Kootenays

Last Summer’s Family Reunion in Videos – Part I

/ Peter Klopp / 1 Comment

Even though I have fully embraced computer and digital technology, I have two problems with both. It has to do with their miniature size. On the cameras I find it often difficult to use the tiny buttons with which to control the settings. On the small SD cards fit thousands of images. If you happen to misplace the card or worse you accidentally erase the files, the loss of these visual treasures could cause a lot of pain. This almost happened to me, when my precious video files from last summer went missing and I had almost given up of ever finding the SD card again. As it turned out, I had put it in a “safe” place, a special card holder not much larger than a Canadian dollar coin. Recently I rummaged through my camera bag. Guess what, I found the card. The result is the video report of our family reunion 2014.

Introducing the Family on the Plank

Having Fun on the Paddle Boards

 

Hiking in the Spring – Part IV

/ Peter Klopp / 1 Comment

A Pleasant Walk from the Fauquier Boat Dock to Detta Beach

At the intersection of Highway 6 and Starlite Road you go down to the Fauquier boat dock.

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2 3Looking north to Ingersol Mountain you can see across the bay the sandy beach of Detta Beach.

3aTo reach Detta Beach you go back up the hill and proceed on Starlite Road,

4past the Fauquier Creek,

5dense growth of skunk cabbage and giant leaves of the devil’s club,

6picturesque old orchards from the time before the flooding of the Arrow Lakes in 1967,

7pastoral scenes complete with ewe and lambs resting in the grass,

9until you reach the junction at a private sawmill operation. There you turn left and walk down to the beach passing a house under construction to the left and another farther down to the right.

8The beach looks deserted now. But in July and August it attracts sun-seeking people from all over the province and even as far away as Alberta. It is perhaps the only place along the shores of the Arrow Lakes, where you can enjoy a sandy beach at low and high water levels. There you can go swimming in the refreshing water, boating, sun bathing, playing games or just lazing away the hot summer days with your friends and family.

Our Son Richard and Granddaughters Azure and Emeline

/ Peter Klopp / 2 Comments

Last Day of their Visit at the Grandparents

Today was a rainy day and was ideal to do some indoor activities. I was very eager to make a video recording of Azure practicing her violin. Also, I always wanted to read to Azure from the French children’s book ‘Le Petit Nicolas’. We were fortunate this morning that we found Azure completely cooperative. I admit though that I made use of a little bribery by offering a piece of chocolate as a reward. When she was done with the performance she was so proud of her success that she almost forgot to collect her prize. In the afternoon there was a little break in the weather and we went down to the beach to give the kids a chance to catch some fresh air and play in the sand.

The time went so fast. Tomorrow morning Richard and his sweet little daughters are heading back to Kelowna to catch the plane back to Montreal. We are a little sad, but there will always be a next, God willing.

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Our Son Richard and Granddaughters Azure and Emeline

/ Peter Klopp / 2 Comments

Day 4

In spite of threatening rain clouds, we journeyed to Taite Creek Camp Site to spend the afternoon at the beautiful Arrow Lake. Richard and Azure went swimming in the ice-cold waters  and received a lot of cheers for their daring plunge. Later we warmed up at the campfire and the children had fun singing, dancing and listening to Opa’s melodies he played on the harmonica. It is all recorded on the one-minute video below.

Our Son Richard and Granddaughters Azure and Emeline

/ Peter Klopp / 3 Comments

Day 3

Today Richard was very tired. Last night after he had settled down Azure and Emeline and got them to sleep, he sat down at his laptop to do some important work for his college in Montreal. This morning he went down to the lake to provide some strenuous exercise for his kids. As it turned, when they came back, he was very tired and his daughters were not. He had hoped that the little ones would have a long afternoon nap to give him a chance to recover.

Richard, Azure and Emeline ready to go to the Fauquier Boar Dock

Richard, Azure and Emeline ready to go to the Fauquier Boat Dock

While I was napping in the front room, I heard some noises coming from the living room, which were getting louder by the minute. I concluded that Papa had fallen asleep and the girls had slipped out and were beginning to make their presence known by playing the toy piano. So I decided to interrupt my precious nap time and supervise the little ones, while Richard was sleeping. I turned out to be quite a bit of fun watching them dance and pose for me for quite a few nice pictures. Besides I learned quite a few new French words that Azure taught me while we were playing.

Whatever else of importance is going to happen today, I will publish it in tomorrow’s post.