After a great stay for 2 nights in Victoria we head up towards Vancouver to visit Bob's old friend and work colleague Ean Jackson. By chance my wife Avril is at her friend Daphne's 6oth birthday party in Donegal. I phone to wish Daphne a happy birthday and also there is Beth Humphries whose sister Alison lives on a very quaint island - Gabriola Island - which we pass on the way -we are encouraged to make contact and visit.
Our first stop is BUTCHART GARDENS
Butchart Gardens is a family owned horticultural showcase that has been grown and improved for over 100 years. A garden is somehow appropriate in this town that prides itself on being more English than England. Eugene gets some great pictures of a truly lovely place.
In 1904, Robert Butchart, began manufacturing Portland cement and was attracted to the West Coast of Canada by rich limestone deposits vital for cement production and he built a factory on Vancouver Island.
As the limestone quarry which was near Butchart's family home became exhausted, his enterprising wife, Jennie, conceived an unprecedented plan for refurbishing the bleak pit.
From farmland nearby she had tons of top soil transported by horse and cart to line the floor of the abandoned quarry. Little by little, under Jennie Butchart's supervision, the abandoned quarry blossomed into the spectacular Sunken Garden.
We paid a visit to these amazing gardens.
This two minute iphone video gives you a look at some of the highlights of the gardens and the lady in the information centre gives the history of the garden's development.
I had emailed Alison Humphries (Beth's sister) who I had only met once before many years ago and she very enthusiastically encouraged a visit where she promised our own cabin and a BBQ. Hard to resist! We came across our first really bad "stop start" traffic jam along the way. The bikes really heat up in this situation and it is hard work. Thankfully there are no problems with fumes this time.
While chatting on the ferry we meet Sonia and her son Thor, who tell us about their island home.
(Duration 1'30")
As we drive around the island it seems to be completely covered with vegetation.
When we arrive at Alison's house which also has a very nice and comfortable cabin for the 2 bikers, we park the bikes in the lovely wooded garden and Alison has a special request - "please always close the gate as the deer come in and eat all the plants"!
As I unpack -
Alison and her partner Nathan dish up a very welcome burger and salad dinner for the tired and hungry travellers. They are both musicians and fledgling writers. Alison has a comedy music gig later in the week which she is a bit nrevous about. Nathan also plies his trade as a carpenter. A one time biker - he and Bob chat away about old bike models which they have both had in the past. You will notice - I did not leave a pick behind on my plate!
We have a very comfortable night and wake the following day to breakfast of Granola, fruit, yoghurt and juice. Much healthier than your usual Best Western fare.
We take the ferry back to Nanaimo and drive a few miles to another ferry terminal and catch a boat to Vancouver to visit Bob's old friend Ean and his wife Sybille and their two children. I knew from reading the emails from Ean - that he was a fun guy - here's an example -Remember Ean had never met me and was asking about all my needs in advance.
Eugene... you a carnivore, herbivore or an omnivore? Peligrino, beer, wine or singlemalt? After a hard days ride and a choice between big, fat Bavarian sausages, homemade hamburgers that are so huge they won't fit a bun, smoked pulled pork that's about as tender as you've ever eaten, massive beef kabobs with roasted vegies or Jackson's smoked BBQ chicken, what do you figure would best hit the spot?
Ride safe. 'Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Jackson in North Van
And he sure lived up to my expectations.
Ean is a marketing consultant and one of Canada's top ranked endurance athletes -(see below)
And the BBQ too - all home made even the bread - but the special treat was a walk around Ean's back yard! he has the usual selection of lettuce, chives, parsley, different varieties of potatoes, rhubarb etc.
But his corsican mint, banana tree, wild huckleberry bush and mustard lettuce are a joy to share with him.
I had stayed with Dubliner, Trevor Fitzel, an old college friend when I visited Vancouver (with my old dear departed friend Cathal O'Doherty) 25 years ago. Trevor dropped around to Ean and Sybille's house for a beer. Not just any old beer - but one of Ean's special home brews - absolutely delicous - as were the burgers.
We caught up on old times and friends - especially the time on Greek islands 40 years ago. The following day, Trevor emailed me photos taken on Ios island where we slept on the beach in 1973 - can you spot the two us?
Isn't ageing the pits!
I thought I was cool
But Trevor was King of the Rocks
AS we leave to make the trip over the Canadian Rockies to Lake Louise and Banff , I take a photo of Ean and Bob.
Oh! and I nearly forgot to mention Ean's amazing athletic achievements.
Ians running shoes and bikes
An elite ultra distance runner, triathlete and skier, “Action” Jackson is one of Canada’s top amateur endurance athletes. He ran the entire 180 kilometers (112 miles) along the newly-established and extremely rough Sunshine Coast Trail in 43 hours and 50 minutes, running the entire coast line of the Powell River from Saltery Bay to Sarah Bay in British Columbia.
He has completed:
- 104 ultramarathon runs and 3 ultra distance triathlons
- 27 marathons and 6 Ironman triathlons
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