Gary's Run VIII. 2011 to Vancouver Island. Weds May 25-Monday May 30.

Gary's Run is a memorial gathering of MG enthusiasts.  Gary Lloyd lived on the Island, he had the idea to host a drive to highlight the beauty of British Columbia's roads, unfortunately Cancer took him before the first Run.  This was the eighth run, generally the locale alternates annually between B.C. and the Pacific Northwest.  Rob Lyall organized this years trip and it was great.  Unbelievable sunny weather in Ucluelt and Toffino at the Pacific rim on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

We started from Eagle on Wednesday at 1 pm, we stayed Wednesday night with Dick and Peggy Price in Hermiston, OR.  Thursday we joined with Jim Hanks, Mary Johnson and the Nelson's and headed for Anacortes.  Jim had a water pump fail in Leavenworth, WA.  He worked out a repair and a rental Toyota and we forged onto Anacortes.  We stayed at a nice motel here, the Ships Harbor Inn.  We had a very good dinner at Flounder Bay Bob's.  It was cloudy with some rain in Anacortes, especially overnight, by Friday morning it started to clear and the ferry ride was uneventful.  We picked up Chris Roop, Jane Kesey, Bill and Glenda Clemons, and Paul Peterson in Anacortes.

Cindy and Iron Horse sculpture on Thursday in Washington.

Ferry line up Friday morning, still wet but clearing up!

Twilight at the ferry dock, Thursday night.

Sidney was fun, Cindy and I visited Jim and Beck and had Chinese lunch before shopping.  Jay, Nicole and Dane came over for a visit too. It was good to see Tux, the black lab all healthy too.

Cindy, Nicole and Becky on Jim and Becky's back porch.  Friday afternoon.

Rodger, Dane and Jay, manly men.

In Sidney, George Nelson's A dropped out with a brake issue.  Saturday morning started well but we ran into a hour or two delay when we ran up against a large bike race course.    After that we stopped in Chemainous and had lunch at the Crow and Gate pub.  The weather was cool but no rain so we were happy.  Some dropped their tops at lunch for the run to Ucluelet.  The road was good and not too busy.  My B ran well and the trip was fun.  The sun continued on the west coast, Sunday had a few clouds but no rain for us.  We had breakfast at the Wickaninnish Resort, a gorgeous view of surf and ocean from the dining room windows.  Not cheap though! 

Cedarwood Suites take off zone, Saturday morning.

Waiting for bike race to clear our route.

Chemainous, B. C.  Mural

We left for the Duke Point Ferry about 10:30, not sure of the travel time.  It turned out we just missed the ferry before our reservation.  Turned out well with ice cream and conversation during the wait.  Paul Peterson was with us still.

Front row of ferry for return trip, still sunny!!!

From Tswassen we drove to the commercial border crossing near Blaine, about a 30 minute wait but no excitement.  We stayed on I-5 to #2 and drove until about 9:30 and stopped in Wenatchee. On Monday we cruised home the last 8 hours in overdrive.  Delightful trip and delighted to be home.  

Mission Call to the Caribbean- Santo Domingo

Since receiving our call in April we have been planning how to leave our home, how to learn Spanish, and brushing up on general medicine and tropical disease.  We have been excited, of course, and a bit intimidated too.  We've had a nice email from a former Area Medical Adviser, he put some of our concerns to rest and gave some good advice.

Reading our call, on a conference call and on the computer to all the family.

Our daughter Liz and her family will be living in our house, they will keep an eye on things and be near their new pony too.  We have been cleaning closets and going through storage to be ready for them, we have time to think about what to keep and enjoy some old memories.  They will move here at the end of June, so we should have a big summer together.