Camping at Golden Ears

Windshield Wipers

I was driving home from white water rafting on a dark and rainy night. Turn on the wipers and I see nothing but streaks. So yesterday finaly i went to buy some. Walmart had a good selection and I found some good ones. I was playing with turning them on and squirting the washer fluid all day. They worked so well. It's raining today and I want to drive around the block just to test them. I'll hold off, i know they work.

Theo

Beautiful Cultus Lake Cottages

Cass and I went down to a gated community on Cultus lake where her aunt has a cottage. It is a very beautiful place. Everything has been very well built and the landscaping looks great. They're right beside a glacier stream that is freezing but very refreshing to walk in on a Hot day like yesterday and it feeds into Cultus lake which is busy but fun to be at. They also have a community building with two pools one for kids the other adults and two hot tubs, an exercise room, ping pong, foosball, pool, poker tables, and shuffle board as well as a media room that is full of recliners and a big TV. The views are great because it is really close to the mountains, I didn't feel claustrophobic but I'm sure some prairie folk would. 

Here is the website: http://www.cultuslakecottages.com/

It was also the first time I saw a pink sky out here in the evening, guess it will be a good day today.

In Addition

Rafting was amazing and I want to go kayaking too before the summer is up. Something else to add to Cass' post. On our rafting trip we saw a couple nude sunbathers on the shore scampering behind a log as our convoy of 8 rafts came down the river. Everybody was clapping and whistling. We were told a lot of people think the shores are a lot more private than they really are.

White Water Rafting

Yesterday, Theo and I, went white water rafting and it was AMAZING!! We went on a tour with people Theo works with to Chilliwack River Rafting. It was a great place. They provide lunch (although we were running late), wet suits, life jackets, helmets, and paddles. You provide a bathing suit and shoes that can get wet. You get to choose between the classic ride or the canyon ride. We choose the classic because it was the easier of the two and we were feeling a bit nervous. They shuttle you up river on school buses and give you a big safety talk. This includes what to do if you fall out of the raft, how to pull someone back into the raft, and the three ways you can die (getting stuck in a tree, getting foot stuck in rock, and...we can't remember the third way).

Each raft has a guide, and a solo guide also rides ahead of everyone in a kayak. We had 8 rafts on the trip with 8 to 10 people per raft. Theo and I were with Para (a girl he works with), four Aussies, and our guide Jeff. The entire trip down the river takes about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Heading down the river you immediately hit some rapids. They definatley don't ease you into it. Out boat got stuck on a rock and I almost went flying out. That was a bit scary. We had to keep shifting out weight from left to right to try and free the boat. Once we did, we hit they rapids again, and Theo fell out. He barely seemed to hit the water before Para pulled him back into the raft. She ended up saving a lot of people from the water.

Further down the river, Jeff says "everyone to the back of the boat...trust me", so we all squish into the back of the boat. Before you know it, we've been launched up a smooth rock on shore and are slowly tipping backwards (he did this on purpose!). The raft almost flipped backwards, and two Aussies fell out. The girl lost two of her shoes and a sock. We managed to retrive one of her shoes further down river.

During a calm part of the river, you had the option to jump out, hold on to the OS (OutSide,
Oh Shit, or Oh Sugar) line, and float down the river. Theo and I both jumped in. The water was cold, but nice. It was really relaxing.

We also had the chance to go on a short hike to see a water fall. You could walk under it if you wanted. I was not in the best shoes (converse, very slippery). Theo walked beneath and said it was really cold!

Our guide was really great. He keeped trying to tip the raft, but the seven of us were paddling too well for him to succeed. It seemed that on the easier course they try to get people into the water as often as possible.

Right before the higher class rapids at the end you stop on the shore for a snack. People who are not enjoying themselves have the chance to skip these rapids and walk the rest of the way back to the campground (only about a 15 minute walk). We definatley did not walk! Apparently on this last set of rapids I managed to split my wet suit right in the bum. It's a good thing you wear a bathing suit underneath.

After a day of rafting, we headed to Andrea's place (another woman from work) for a BBQ. We were absolutly starving at this point! The food was good, the beer was cold and we were exhausted.

This morning, we are incredibly sore. My arms, abs, legs, and butt are killing me! The guides are obviously in great shape, because they do this twice a day, 365 days a year! I'm not sure I could do it twice a week at this point.

Some of us are considering doing white water kayaking later this summer. Should be fun!

--Cassandra

Stanley Park and Granville Island

On Monday, Theo and I went to Stanley Park for the afternoon followed by a ferry ride to Granville Island. Stanley park was nice. We walked around, collected sea glass, saw the totem poles, and checked out the Vancouver Rowing Club. After walking about 8 km, we decided to head to Granville Island. This place was pretty cool. It is reminicent of The Forks...only better. It is an old industrial park in the middle of the city. The old buildings have been converted into a public market, artist studios, galleries, an art school (Emily Carr School of Art!), theatres, restaurants, and so on. We ate a late lunch at the Public Market and wandered around some of the galleries and stores.

I'll make Theo post some picks on fliker soon!

Pouring Rain and Making Bread

It's been pouring rain for most of the day with a risk of a thunderstorm. It's the first time it's really rained since I got here. I planned on going for a run this morning, but since the weather was not cooperating, I made Mediterranean Olive Bread instead! This was my first attempted at making bread without the assistance of a breadmaker or electric mixer. I actually kneaded the dough by hand!! I found out it's not easy, but it does make for a good arm workout. The recipe was pretty easy:

3 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped black olives
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 tablespoon cornmeal

(I also added basil and oregano).

1. In a large bowl, mix together flour, yeast, sugar, salt, black olives, olive oil, and water.
2. Turn out dough onto a floured board. Knead until smooth and elastic, 5 to 10 minutes. Set aside, and let rise about 45 minutes, until it doubles in size. Punch down. Knead well again, for about 5 to 10 minutes. Let rise for about 30 minutes, until it doubles in size.
3. Round the dough on kneading board. Place upside down in a bowl lined with a lint-free, well floured towel. Let rise until double in size.
4. While the bread is rising for the third time, put a pan of water in the bottom of the oven. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (260 degrees C).
5. Gently turn loaf out onto a sheet pan that has been lightly oiled and dusted with cornmeal.
6. Bake loaf at 500 degrees F (260 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake for 30 more minutes, or until done.

I hope it tastes good!

--Cassandra