Vancouver Island
August 29 - September 4, 2014
Another great trip to Vancouver Island, Canadian Cascadia
It was a misty and cloudy morning on the ferry to Victoria.
Our first stop was Paul and Wendy's house on Yellow Point, near Nanaimo.
That evening, we had a reunion of a good portion of the McCuish side of the family.
My cousin Nicole and her three kids.
The kids were dealing with some HFMD, a common children's virus that sounds a lot worse than it is.
Morgan picked it up while we were there. She's had it before, so this must have been a pretty virulent strain.
Great-grandma Katy with Morgan, Lillianna, and Sebastian.
We spent a few days at Paul and Wendy's house.
We spent a great day out on the water in Paul and Wendy's boat.
Morgan had her first experience behind the wheel!
She was shy at first, but really loved it once she warmed up to the responsibility.
By the time we arrived at Sproat Lake, Morgan's case of HFMD had worked itself up into a frenzy.
Poor Morgan had a fever and an itchy rash.
Also, the weather wasn't cooperating. We had some down-time, with Ann and Arne's spacious downstaris apartment to ourselves. Luxury!
We relaxed with some movies and finished this puzzle (except for two missing pieces!).
It was actually a pretty good time, despite the virus and the rain.
Arne and I played some guitar, and we also got to meet Caitlin's boyfriend, Chen.
My grandmother, Peggy or "Nanna", managed to make it up to the lake to visit us, despite some serious injuries and health problems.
We are all very glad that she made it though, as this was our last time together.
Peggy and her great-grand-daughter.
After a couple of days, the weather shaped up, and we headed down for some sunshine on the dock!
In addition to Peggy and Scott, Brock also made it up to the Lake this year.
My traditional dock ritual.
Ahhh...
Good times.
Morgan was much more at ease in the water this year.
I think I say that every year though...
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Arne took us on a boat tour of Sproat Lake during one of our last days there.
He brought us to Fossli Provincial Park, across the lake.
We followed the stream up to a little waterfall, and also saw this weird fungal life form.
Peggy never made it home. The night before her flight home, she was admitted to the hospital in Victoria.
By the time we arrived, Peggy was in hospice care and enjoying a glass of wine with her children.
Morgan brought Peggy some watermelon to eat. It was the first thing she had eaten in days. That was a special moment.
We all got to say good-bye.
Goodbye, Nanna. I'm so glad that we got to have this time together.
She passed away peacefully a couple of days later.
Rest in Peace, Peggy Taylor.
We were treated to an amazingly spectacular sunset as well sailed back to Port Angeles on the ferry.
Meanwhile, Morgan, cheerful as ever, was working on her ninja skills.
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