Have you
ever backpacked with babies? Then you will understand our taking our Dachshunds
Rudy and Gretchen on a hike the other day. Suzanne said, here’s a beautiful
hike to a mountain top. You’ll like it. (Wait, wait, wait! Didn’t we go through
this the other day?) Yes, it was an almost vertical climb, 3,200 feet in three
miles, rated Very Difficult... So the puppies go into packs that we carry in
front, sort of like belly packs. They seemed to enjoy the hike, but it about
killed me...
On Tuesday
morning, while Suzanne gave two readings in The Coach, I got to spend a couple
of hours alone kayaking on a local lake near Nanaimo. I was the only boat on
the lake, enjoying a few geese and lots of solitude, when one other boat launched
from the dock. This one had a large crew aboard, 20 kids and 2 camp
counselors/instructors. It was like watching what we called in the Navy “a
Chinese fire drill”, but the kids were having fun learning how to paddle, so it
was all good.
Tuesday afternoon
found us heading down to a marina in Nanaimo, where we were to be guests aboard
a sailboat owned by a Unity member, Cathy Holmes. Cathy greeted us at the marina
gate with a sad look on her face, and explained that her outboard engine was
being recalcitrant, and would not start. Because the marina is tightly packed
and tides here can run 6-7 knots, a reliable engine is needed to get safely in
and out of the marina. We worked on the 4-stroke outboard for a half hour, but
alas, more expert technical support was needed. We know exactly how Cathy felt;
engine problems will probably stop every boater, sail or power, at some point
in her/his lifetime. (One funny moment came that day when I asked, “Cathy,
where is the oil dipstick on this engine?” She replied, somewhat sheepishly, “Oil?”
(Every day on a boat is a learning experience...) 
When our
sailing was scrubbed, Suzanne asked if I’d like to go kayaking again (this
after a long morning on the water...) I of course agreed, and we launched at a
dock on the shore and started to circumnavigate Newcastle Island. We got about
a third around, and realized that I had only put 2 hours worth of parking money
in the meter... sad to say, we had to retrace our steps (er, paddle strokes)
and call it an early day. (Just as well, I had been paddling for about three
hours and was a bit bushed.) It was a beautiful paddle, however, with unusual
tide-sculpted rocks behind My Lovely Bride that made for a nice photo op. 
Suzanne also got this unusual photo of a
piling with donations of clothing from a local women’s dragon boat team. (What
made her know that I would want this shot for the blog?) 
On
Wednesday, Suzanne gave her Making the
Connection presentation to another full house at Unity of Nanaimo, British
Columbia. It was very well received, and the community was so enthusiastic that
we are planning to return to Nanaimo next summer, probably during the
month of August, for at least two weeks and maybe longer. Thanks again to
Reverend Polly and her assistant Cyndi who helped make our stay so enjoyable.
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