Opps – Here We Go Again!!

I woke up suddenly at 2 am Sunday morning when Fred shook me.

“I have a pain in my chest” he said.

“Now I know what they mean by – it feels like I have a truck on my chest.”

I instantly called 911!

They came; they saw; then immediately wheeled him off to the hospital!!

I followed and found Fred being wheeled into an emergency room all wired up.

OMG – to say the least, it was a little terrifying.

Diagnosis? Atrial fibrillation (or A-fib)

The Emerg Doc did a great job of explaining what A-fib is and treatments options.

That along with extensive internet research managed to almost paralyze us with fear.

In comes a dear old friend – “oh, I have that”

What a God-sent!

Patti managed to explain what she had gone through; the various meds she tried; the meds she’s taking and how she is doing.

This, itself, managed to bring down our blood pressure!

We managed to get into see a GP on Tuesday and the Specialist on Wednesday. We were relieved, amazed, and pleased with the service we got from our Health Providers especially this time of the year when so many of them are off for the holidays!!

Long Story Short 

It looks like our proposed winter adventure to Vancouver Island is going to be either put off or eliminated. The doctor wants to monitor Fred’s progress and his next appointment is the end of January.

BUT . . .

Lethbridge is not totally without its attractions!!

Did I tell you that we have an incredible view?

Before the snow:

 

After the snow:

Decorations at the Brewery Gardens across the road:

May there be

Peace and Goodwill

for All! 

Phase Two–A Different Life

Onward and upward!!

Back to Vancouver Island for our winter hiatus.

As we started exploring our alternatives, the Canadian $ kept going down and the Travel Medical Insurance kept going up . . . our decision to head to Vancouver Island again for our winter get-away was reinforced.
As we researched the possibilities . . . we experienced extreme anxiety envisioning the same dreaded situation we got ourselves into last winter. We really wanted to see the place before we committed ourselves to a couple of months in a place we did not like.
Lo and behold, my brother came up with a solution!! Their plans were to go down to Mexico for a couple of months and we would be able to stay in their place in Victoria.
Sounded like a good idea to me!! So we will head out right after New Years and see how things go.
I think I have finally accepted that we will no longer travel in our little home on wheels. For me, it’s been a difficult transition.
When we started out in 2001, I swore I was not ready to give up my work . . . I would take a major sabbatical just to see make sure it suited me.
It took me a while to get used to a Lifestyle of small spaces on wheels moving around from one place to another.
I lost my love of hotels many years before we starting RVing. And flying? . . . that lost its charm when they started cramming in more and more seats; stopped serving snacks and meals; and started charging for carry-on luggage.
Our attempt to rent a Park Model in an RV Park in Yuma was an ultimate failure never to be repeated, we hope.
On the positive side, we enjoyed our Western trip this summer . . . ah-huh . . . maybe that is the answer!!

We’re going to have to learn to tolerate Canadian winters sooner or later . . . so maybe this will be sooner rather than later away from Lethbridge.
The Lethbridge Summer highlights are sparse.
A lot of medical time . . . we have more intimate relationships with the medical community than we would really choose . . . but have come out the other end doing well.

We took our trip up to Wetaskiwin to visit Chuck and Sheila . . .

They took out the Tourist Information Building across the road this summer . . . 

We managed to solve all the problems of the world again and had a wonderful food filled visit with Thom and Dar . . . get a new floor and furniture . . .

and enjoy our wonderful western view . . . 

What a Time We Have Had!

Not the best of winter experiences - it's hard to travel without your own home once you get used to an RV.
We ended up spending more time trying to get away from there than we did being there.
We learned a lot about ourselves - we are not joiners nor are we resort-type people!

We like being on our own.

Our forays to the beaches in California were terrific - even though we previously avoided spending time in California – we overcame our reluctance and may end up there again next season - if we get away!

Why . . . if we get away . . . you say?

Well, Fred had some severe waterworks issues. He did have other problems besides an infection. He tried meds but to no avail – flow did not improve enough.
Long-story short – a TURP* was scheduled for July.

*a process of "roto-rooting" (doctor’s terminology) the urethra.   Google it for more detail

Travel Time
With no reason to stay in Lethbridge, we just couldn’t sit around. We headed out to British Columbia and Vancouver Island.

We spent time visiting friends - Langley, Courtney and Sooke and family (my brother in Victoria - my sister in Vancouver). Then we hit Tofino and Ucleulet and did the beach thing over there. (Good alternative to California if necessary).

First Stop – Langley, BC

As well as being dear friends, our relationship with Judy and Terry is very food-focused.

OMG – did they take us to some incredible foody places – certainly not fancy – just good ethnic foods.

We really do believe the old adage that . . . company and fish both start to smell after three days . . . so off we went to catch the ferry over to Vancouver Island.

It was cold and breezy!

Second Stop – Vancouver Island

Up the Island to Courtney so we could check out our forever friend Sharon’s new digs.

The house, the setting, and even the area are just spectacular. She got herself a great place and it was nice to see her so happy.

(the house next door has a cat ladder going up the side of the house)

For us, Courtney is indistinguishable from Comox. This whole area has apparently grown existentially being an area attractive to those anxious to escape harsh Canadian winters.

Off to See the Sights

Comox Wharf. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many boats!

Crow vs Eagle

I know I’ve never seen this before. A bald eagle was sitting on top of the light post and this crow swooped down and attacked it. The Eagle just sat there with a “what do you think you’re doing” attitude while the crow kept diving at him.

  

Filberg Park

As we walked the paths that wander through the nine acres of lush, randomly manicured gardens, I realized that for most of the last dozen or so years we had been surrounded by desert.

Not that the desert isn’t striking, fascinating and mysterious, but this profusion of growth and colour gave me a sense of warmth and security that I never felt in the desert.

They say there are 130 varieties of trees, gardens and hundreds of rhododendrons.

The property was opened to the public after the death of the original owner (R.J. Filberg, manager and superintendent of the Comox Logging and Railway Company) in 1977.

Oysters, Yum!

To me, the West Coast and oysters just go together so we went out  oyster hunting. Fanny Bay . . . great stories and photo opportunities!!

It was a Sunday and the fellow who owns the Seafood Market (Bob, I think) was there. It was not busy and he was into talking.

 

It was one of those places that hasn’t changed for generations!!

As Bob plied Fred with stories about his life and the sculptures he brought back from Viet Nam,

Sharon and I explored behind the building where they dump and shuck the oyster.

Tofino-Ucleulet: A couple Days of Beach Bumming

It was surprisingly quiet over on the West Side of the Island which suited us fine. The Bayshore Waterfront upgraded us to the honeymoon suite  . . . very nice.

At the Entrance to our suite

Our view

Exploring the beaches

The blustery cold was not going to stop us.

Wild Pacific Trail

Our last venture on the west side of the Island was the Wild Pacific Trail. Easy-going trails (the kind we like) that wander through old growth as they hug the coastline of the Ucluth Peninsula.

Amphitrite Lighthouse.

As their Web site says . . . http://tofinohiatus.com/tofinohikes/wild-pacific-lighthouse-trail.html

“The Wild Pacific Trail is wide and leisurely with numerous viewpoints to the ocean and guides you in and out of the forest on a constantly interesting route.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.