Well we were invited for dinner, but we mooched our way into a bed & breakfast too, ha!

Sat. Feb 25 - stayed overnight at Gus & Darlene's, we try not to drive in the dark & certainly not to drink & drive, so, they got us again. Before we know it, it's almost noon, so we're off up the road to meet up with more friends from our Yellowknife days, Armand & Ginette Maisonneuve. They're in a cottage for the weekend, at Seaview Resort, on the ocean. We find our way there & have a wonderful afternoon & evening with them & the cutest puppy we've seen for awhile! Their little American Cocker Spaniel, Toffee, was playful & very good, we are getting to like dogs now... (Of course we LOVE our 2 grand-puppies & they are VERY cute, so don't get jealous, Ubu & Norman!). Lots to catch up on here as we've not seen these 2 for about 5 years. Ginette is in the kitchen & feeds us all night long, pesto & cheese appy's, then shrimp cocktail, then salad, tabouleh, veggies & the guys barbecue pork medallions & then we stuffed ourselves more with fresh pineapple & squares, many burps!

Sun. Feb 26 - Slightly warmer today, 7 or so. Slept in until 9, as usual. The coffee was already brewing, & we enjoyed that with oranges, muffins & cereal. After a relaxing morning of visiting & then packing up before checkout time, we all went to downtown Qualicum Beach to walk around in the shops. Well Toffee & the men walked around outside & Ginette & I shopped, buying pretty little toe rings & doing more spying for pottery & glass ideas. Lots of that here, so lots of ideas! Not to let our stomachs rest for too long, we meet up with Rob & Kathy at Gary's Bistro for a YK reunion lunch. Even after 30 years, we still have lots in common & there's a few more grey hairs, but not many other differences! We say goodbye to all outside in the misty rain & head down island (we're catching onto the lingo here!) to Parksville to the Tigh-na-Mara resort & spa. We have a room booked for the night, its more like a ballroom, all high ceiling-ed logs. We take a walk on the huge sandbar out front, talking to a man digging butter clams (small, but look like the PEI ones). Back to the room, have a snack & head over to "the Grotto", the spa pool with mineral waters, the minerals imported from Hungary. It is very soothing, & the water feels very soft. There is the room temperature mineral pool (similiar to the Temple Gardens spa in Moose Jaw), the icy cold shower, & the hot hot tub. We do several dips in each & then shower up to head to the "Treetop" restaurant upstairs. We are told it is "robe attire" only, unique, there are only a few small groups. The food is "tapis", small portion appetizer style & right now it is "pay what you think it is worth". I think they are just opening & looking for some feedback on the prices. We order 4 items, 2 meats & 2 veggie/salads, all are very delicious & wonderfully presented. They actually bring a bill that has a zero total on it & you tell the waitress what you want to pay. So we rate them out of 10 & price them accordingly (as the prices are thought to be 10 each). We then go to the sitting room by the fire to finish our wine until they kick us out cause they want to close (at 8:30). Go back to our room & find the movie "Primary Colors" about the Clintons - well done.

Mon. Feb 27 - after a light breakfast we go for a run/walk separately in the Rathtrevor Provincial Park then shower & pack up. Gus has called to arrange a golf game with G & Rob, so we drive to Qualicum Beach in the light rain, but by the time they go out it is a lovely sunny afternoon. Darlene & I visit for the afternoon, while I do a load of laundry & we discuss computer programs, music downloads, etc. When the guys are back we say goodbye again & drive to Country Maples RV resort. It is dark when we arrive, so we cook a shrimp stirfry inside & enjoy reading until midnight. No TV, but great radio music.