting it too tight! I made pretty good progress last night, but then I was tired and had to leave it. I even had a nap in the afternoon. All this moving around and being in a different bed, I guess it took a toll on me! 

I had a pretty good sleep last night, and well, I'm ready to get back to my knitting today! I should be able to finish it today. Knitting is like riding a bike - you never forget the basics! However, we had a chuckle because every second row on the vest my aunt is making has two increases, and they are done in a way I've never seen before. So we are NOT allowed to chat when she's knitting that row!!! I do not want to be blamed if she has to rip out! 

Thankfully, the cowl is the same row repeated over and over, so it should be easy! 

I'd love to come to the main island because there are people there I'd love to visit. There just isn't time. That is the problem when you take a vacation to visit family because you all live far apart. There isn't time to see other people or places. But I'll just have to take a long trip next time! There are so many people I know around here! 

However, I did manage to visit all my parents' siblings this year! Not that there are many, but I got to visit with them all. I have to do that at least once a year because - well, we are all getting older. All five of the kids on my mom's side and two on my dad's are still alive. That's incredible!!!

On that note, I'm out of here. My aunt lives in the country, and it's dark here! And not many cars on the road. Well, except when the ferry comes in or is about to leave - then you see the ferry traffic!!! But at least there was no rain yesterday, and while we only saw glimpses of the sun, it was not raining! 

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Ciao!!!