Sjoukje visited Ton in Vancouver from Monday 17-Mar-203 until Thursday
03-Apr-2003. This is her picture report.
Please click on the pictures to enlarge.
| Picture |
Date |
Description |
 |
Mo 17-Mar-2003 11.00 |
Ton went to
Granville Island to buy a nice
deep red rose for Sjoukje's arrival at the airport. The lady at he store
made a nice festive wrapping. |
 |
Mo 17-Mar-2003 |
The arrival hall at
Vancouver International Airport, just a few
minutes before Sjoukje's plane landed. |
 |
Mo 17-Mar-2003 11.38 |
Sjoukje plane landed a little
earlier than scheduled. Royal Dutch KLM Flight 681 was expected to land at
11.50. |
 |
Mo 17-Mar-2003 13.45 |
Sjoukje is arriving. Finally.
After a long wait in the arrival area Ton can hug Sjoukje. Apologies for the
blurred image. |
 |
Mo 17-Mar-2003 13.45 |
On our way to the parking lot.
Sjoukje in front of the totem poles, just outside the airport building. |
 |
Mo 17-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje at Ton's apartment in
downtown Vancouver. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje and Ton spent two days in
Whistler. We stayed at Crystal Decision's (Ton's employer) chalet for 1
night. On Saturday Sjoukje took her first official ski lesson. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Little nervous? No need to be. At
the end of the afternoon Sjoukje did great on the ski hill. Unfortunately
there was other opportunity to use her 3-day ski lesson ticket. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 12.45 |
Sjoukje, Marieke and Frans Luit
and Ton met for lunch at the Rendezvous restaurant on Whistler Mountain.
Most of us had a chili bread bowl for lunch. After lunch Sjoukje had to
leave us, back to the ski lesson group. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Frans and Marieke Luit on Whistler
Mountain. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
After a day of skiing we went for
a few beers and snacks at the
Brew House in the Whistler village. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Drinking beer with your girlfriend
... |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje and Ton are having a good
time in Whistler. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Marieke took another picture of
Sjoukje and Ton. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Cool fresh beer. MJG =
Mark James Group |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Marieke and Frans Luit at the Brew
House. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Marieke and Frans Luit at the Brew
House. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Marieke and Frans Luit at the Brew
House. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Marieke and Frans Luit at the Brew
House. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje and Ton at the Brew House. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Blackcomb Mountain as seen from
the Brew House. |
 |
Sa 22-Mar-2003 |
Blackcomb Mountain as seen from
the Brew House. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje and Ton at a viewpoint
just of highway 99 (Sea To Ski Highway) from Whistler to Vancouver. This was
north of Squamish on our way back to vancouver. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje and Ton at the parking
close to the viewpoint. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje and Ton at the parking
close to the viewpoint. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
Ton almost forgot his sun glasses
before taking of ... |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
At Squamish Sjoukje and Ton took a
logging road to do some 4x4-ing (off-road driving) with the car. We shortly
parked the car under a logging machine to show the size of the machinery. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
At Squamish Sjoukje and Ton took a
logging road to do some 4x4-ing (off-road driving) with the car. We shortly
parked the car under a logging machine to show the size of the machinery. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje seems to like the off-road
trip. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
What about if YOU drive for a
moment? |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje behind the wheel doing
some off-road driving. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje behind the wheel doing
some off-road driving. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
View from the off-road location
towards Squamish valley. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje behind the wheel doing
some off-road driving. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
This driver is having fun ... |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
... and ready to continue the
trip. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
We're definitely enjoying the view
from the off-road location towards Squamish valley. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
We also stopped at the Cypress
Mountain lookout for a gorgeous view over Vancouver. |
 |
Su 23-Mar-2003 |
Zoomed in view of Vancouver with
Stanley Park in the foreground. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 |
Ton proposed to Sjoukje on
Thursday 27-Mar-2003 at the same location where they first kissed on
20-Oct-2002: Sunset Beach in Vancouver. Today at lunch Sjoukje and Ton
ordered and picked up their mutually picked engagement rings (14 karat
gold). The rings have the following engravements: SJOUKJE 27-MAR-03 (in
Ton's ring).
TON 27-MAR-03 (in Sjoukje's ring).
We use the Dutch engagement ceremony where both are wearing engagement
rings on the left ring finger. Instead of the North American way, where the
male only offers the female a ring with diamond. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 |
Sunset Beach in downtown
Vancouver, where Ton proposed to Sjoukje on Thursday 27-Mar-2003 with one
knee on the ground. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 18:00 |
Sjoukje and Ton on Sunset Beach in
downtown Vancouver. They sealed their engagement by giving each other their
engagement rings. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 |
... where people walk their dogs
... |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 |
A view from Sunset Beach towards
downtown Vancouver, English Bay and Stanley Park. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 |
A view from Sunset Beach towards
the Burrard Bridge and Granville Island with the Granville Bridge above it. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 |
A view from Sunset Beach towards
downtown Vancouver. The small building between the left and middle building
is the building where Ton lives. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 |
Another view of Sunset Beach with
the Georgia Straight and Bowen Island. Left: A small portion of Kitsilano
Beach. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 18.30 |
Back home we took a picture of our
rings. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 21.00 |
Tonight we celebrated Ton's birthday at The
Zone Bowling Centre & Big River Brew Pub in Richmond.
18.30 Nick Levens picked us up, he was the designated driver for the night. After
picking up Mariane he drove us to Richmond's entertainment center across the Silver City
movie theatre where we had snacks and drinks at the pub at 8 PM. At 9.30 PM we started
"Cosmic" bowling until almost midnight. This was for Ton's birthday.
The following people joined (parts of) the evening:
Frans and Marieke Luit, Dick and Joke, Frances Hui, Mariane, Nick Levens,
Tanja Giljevic, David and Christine Hume, Rob and Marion and of course Sjoukje.
From left to right: Sjoukje, Mariane, Christine, Marion, Rob, David, Frances
and Nick.
|
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 21.00 |
Food and drinks at
The Zone Bowling Centre & Big River Brew Pub
in Richmond. From left to right: Nick, Frans, Dick, Joke, Sjoukje and
Mariane. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 21.00 |
Food and drinks at
The Zone Bowling Centre & Big River Brew Pub
in Richmond. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 21.00 |
Food and drinks at
The Zone Bowling Centre & Big River Brew Pub
in Richmond. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 21.45 |
Bowling at
The Zone Bowling Centre & Big River Brew Pub
in Richmond. Sjoukje is getting ready for action. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 21.45 |
Bowling at
The Zone Bowling Centre & Big River Brew Pub
in Richmond. Rob in action. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 21.45 |
Bowling at
The Zone Bowling Centre & Big River Brew Pub
in Richmond. Nick is preparing for his strategy (thinking hard) while
Marion and Ton have a chat. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 21.45 |
Bowling at
The Zone Bowling Centre & Big River Brew Pub
in Richmond. Ton is ready to throw the ball. Next time we should bring
night vision cameras ... |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 21.45 |
Bowling at
The Zone Bowling Centre & Big River Brew Pub
in Richmond. David, Christine and Sjoukje. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 22.30 |
Bowling at
The Zone Bowling Centre & Big River Brew Pub
in Richmond. Time for Ton to unwrap his birthday presents. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 22.30 |
Curious about the things inside? |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 22.30 |
Well, let's attack. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 22.30 |
Yeah, got something here. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 22.30 |
No particular smell. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 22.30 |
Yeah. Grolsch beer. Thanks. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 22.30 |
Thanks, Rob. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 22.30 |
Unwrapping presents makes you
thirsty ... |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 23.35 |
Marion and Nick, back at the Big
River Brew Pub ... where are the margarita's? |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 23.35 |
Sjoukje, Mariane and Rob. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 23.35 |
The hands of Sjoukje and Ton with
their engagement rings. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 23.40 |
... now wrapped around some huge
beers ... what a future do these hands have. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 23.40 |
Sjoukje and Ton are showing their
engagement rings. |
 |
Fr 28-Mar-2003 23.40 |
Sjoukje and Ton are showing their
engagement rings. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 13.00 |
After breakfast at the Dutch
Pannekoek House and visiting Granville Island Sjoukje and Ton took the ferry
to Langdale for a romantic weekend at the
Sunshine Coast. Here we
approached the ferry terminal at Horsheshoe Bay. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 13.00 |
We had to park our car in lane 10
until the ferry was unloaded and we were allowed to board. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 13.20 |
That gave us a chance to call
Ton's parents in The Netherlands. Sjoukje is talking to Ton's mother. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 13.20 |
We have to board the ferry. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 13.20 |
While Sjoukje is still on the
phone with Ton's parents. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 13.20 |
Entering the cargo bay of the
ferry. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 13.20 |
The car deck on the ferry. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 16.00 |
On our trip from Gibson to Pender
Harbour we visited
Porpoise Bay
Provincial Park. A short drive from Sechelt village, East Porpoise Bay
Road takes you up the Sechelt Inlet to the park with its breathtaking
mountain views, expansive waterfront and campsites nestled in a
second-growth forest of Douglas fir, western red cedar, western hemlock,
maple and alder.
The beach is perfect for swimming (there is a roped-off area), picnicking or
launching your kayak or canoe. Kids love to explore the pools at low tide to
see (but not touch) purple starfish, crabs and other creatures of the sea.
During the summer, a park interpreter welcomes kids of all ages to scheduled
sessions to learn more about the forest and ocean ecosystems.
Within the park there are easy walking trails through the forest, including
a short hike to Angus Creek, where you can see chum and coho salmon
returning to their spawning grounds each fall.
If you're just coming for the day, there are 25 picnic benches and
washroom, change room and shower facilities near the beach. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 16.00 |
Sjoukje at Porpoise Bay. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 16.00 |
Ton and Sjoukje at Porpoise Bay. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 |
Porpoise Bay: Sjoukje posing on
the slide. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 |
Porpoise Bay: Sjoukje posing on
the slide. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 |
Porpoise Bay: Ton is trying out
the slide too. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 |
Yahoo !!! |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 |
Oops ... hold on for a picture. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 |
We drove all the way to the next
ferry in Earls Cove (to Saltery Bay and Powell River). |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 |
A look at the ferry terminal in
Earls Cove with Sjoukje in the passenger seat of the car. |
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 18.00 |
We arrived at our Bed & Breakfast
"Malaspina
Ranch Resort" (hostess: Robi Petraschuk). As featured in the Los
Angeles Times - A beautiful bed and breakfast overlooking Pender Harbour, on
a fifteen-acre ranch with gardens and an antique barn. Behind the ranch, the
Caren Range has some of the oldest trees in Canada. Sea birds and sea life
can be seen on a tidal flat on the property. There are hiking trails from
the doorstep. If you are interested, the host can provide fishing charters
and you can also rent horses canoes. It is possible to rent scuba gear from
Pender Harbour, and the diving in this area is magnificent.
|
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje is unpacking our stuff to
check in in the B&B. Recreation:
Extra on Ranch*
- *Horseback Riding: Guided Tours & Instruction
- *Canoe Rentals: 15 ft. with equipment
- Golf - 5 minutes away, great 9 hole course
- Lake Swimming - 10 minutes away
- Hiking - many different levels of hiking including the famous "Skookumchuck
Rapids"
- Skindiving/Scuba: equipment rental available locally
- Boat tours & excursions
- Interesting Special Events include May Day, Pender Harbour Jazz
Festival, Harvest Fair, Christmas Carol Ships
|
 |
Sa 29-Mar-2003 |
There is also a great swimming
pool (summer use only) and there is a hot tub on the deck which provides a
spectacular view of the ocean and a guest sitting room adorned Victorian
style overlooking the Harbour. This is a beautiful place to read or drink
tea. Breakfast is served in the dining room, and you can have tea and coffee
at any time.
Guest rooms are beautiful and radiate an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 13.00 |
After a big breakfast we drove to
Egmont for a 1 hr hike to Skookumchuck Narrows. |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 12.00 |
The hike went over a trail through
a beautiful rain forest (and it rained, see previous picture). |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 12.10 |
Ton in the rain forest en-route to
the Skookumchuck Narrows. |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 13:00 |
Skookumchuck Narrows, A unique
area; a world phenomena. The fastest tidal flow here occurs in an section of
Skookumchuck Narrows named Sechelt Rapids. "Skookum" means fast or rapid and
"chuck" means water.
The Rapids - On a three-metre tide change, 200 billion gallons of water flow
through the Skookumchuck, which connects Sechelt Inlet to Jervis Inlet. To
view the most spectacular rapids, you want to time your hike so you arrive
at the viewpoint when the tidal surge is at its strongest. The hike in takes
about an hour from the parking lot.
REMEMBER: the Skookumchuck is dangerous at any tide change. All visitors
should stay clear of the water and keep a close eye on children and dogs at
all times. There are two fenced viewing areas suitable for families or those
with pets, so make use of them to be safe.
Click
here for a short (51 sec.) mpeg movie (1.10 Mb.) |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 13:00 |
When we arrived there was no
current at all (wrong timing?). |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 13:00 |
We moved to a second view point
where we can see the rapid evolve slowly (bottom of the picture). |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 13:20 |
While waiting for the rapid to
grow it still rained heavily. |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 13:40 |
A powerful police guard boat
crosses the narrows. The rapids have become more powerful now. |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 13:40 |
A powerful police guard boat
crosses the narrows. |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 14:00 |
After waiting an hour in the rain
for the rapids to grow we decided to walk back 1 hour to the parking lot. |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 |
A lake in the middle of the rain
forest. |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 |
Sjoukje is posing in front of the
lake. |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 |
Breath taking trail through the
rain forest. |
 |
Su 30-Mar-2003 |
Back at Egmont. |
 |
We 02-Apr-2003 18.30 |
After work Ton picked up Sjoukje
and they drove to Lynn Valley to visit the
Lynn Canyon (free
admission) suspension bridge. |
 |
We 02-Apr-2003 |
Sjoukje is taking her first steps
on the suspension bridge, about 80 meters above the river below. Feel like
breaking out and trying something a little daring? How about visiting the
Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. Why is the bridge sure to give you goosebumps?
It jiggles, for one--every time someone takes a step. It's pretty narrow
too--just wide enough for two people to pass each other. I should also
mention the bridge was built in 1912, so instead of solid steel, you've got
narrow wooden slats under your feet. And that's all that's separating you
from a 166 foot drop to Lynn Creek below. |
 |
We 02-Apr-2003 |
Sjoukje is holding on. Fortunately
there were not a lot of other visitors on the bridge. The bridge, however,
is 100% safe -although it doesn't sound like it is. Nobody has ever fallen
off it - although people have jumped. Every summer at least one daredevil
loses his life jumping off either the bridge or the rocks into the beckoning
blue pools below.
|
 |
We 02-Apr-2003 |
It is quite a walk to come across
the bridge. |
 |
We 02-Apr-2003 |
Once you make it across, there are
several hiking trails awaiting you, Sjoukje and Ton did not do these. The
one Ton usually takes (because it's easy) winds along the creek until you
reach a couple of pools. There have been a few brave people swimming in
these pools. Be prepared, the water is cold. It is also not recommend
swimming when the water is moving fast. Several people have died swimming in
Lynn Creek! |
 |
We 02-Apr-2003 |
We made it. On the left you can
see a waterfall through the trees. |
 |
We 02-Apr-2003 |
The view from the bridge is
spectacular - if you have the nerve to stop and look at it. |
 |
We 02-Apr-2003 |
After visiting the Lynn Valley
suspension bridge we had a chocolate sundae at the Dairy Queen of Lynn
Valley. |
 |
We 02-Apr-2003 |
Close-up of Dairy Queens largest
chocolate sundae. |
 |
We 02-Apr-2003 20.00 |
Grocery shopping at Save-On-Foods
in North Vancouver (Marine Drive). We bought ingredients for macaroni
(mushrooms, green and red pepper, lean gound beef, onion). |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 09.00 |
Sjoukje is ready to leave back to
The Netherlands. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 09.00 |
One more picture, now with flash. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 09.30 |
Sjoukje is ready to load her
luggage into Ton's car. She is traveling very light. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 09.31 |
Sjoukje is ready for her ride to
the airport. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 10.00 |
At the airport's arrival area,
just before going to the first floor to check in. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 10.00 |
These two wood sculptures are
located at the arrival area. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 10.10 |
Sjoukje is lining at the KLM desks
up to have her luggage checked in. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 |
The airport is filled with local
Indian arts. Like The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, the Jade Canoe, by Bill Reid,
provides the focal point to the entrance of the International Terminal. The
bronze sculpture features legendary Haida creatures paddling a boat that
"goes on, forever anchored in the same place".
Click here for more
information. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 |
One more nut latte at Starbucks. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 10.45 |
Sjoukje and Ton at Starbucks, just
before Sjoukje had to check for her seat in the plane. We also worked on
updating her
travel report. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 |
Because of recent cases of SARS
outbreak some people walked around at the airport with paper protection
masks over their mouths. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 |
Because of recent cases of SARS
outbreak some people walked around at the airport with paper protection
masks over their mouths. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 |
Because of recent cases of SARS
outbreak some people walked around at the airport with paper protection
masks over their mouths. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 11.12 |
Sjoukje is buying her CAN $ 15
ticket for Airport Improvement Fee. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 11.12 |
One final goodbye wave before
Sjoukje disappears through the door on her way to the customs. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 11.13 |
Last image of Sjoukje before she
disappeared behind the walls on her way to the customs checkpoint. Her
scheduled Royal Dutch KLM flight 682 departed as scheduled at 12.05. The
plane landed a little earlier than scheduled in Masterdam.
Scheduled: 07.40. Landed: 07.32. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 |
Because of recent cases of SARS
(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak some people walked around at
the airport with paper protection masks over their mouths. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 11.20 |
The KLM crew of he plane that just
arrived. This plane will take Sjoukje back to The Netherlands with a fresh
crew. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 11.20 |
Because of recent cases of SARS
outbreak some people walked around at the airport with paper protection
masks over their mouths. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 |
Parking machine. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 |
Insert ticket. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 |
Ton's car parked at the airport's
parking lot. |
 |
Th 03-Apr-2003 |
Ton's car parked at the airport's
parking lot. |
