Text 28774, 84 rader
Skriven 2012-08-26 22:14:00 av JIM WELLER (1:123/140)
Ärende: trip 4
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With six hours of extra driving that night I didn't feel like taking
time out for a restaurant meal so we stocked up on sandwiches and
such in Terrace at a gas station. And I was pleasantly surprised.
Terrace and Smithers are on major salmon rivers, the Skeena and its
tributary the Bulkley. Freshly made salmon salad sandwiches made
with a generous portion of fresh local sockeye were the same price
as egg or canned tuna salad! With fresh super fresh and prime B.C.
cherries and peaches (from the Okanogan, a bit further south) and a
pop we had a most excellent meal in the car.

Meanwhile back at Boston Pizza, Charlee was outraged by her meal
again. She had had very nice strawberry and spinach salads with
balsamic dressing at BP in Yellowknife and Fort McMurray so she
ordered it only to get some chef on drugs thing laced with cayenne.
She told the waitress at great length how to make a proper
strawberry salad, "you put just a little tiny bit of black pepper on
it, not a whole lot of stoopid red hot pepper and you are supposed
to use the brown vinegar, the kind that is sweet. I'm taking this
home to Papa to taste. He'll tell you; it's not right." The waitress
stated that the salad was supposed to be hot. "Only here!" was the
response.

Fri: Neekha and I drove out to Draiden's father's place (just 30 km
away, so I didn't mind) to pick him up as well. There, we were both
pleasantly surprised. Warren, the dad, has really straightened out
since his Yellowknife days and is a good dad. He has custody of his
three older children from his first relationship, full custody of
Draiden and has met a really together young lady named Cinnamon, who
has one boy, also called Draiden, which causes much confusion within
the household. And Draiden has turned out pretty much OK despite his
early childhood pre-Warren, much to Neekha's delight and my relief.

Lexi and Draiden hit it off right away. He is also 7 and quite
handsome with curly black hair and big dark eyes with long lashes.
He also joined us at the motel. Later she bragged mischievously that
she slept with her new boyfriend the first night! I said, "Your
mother will be so impressed" and she responded quick as a whip, "No
she won't". [g]

The balance of the day was spent with Betty, Neekha and Draiden
going to the wedding hall to help decorate and for Neekha, the
wedding rehearsal.

Lexi, Charlee and I spent a long time at the pool while Roslind
caught up on work on her laptop.

We four had a very good supper at a nearby motel recommended place
called Chatters. We arrived without reservations and all they had
available was two tables for two which we took. It's a popular place
with an eclectic bistro menu. Charlee and I chose a customized
upscale burger with sweet potato fries while Roslind and Lexi had
salmon with a Caesar salad. For the burger they give you a long check
list and a pencil and you tick off your options. The choices
included among other things Black Angus beef or halibut fillet,
optional mushrooms and bacon, different types of buns baked in
house, five cheeses and over a dozen toppings, condiments and
sauces. After her experience with hot strawberry salad Charlee
vetoed banana peppers and pickled jalapenos along with onions, so our
burger was sort of plain, albeit pleasing to her: just a toasted
white bun, buttered, halibut fillet (OK, so it really wasn't a
hamburger after all), aged cheddar, tartar sauce and lettuce. I like
it when I can have halibut for hamburger prices! Midway through the
meal Roslind and I switched tables so everyone got a taste of
everything.

Sat: Wedding day. Roslind, Lexi, Charlee and I had not been invited
to Mark's wedding, so we had planned for a day of sightseeing,
hiking, visiting a small museum and, of course, more swimming. We
met Mark's bride Charlie (Charlotte Ann actually) for the first time
that morning who was shocked that we hadn't been invited, at least
informally, by either Mark or Betty and insisted we come, so we did.
Lexi was disappointed as she was looking forward to fossil hunting
in nearby Driftwood Canyon and going to the pool.

Cheers

YK Jim


... Never attempt an auto trip if your kids out number the car windows

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