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| HIKING, FISHING AND LOGGING |
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This happened to me in fall of 1999 in Powell River / British Columbia / Canada
I visited friends of my mum in this town. They were friends in their childhood back home in Hungary. The family emigrated in 1956 and I went there to visit them. I was invited to learn better English by the mother, a year before, when she came home to see the family & co. in Hungary.
Anyway I arrived at Vancouver Airport from London - Heathrow. At customs I was stopped and sent to the Emigration Department. I was asked a lot of questions. I had only US$300, maybe CAN$100, so they were probably thinking I wanted to do some illegal work, without a permit etc. Then finally the lady (my mother's friend) came! I could see her from behind the mirror. Then I say to the officer: "There is the lady who came to pick me up. She is a friend of my mum from childhood." Then he said to me that he was going to ask her if I was telling the truth, but I had to stay there and wait for him! So I did.
He came back 2 minutes later, gave me my passport, apologised a bit and let me go! It was a tough start beyond the big lake, but I did it. Now I was free, and I finally found (after an 11 hour flight, a 3 hour stop over in London and almost an hour of questioning in emigration) my Canadian family. We were driving to a friend's place to freshen up and nap.
The next day we spent in Vancouver. It was great. The inlets, the sky scrapers, traditional Gas Town, the harbour, Stanley Park and the sea aquarium with killer whales and beluga whales… And the cute squirrels, which eat cereal bars from your hand. I also visited the Museum of Archaeology and the National Museum in Victoria, which are mostly about the first nation; native culture, Indian arts, etc. I just loved it!!! It was exactly how I had imagined those things from the tales and adventure books of my childhood.
You know, how they fish, prepare all the things they need and all these were made out of natural materials. All this carvings, weavings, paintings, drawings... Bill Reid! I could not believe it! I saw the carvings of Mr. Bill Reid, 'Raven and the First Men' - made of yellow cedar. This was awesome!
Then we left Vancouver via Horseshoe Bay and drove due north. We had to catch 2 ferries. Behind the first one we stopped at a gas station and a pretty native girl came and filled our car up with gas. I gave her a look, she was beautiful. Finally we arrived, very late, at their home. We were tired so they showed me to the place where I was going to sleep. We spoke a few words and wished a good night to each other.
For the next few days we took it easy. I was shown the area (main street, beach, post office, etc.). Then we started working - picking mushrooms, logging and some fishing.
I got many English lessons everywhere, in the bike shop, post office, at the neighbours place.... In the recreation complex, where I went to swim and play some water polo, I got to meet lots of people. I also travelled a lot by bike !!
I rode to the end of Highway 101. Over there, there is a tiny beauty harbour (Lund), where you can tour around or take a boat and even travel to Alaska if you wish.
That is it for now! But I will continue. Take care and have fun on the trails of the Canadian Woods.
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