Saturday, August 29, 2009

Road trip to Vancouver Island August 2009

On August 1 we hopped into our van and embarked on our summer holiday: A road trip from Calgary to Vancouver Island and back. We stopped in the Okanagan valley both ways, enjoying some delicious orchard fruit and wine tasting. In Vancouver we visited a few familiar old sites, plus reconnected with my old friend Jan from jr. high school. From there we hopped a ferry north to the Sunshine Coast, staying with relatives Ray and Kit in their wonderful seaside home. Then it was up and over to Vancouver Island, with stops in Black Creek, Nanaimo and Tofino before heading home. About 3600km by the time we got home -- what a journey!
A few highlight pics are below, but many more are available for viewing here. Enjoy ~~ ^__^
Searching for starfish and other sea creatures at low tide
Good times with family on the Sunshine Coast
Tofino, on the west side of Vancouver Island. Beautiful long beach, fine sand for writing
Family photo taken at the Mission Hill Winery, just outside Kelowna
Picking fresh apricots off the tree in the Okanagan Valley

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

露意絲湖一日遊Lake Louise day trip: the big hike

星期天終於看到失蹤好幾天的太陽,約了新搬來卡加立的Greg和Amy一家去班夫和露意絲湖。
Gareth想去爬湖邊的一座小山。他上網找了資料,從網站資料上看起來不難的健行,卻快要了我的老命。Gareth也很厲害,背著Fiona爬完全程。Fiona走了一小段,但是路真的很陡,兩條小腿很快就累了。我十分能理解,因為我自己也想找人背我。
到了終點湖邊後,Gareth竟還要往上爬,只有Greg的大兒子Eric願意跟著走。留我們五個人在湖邊苦苦守候,我還得看著在湖邊玩水的Fiona,免的她跑到湖中央。
It was nice weather last Sunday, so we all took a day trip to beautiful Lake Louise in Banff National Park. What an outing!

Just after arriving at the lake. See the snow still hanging on the plain of 6 glaciers in the background.
We took some friends on this trip: Greg & Amy Sun and their 2 kids, Eric and Karen. Greg and Gareth used to work together at ORTV. In June Greg moved the family to Calgary to start a new life as Canadians
View across the lake, and up towards our hiking destination, 3.6 km away: The Lake Agnes Teahouse, via Mirror Lake, and possibly a trip up to the top of the Big Beehive... if we have the stamina
這是走了80分鐘後的第一個小湖:鏡面湖,看到透明的水了嗎?
First stop, 80 minutes later: Mirror Lake. Emerald water, crystal clear. Fiona wanted to go for a swim! Gareth weary from carrying Fiona in baby backpack. She is 14 kg now
The Big Beehive looms above. Will we scale it?
Karen Sun, Vivian and Fiona. Karen has only been in Canada for 3 weeks and is still pulling out the rabbit ears for every photo, Taiwan style -- we think it's cute
Another Sun family photo. The view keeps getting better and better the higher we go
The Canadian Rocky Mountains are taller, steeper and more dramatic than in Taiwan. And the bigger ones have snow on them year-round. The peaks are so barren and cold that no trees grow there, leaving only bare shale and rock
終點站Agnes湖流下的瀑布。
Cooling off at the waterfall just below the teahouse
終點站Agnes湖,有累又餓。
Mission accomplished -- we relax at Lake Agnes, pull out our sandwiches and enjoy lunch
A new friend: Mr. Chipmunk also takes lunch (right out of hikers' hands)
The view over the edge of the waterfall, down into the valley
湖邊還有個茶館
Lake Agnes Teahouse. They really do serve tea in there. We overheard other hikers talking, saying that the staff stay up here for several days at a time, bunking in a little cabin in the trees. Imagine that for a summer job
寧靜的Agnes湖。
A quiet Lake Agnes repose, looking across more crystal waters to even taller mountains
Teahouse and waterfall from another angle
Gareth和Eric開始遠征,又爬了1.6公里。
Lake Agnes is great, but we can't see Lake Louise or the Chateau from here. Some of us have the energy and ambition to press on. Yes, the Big Beehive must be climbed! Gareth and Eric Sun embark on the last 1.6 km up this steep but rewarding mountain
到了山頂後往下看路易斯湖,Gareth覺得不虛此行。
...and what a reward it is! Canoes ply the milky blue waters below, and clouds drift across the valley toward the Lake Louise ski slopes. That's Mirror Lake in the foreground, where we stopped on the way up
The Chateau, beautiful Lake Louise and surrounding mountain vista. Totally worth the climb
Taking the switchback down the Big Beehive, back to Lake Agnes and the rest of the party, who are probably wondering where we are. This is a steep trail
Back of Lake Agnes, walking back to the Teahouse
回程Fiona累倒在爸爸的背後,我也累的只能很勉強的在鏡頭前擠出笑容。
The journey down, about 3:30 in the afternoon. It's Fiona's naptime, so she is konked out in the baby backpack Gareth is wearing
夏日週末的露意絲湖失去原有的寧靜
Back down at lake level. The canoe shop is doing a booming trade in rentals, and some people are even bringing their own boats to row their dogs about in
So peaceful and idyllic. Next time here we may rent a canoe and paddle about. There's the Big Beehive in the distance
到班夫必遊之地,弓河瀑布,就在班夫旅館的後面。父女兩看的出來的累。
We stopped in Banff for dinner, visiting the Bow Valley Grill in the Banff Springs Hotel. Afterward we drove down to Bow Falls before heading home. What a great day, one to remember

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Photos of Fiona: April and May 2009

Road trip for Easter: We drove out to Windermere BC with Mum, to visit our relatives Mike & Siri Tilling at the Village Inn Motel
Stopped in Radium on the way, went for a little hike. Fiona is just about too large for her baby backpack now 
Stopping at Marble Canyon along the #93 highway. Although it was dry in the city, up in the high mountain areas we still saw lots of thick snow 
Fiona after leaving the Radium Hot Springs 
Back at home: playing with the nurses's outfit she got last Christmas. She knows what the various instruments are for, and can pretend to check blood pressure, add bandages, listen for a heartbeat and give needles. Isn't she cute!  
Fiona's favorite trick lately: Almost pulling on a shirt, then running to the mirror to see her own funny appearance 

Friday, January 30, 2009

Slideshow from Dad's memorial service

The memorial service for Dad last Saturday January 24 went pretty smoothly. We believe Dad would have been pleased that so many old friends and colleagues attended. There were a lot of people there who we hadn't seen in at least 10 years.

Gareth went through a lot of old photographs and created this slide show which was broadcast at the start of the service:

Quite a few other people couldn't make it on the 24th, but they sent in some nice cards and email messages or called on the phone offering their condolences. The family appreciates your kindness.

We were also touched by all the kind things so many of the guests said about Dad. He was well liked by a lot of people. I guess we knew that but it was still comforting to hear the same sentiments from so many. "Kind and gentle." "Polite, generous." "A real gentleman." He was like that with his friends and coworkers. It makes sense to think of him as "a gentle man"-- he had a likeable manner that was born out of a different generation, a time when people thought and acted much differently. I guess people like him are more of a rare breed nowadays.

We love you and miss you Dad. Thanks for sharing life's journey with us. You were very special.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Edwin David Lane Morgan:
February 5, 1935 ~ January 7, 2009


Edwin David Lane Morgan
February 5, 1935 ~ January 7, 2009
[Obituary from the Calgary Herald]
David Morgan passed away at the Foothills Hospital on January 7, 2009 with his family at his side. David is survived by his wife Janet, daughter Jane, son Gareth, daughter-in-law Vivian and granddaughter Fiona.
David was born in Surrey, England, and led a colourful life. He spent most of his childhood in London, except when his family escaped to rural Wales during the German bombings of 1940-41. From a young age David was a keen sportsman. He excelled in boxing, football and cricket, and was a valuable player for several teams. In his youth he developed a love for jazz music, and was lucky enough to see many future legends performing at famous clubs in the city.



After technical college he completed his military service in the RAF as a flight technician, and later began a career as a piping designer in the oil business. David met Janet at a cricket match, and they married in 1967. David became a successful football referee, officiating semi-professional matches in the London area with up to 5000 spectators.

David’s work allowed him to explore many countries in the Middle East and elsewhere across the globe. From 1978-80 the family lived in Norway, and shared some wonderful moments camping, skiing and hiking. In January 1981 they moved to Canada and began a new life in Calgary. David continued his work in the oil business and became active in the local football-refereeing scene, later becoming a referee instructor and assessor.
Uncertain economic times over the years meant more travel, and his work opportunities led him to Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, St. Johns, Fort McMurray, Boston, Houston, back to England, and as far away as Jakarta, Indonesia. His strong work ethic and professional skills were widely respected, and in recent years he enjoyed no shortage of job offers.
David had a warm sense of humour and made friends wherever he went. His gentle nature and kind personality will be missed by many. A memorial service will be held for David on Saturday, January 24th at 2 pm at Leyden’s Funeral Home, 304 18th Ave SW Calgary.