But before that we went to the Caribbean Days Festival. Every year the Trinidad and Tobago Cultural Society of BC puts on a week of events that culminates in a big festival and parade in North Vancouver. There are steel bands, food stands, people in colourful costumes but - to my horror - no cricket! Trinidad and Tobago, home of Brian Lara, Ian Bishop, Sonny Ramadhin, etc.?! I'll be making some polite suggestions ahead of next year's gathering.
The day after that we visited the University of British Columbia Botanical Gardens. Situated at the campus in Point Grey, it's a huge place full of plants. I can't say I'm a big fan of plants - they just sort of sit there. But there was a fine selection of them, and as Katharine and Hannah grow more and more like their horticultural mother their interest in such things increases.
The most fun bit was the canopy walkway. It's a series of bridges and platforms, 50ft up in the trees, possibly put together by the university engineering students given its somewhat rickety nature. Our party displayed the full spectrum of reactions, from wide-eyed fear to blithe goat-like gamboling. Pete slept through the whole thing.
The UBC campus is right next to one of Vancouver's most famous swimming spots: Wreck Beach. It's famous because it's North America's largest clothing optional beach. Katharine has a history of shedding her clothes in public, something that got her into a fair bit of trouble at school, so she was adamant we made the trip down the long stairway so she could go for a dip in the squeaky.
The beach was...interesting. There was lots of topless sunbathing (only surprising if you're prudishly non-European) and then quite a few old, fat, hairy men walking around baring all. Nice. While there were a few people, my family included, who went full Monty I remained resolutely dressed in the English manner, eyes forward to avoid interaction and awkwardness, just like on a bus. My only regret is that I didn't have sandals to wear socks under.
Other beach trips have thankfully been clothing mandatory, and with all the swimming, walking, film watching, park going, game playing, etc. we have been packing it in. I'm just waiting for my holiday to start...
Oliver feeds some Canadians.
Part of the colourful Caribbean parade.
And Sidney the kidney, a local celebrity who also took part.
No, I always dress like this.
The fab four.
Off into the wilds of the botanical gardens.
And into a tunnel.
Bethany and Rebecca next to their favourite plant. Because it's pink, of course.
Spiky.
Hummingbird! I thought we'd left them behind in California!
Growing like weeds.
Up into the trees.
Are you sure this is safe?
I waited for the bridge to empty before I ventured out.
Pete took it all in my stride.
Hannah, going Indiana Jones.
Jacob was...less enthusiastic.
Tree huggers.
Nudist beach, please respect people's privacy. Right. That's the only pic I took in this particular location - this is a family blog after all.
Back to a normal beach, in Kitslano, and Scott takes a break from our hectic schedule.
Katharine steals the kids' toys.
And here is where we'll dig the first exploratory oil well.
Beach bunny.
An army marches on its stomach, and that phrase has never been truer than around this lot.
