Fall foliage

One of the reasons we planned our east Canada trip for this time of year is that we've been told the fall colours are amazing over that side of the continent.

However, I only just discovered how big a deal this.  There are multiple websites tracking the progress of the leaves in various regions, with people able to register as "Foliage Ambassadors" to make reports!  And the activity of viewing and photographing the spectacular autumn hues actually has a name (and a Wikipedia page - but what doesn't?): leaf peeping.

Tomorrow afternoon we fly into Portland, Maine (a different Portland to the one we visited at Easter), which looks to be one of the New England states known for its fall colours.  Click here to view a foliage progress report and map for Maine (an actual government website!), or here to see one that includes all of the USA.

I haven't found a comparable map for Canada, where we'll be for most of our trip, but it looks like we'll be arriving as the US leaves are in their "turning" to "moderate" stages, so fingers crossed we'll be seeing full-blown fall colours as our trip progresses.

Technology, eh?

Off to east Canada...

From September 24th to October 8th, we'll be driving this >3000km route through some of Canada's eastern provinces:

Our travelling companions on this road trip are David and Raquela, whom we met in Barbados in May (see this blog entry). We're looking forward to a great holiday!

Check back here in mid-October to read all about it. :)

Reid Jamieson

Last night we went to another concert at the Rogue Folk Club - a performance by Vancouver singer/songwriter Reid Jamieson, with the opening act by Samantha Parton. Reid's fiancée Carolyn also joined him to sing harmonies on a few songs - they were very cute together!

Here are some photos of Reid with his various stringed instruments (plus a garden gnome)...









He sang a variety of songs - lots of originals, a couple of Crowded House covers, and a few Elvis numbers. A few years ago he actually released an album of Elvis songs that he recorded in a single afternoon as a birthday present for Carolyn (and only later decided to release). Here's one of the Elvis songs...

Ben noticed the double bass player was really getting into it, and snapped this great series of photos...



Another night of top talent at the Rogue - I'm glad we discovered it!

Car Racing Night

Last night we hosted our second car racing night! (Click here to see the blog post from the girls-only one last December.) Combine Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed with eight enthusiastic racers on networked laptops, and an evening of hilarity is guaranteed!

Here's a collection of videos taken throughout the night...

What fun!!

Memories of summertime

Delle's visit

Rocking out in Seattle

Canada Day

Road tripping through four US states

Alcatraz and sea lions

July 4th fireworks in San Fran

Getting stuck in a ditch in Utah

A Grand Canyon sunset

Music with Angharad

A bridal shower



Bard on the Beach

Shonna and Joel's wedding

The Grouse Grind

Holding Etta for the first time



Games nights and a trivia night

Central Park and Dairy Queen birthdays

Theatre Under The Stars

Catching up with Uncle John MacQ



Hiking Hollyburn Peak



Convention

Night watch and pantry-raiding

A baby shower



Kayaking at Deep Cove

Seeing two baby seals in the wild

The Idea of North

Duck confit crepes and Ticket To Ride

Squash

Big decisions

...I can't believe it's already over!