Month: January 2016

Pictorial Review of 2015 – I

/ Peter Klopp / 8 Comments

Our Community – Fauquier, BC, Canada

 

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Our Little Village Church in Early January

 

Nature's Snow Sculptures Melting in the Warm Air

Nature’s Snow Sculptures Melting in the Warm Air

Part of the Local Golf Course Slipping after Heavy Rain

Part of the Local Golf Course Slipping after Heavy Rain

Unusual Lake View through an Iron Ring

Unusual Lake View through an Iron Ring

Saddle Mountain still Covered in Snow

Saddle Mountain still Covered in Snow

Willow Showing off a Hint of Green - Spring has Sprung

Willow Showing off a Hint of Green – Spring has Sprung

Leaves are Out at Fauquier Golf Course

Leaves are Out at Fauquier Golf Course

Lake at its Lowest Level before Spring Run-off

Lake at its Lowest Level before Spring Run-off

Looking North: Logging Truck Leaving Needles Ferry at Fauquier

Looking North: Logging Truck Leaving Needles Ferry at Fauquier

The Arrow Lake that attracted Like-Minded People on Applegrove Road

The Arrow Lake that attracted Like-Minded People on Applegrove Road

Our Quaint Little House in the Spring

Our Quaint Little House in the Spring

Fox Gloves Announcing Early Summer at Taite Creek

Fox Gloves Announcing Early Summer at Taite Creek

Cherries Ripening under Ideal Conditions Promising a Bumper Crop

Cherries Ripening under Ideal Conditions Promising a Bumper Crop

Buck with Antlers Illuminated by the Morning Sun in July

Buck with Antlers Illuminated by the Morning Sun in July

Peter on Top of the Mountain on the Power Line Road - Late July

Peter on Top of the Mountain on the Power Line Road – Late July

One could hike to this fantastic viewpoint in about 2 hours. View onto the Arrow Lake

One could hike to this fantastic viewpoint in about 2 hours. View of Arrow Lake

Triplets of Boletus Mushrooms

Triplets of Boletus Mushrooms – Choice Mushrooms Growing in our Area

Spectacular Fall Colors on the Way to our House

Spectacular Fall Colors on the Way to our House

Our Little Village Church on a Beautiful Fall Day

Our Little Village Church on a Beautiful Fall Day

My Wife and I on a Wintry Day in December

My Wife and I on a Wintry Day in December

Next Tuesday I will give a year-end pictorial review of our family.

Lost in Australia 2012

/ Peter Klopp / 11 Comments

Our Adventurous Journey in Australia

Contributed by Stefan Klopp

Klopp Family Tree IV & V

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Mateo and I have always had a very special bond. His first few years after he was born I was lucky enough to live just down the street from him and his parents before they moved to Montreal. When Richard asked me if I would be Mateo’s godfather, I was honored and vowed to be the best uncle I could be.

Years ago a friend had told me about their Aunt who had taken all of her nieces and nephews on trips when they turned 16. As someone who love to travel, I latched onto the idea and decided when Mateo turned 13, if his grades were good I would take him on a trip.

For his 12th birthday after clearing the idea with his parents I told Mateo I wanted to take him on a trip. After discussing possible destinations we settled on Australia. Mateo had a real fascination for animals (especially those down under) and I loved the idea of going to a continent I had never been before.

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A few weeks after Mateo turned 13 we set off on a 777 Air Canada jet to Sydney; our first stop on our adventure. It was a long flight, but we were lucky to be flying direct, and 16 hours later and we arrived in country.

The plan was to spend 4 days in Sydney, before flying south to Melbourne. From Melbourne we would then rent a car and drive the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide. Then we would take a small jet north to the center of Australia to spend a few days camping and hiking around Uluru and finally make our way to Cairns to get some sunshine and explore the Great Barrier Reef.

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The trip was everything I could have imagined.

We zip lined through the Otway National Park, snorkeled and dove the Great Barrier Reef, surfed in Manly and hot air ballooned north of Cairns.

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We saw a breadth of animals from koala bears to echidnas to kangaroos.

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We hiked the Grampians, explored Uluru, and adventured around Kangaroo Island.

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Most of all however, we got to hang out and be buds for three and a half weeks. As 2015 comes to a close I look forward to future adventures with Mateo big or small.

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