We've started the Blue Collar Book Tour on Thursday July 28th through Saturday July 30th in Fairbanks. A total new experience. The bicycle journey was for pleasure. The Book Tour is for business! Our goal is to sell 100,000 copies. Daunting right? Well, if you divide that number by 50 (the number of states...), it comes down to 2,000 per state. Now that makes it doable!
On Thursday we traveled the Van Horn area.
Robin puts her John Hancock in our first sale on Van Horn.
The owner of Power and Transmission (where we bought all the LED lights for the bus) buys seven copies for him and all his employees.
This night is the last night we spent in the cabin.
The final goodbye to the cabin. We're not leaving it as we've found it. Over the winter we've cleared the path and around the cabin, insulated and foamed every conceivable crack, and enclosed part of the porch. Thanks for letting us stay Dave! It's been an experience we'll never forget!
It's time to take down the sign. The Pedouins are moving on!
The last drive off Darling Avenue. Till we meet again.
On Friday we set up in the parking lot at Beaversports.
Books anyone? This pile is going with us on the bus. Let's see if it fits.
It fits! Now it's up to us to bring our book to the market!
We're set up at Beaversports.
We're learning that the first sale is emotionally the most rewarding. Once that sale is done, we feel that at least we didn't set up for no reason. We know we have a great product, but to sell it is a new venture for us. By the way, you don't have to wait until we're near you, you can order your copy online. Click here to do so.
The girls are decorating the "Books for Sale" sign.
Laurie and Martin celebrate the first official book signing day with us at our favorite restaurant: Chili's. We personally deliver one of our online orders to Renee, our favorite waitress! We'll miss you all!
Saturday is Alaska Feed day!
Thanks for letting us set up in your parking lot Alaska Feed!
Cheyenne sets the books up on the table. It's raining off and on throughout the day, having us take the books inside and out, leaving the camera mostly in our pocket.
We see the Baileys again, who we saw on our bicycle ride in Wasilla. The girls thoroughly enjoy their dog, while we talk about life on the road and homeschooling.
The little dog gets a lot of love from the girls.
Beverly and Marlene stop by with their friends, and also their American Eskimos. Bill does the book signing on the hood.
We even have visitors from as far as the Prince of Wales island, near Ketchican. Talking about us, they are quite amazed to find our bus parked at Alaska Feed. After a U-turn, they actually get to meet the subject of their conversation! Enjoy your boos ladies!
Our last night in Fairbanks! Fireworks are in order.
Kindra and Luke go to town, while Robin observes and learns.
Thanks for your friendship! We'll see you in April of 2013 in Israel! (If not sooner...)
Fairbanks to Anchorage
The first week of the Blue Collar Book Tour was already filled with excitement; the good and the bad. What journey are we on this time? As the miles roll under our wheels, the time will tell.
July 31 of 2011
Home to us for almost a year, we're leaving Fairbanks behind us. It's July 31st of 2011. Exactly two years after leaving our home in Kentucky on our five person bicycle. Two years filled with a bicycle journey that stretched 6,439 miles-from Ocean to Ocean and some more-, a winter in Fairbanks, writing a book about our bicycle journey and having it printed and for sale, finding and fixing up a 1960 Chevrolet Viking bus, and much much more. We live a full life.
At the Anderson Bluegrass Festival. The girls swing the hoops round and round. Laurie and Martin joined us in Nenana, to spend one more day with us before we get together the next time.
Cheyenne and Jasmine check out the tie dye wear at the Bushrat Boutique.
Bill and Martin work on the carburator.
Time for a break.
Thanks for your friendship Martin and Laurie!
In Denali National Park we stop by the Riley Creek Campground to visit with Greg and Shaun whom we met there last year. They've surprised us by spreading the word about our visit through the park. A wonderful surprise, which was not unrewarded, although differently then we'd have thought. Not minutes after our arrival a Park Ranger Snow appears in full dress, seeking us out to have a word with us. Selling in the park is illegal. Since he figures we haven't had a lot of sales in the park (duh, we're barely there), he "only" gives us a citation and we won't have to appear in court. Offense description: "Unpermitted Business Operations." Fine: $325 It is a nauseating experience. We're trying to laugh it off, the road we travel is full of potholes and humps, but it isn't easy.
We're numbered...
Thanks Greg and Shaun!
Doing their lessons while we go down the road.
Windshield view on our way down to Trapper Creek.
On the Broad Pass.
August 1 of 2011
Bob and Jennie at Trapper Creek. Bob picked Bill up last year when he was hitch hiking with our broken rims to Wasilla. Friendships can start from the most unlikely situations.
Back at Jennie's library in Trapper Creek.
In Talkeetna we find a parking spot for the bus at Talkeetna Air. Then we hop on Yeller to go to the river.
Looking for skipping rocks.
Fly Bird Fly!
No comment...
Tuesday, August 2 of 2011
From Talkeetna we drive on to Wasilla and give Lori and Fred a call. They let us stay in their camper at Willow Lake last year. A short stay turns into several days at their home this year. Jasmine immediately discovers the building blocks.
Enjoying some quiet time. It's a rainy day, so no roof work today. It gives Bill the time to work some more on Old Blue. There is always a new kink to work out.
Robin, Buddy and Sarah are out!
Wednesday, August 3 of 2011
Again our journey revolves around giving and receiving. An act of kindness here and there can make such a difference. With Bill's skills (whether construction, mechanical or writing), we're here to help fix a roof in Wasilla. The roof is sagging badly, creating a "swimming pool" on top. By putting more support under the rafters, Bill is able to solve the problem.
The roof hangs over a seacontainer and is being secured to it.
A slanted roof will keep the rain from pooling and will no longer seep through.
Thursday, August 4 of 2011
We're set up for a busy day aat the Metro Cafe in Wasilla.
Robin is waiting her turn to put her signature (quite an art work I must say) into the book.
We have an incredible day at the Metro Cafe. It is good business for the both of us. After a full day of sales, we head for the play ground. Although the sunshine has gone and the rain has come, the girls have a good time playing with Mason.
In the evening we take off for Anchorage, where we spend the night with Erin, James and Owen. Friday is our first REI day.
Friday, August 5 of 2011
REI Anchorage.
Our set-up at the store. A great place in the entry way. We talk and sell the afternoon away.
Bill adds an REI sticker to Old Blue.
We enjoy the evening with Gale and Sandy. We met Gale at the Trapper Creek filling station this past week and agreed to meet up when we got to Anchorage.
With Sandy and Gale. Thanks for the evening! We enjoyed it thoroughly.
Saturday+Sunday, August 6+7 of 2011
We're taking the weekend to drive to the Kenai Peninsula. Initially we were going to Homer, but ended up in Seward instead. A promise to Robin of seeing the puffins before we leave Alaska needs to be kept. At the Sealife center we get a chance to see them upclose.
A different kind of view.
Increasing their mapping skills.
A hot chocolate break on the roadside.
In Seward. A brisk wind keeps us in thick clothes.
Shari from Seattle recognized the bike. She stopped with her family and decided to buy a book!
The girls...
Robin upclose with a king crab.
Puffin time!
Underwater with the seals.
Jasmine loves the hands-on activities.
Our favorite souvenir: the pressed penny.
We finish the day at the playground.
Cheyenne jumps for the bars.
Jasmine walks and pulls herself up the wall.
Joel and Brenda are put to work to make paper airplanes. They stopped by in the evening to check out the bike. It turned into an evening of talking about plans, dreams, future and life. It extended into a breakfast and morning together.
A morning in Seward.
Fun and sun at the playground.
Looking for rocks on the beach.
Jellyfish!
It was a good weekend. A little reprieve from the busy weeks and months leading up to our departure from Fairbanks.
Monday+Tuesday, August 8+9 of 2011
Before going out on the Alcan Higway, we spent two more days in Wasilla to work some more on the bus.
Just some of our gear... How did we fit it all in a bike trailer for a whole year?
Bill has figured out why the break cylinder kept on leaking. The ush rods were about an inch too long.
Lori plays Cashflow with Cheyenne and Jasmine.
Next it's time for lunch.
Time for another new muffler to make our ride quieter still.
Fred helps out wherever he can.
Everybody look at the birdie!
There we go. Thanks Lori, Fred and Rick!
Wednesday-Tuesday, August 10-16 of 2011
The Alcan Highway (Alaska Highway) is at our feet. Let's hit the road Old Blue!
The sun guides us on the way out.
See you later Roger!
We stop at the Homestead RV park, the last familiar place, before we continue the Glennallen towards Tok.
Jasmine enjoys the scenery go by the window.
Cheyenne works on a new puzzle book.
Rain and shine hits the window.
The road takes us along the Matanuska River which starts at the Matanuska Glacier.
Pretty country side along the Glennallen.
Distance in miles. Alaska is a big, big state.
The Matanuska Glacier lies like a mirrage in the valley.
We're taking a break in Glennallen at The Freeze.
The Tok Cut-off is full of surprises.
We're driving to the end of the rainbow.
On the path of the rainbow, with the Wrangell - St. Elias Mountains in the distance.
The Copper River.
Jasmine built a swing for her stuffies.
Bill enjoys the view from the front seat.
From Yeller's point of view.
Arrival in Tok.
A little movie before bedtime. We found a campsite along the Tanana River.
Goodnight.
The number of miles to Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada. Counted from Tok.
The first break down of the day. Overlooking the Tetlin area.
Help, there are vampires here!
Girls on the rocks.
Arrival in Yukon, Canada.
We're in Canada for the next several weeks.
The second break down of the day. Along the Duke River.
The girls are working on building a cave.
It's a masterpiece.
Fall is around the corner.
Yeller is riding along nicely.
At the end of Kluane Lake. Where does the road go?
We drive along the lake, back up a little, to arrive on the other side of it.
At bear summit we see a brown bear running. We stop, back up and it's still there. For several minutes we get to see it move around. What a gift.
We pull off the road between Haines Junction and Whitehorse, to camp for the night. We reminisce about the beautiful scenery and wildlife we've seen already. Moose, bear, eagle, beaver, what an abundance of nature.
In Whitehorse we add some more freshness to our food supply. It is very luxurious to carry a cooler with us and actually be able to keep things cool.
Run to the Yukon River!
Cold? Not so much according to Robin.
Up the river a little bit.
Up the river a little bit more.
The road ahead is wide open. All we have to do is keep on moving forward.
River view. We left the Yukon behind and are now along the Teslin River.
Distances in kilometers.
Teslin is behind us in the blink of an eye. Before we know it we've crossed the Nisutlin Bay Bridge.
Learn about the journey of the salmon.
Time for a break? Time for monkey bars!
Our campspot along the Smart River provides a fire pit. Time to put it to use.
You start is small with small, dry sticks.
And then you build it bigger and bigger. Picture by Cheyenne.
Keep on breaking those branches Bill!
Video by Cheyenne.
Cheyenne helps Jasmine build a stick and grass teepee.
Jasmine in her teepee.
Supper time!
Camp Pedouin on the Smart River.
A year after arriving in Fairbanks, Alaska, we pick up the road in Yukon and drive into British Columbia.
A change of scenery. We've left the Cassiar Mountains behind us and are entering the Liard Plain area.
A rare rear view view.
Daddy and Robin.
Time to work.
At the signpost forest in Watson Lake where we immortalize Wally's Classic Car Coating.
Robin loves the forest.
Slaton, Texas, where we spent a week with the Altman's in December of 2009.
Aha, finally found: the missing sign of Eindhoven!...
We've found a place for the "Caution Pedouins" sign.
Even our bus can get lost in the forest!
Not many miles past Watson Lake we pull over again. Now what? The muffler bracket has come off. Arghh.
Bill tries hard to remain calm, but he's quite fed up with Old Blue right now.
British Columbia. The Best Place on Earth. We're going to find out!
Score! At Allen's Lookout.
Another pretty sight. The Liard River is very forceful.
Looking the other way.
Goat Mountain. I wonder why?
The road leads to Liard Hot Springs.
The road ebbs and flows with the terrain.
Bison alert.
Robin observes the bison from behind the bars of the bike and the metal of the bus.
Black bear alert.
View from the board walk at Liard Hot Springs.
On the board walk at Liard Hot Springs.
Looking for warm water fish.
Ready to plunge in!
Just right for Jasmine.
It took some time, but Robin is enjoying her first encounter with "wild warm water" too.
Quite steamy here.
The special benefits of being the youngest...
All tired? Absolutely not. Time for the playground while I prepare supper in our bus in the campground.
Robin is doing push ups.
Jasmine is setting a speed record.
Having fun with Robin.
One more dip before we go.
Bison trots along at Liard Hot Springs.
Robin is staying warm in her blanket.
This is me. Picture by Jasmine.
Pointing at our location on the map. Picture by Jasmine.
A bigger picture. The bottom island is Vancouver Island. Alaska is not on the map, except for the little south east tail of it.
Another grated bridge. I'm glad we don't do it on Yeller. They never were my favorite.
From Bill's point of view.
With 12 miles per hour Old Blue is creeping up the mountain. Bill keeps it in second gear.
The top is still far from us. But we're not breaking a sweat. Old Blue is doing the work for us this time. We're climbing up to the Liard Plateau.
A little lake just before Summit Lake. The summit is the highest point of the Alaska Highway at w,250 feet (1.295 meter).
Jasmine at water's edge. Picture by Bill.
Jasmine considers a swim, but doesn't get in too deep. It's rather cold.
Time to warm up while Bill is napping.
We enjoy the spot so much that we decide to spend the rest of the day here and stay here for the night.
What goes up... Must go down.
Bill wonders where the road is taking us.
From Fort Nelson we turn south, where we get the Rocky Mountains back in view.
My turn to drive. That's not an easy task.
Lunch break at Buckinghorse River.
Dam it up Cheyenne!
Find Bill!
We find nothing of interest in the giant town of Fort St. John and drive on a little further, not ready to make it all the way to Dawson Creek yet. On the way we find a hidden gem. An old piece of the Alaska Highway still exists. The Kiskatinaw bridge.
There it is!
Old meets older.
I walk the bridge while Bill and the girls wait with Old Blue. I'm going to film this momentous occasion.
(I checked the Milepost. What I said is pretty much correct!)
Almost there.
A side view. The engineering is incredible.
We drive back across the bridge because we found this pretty campspot on a little hill just before the bridge.
After crossing the bridge one more time, we're back on the road to Dawson Creek, the town where the Alaska Highway officially has it's starting point. Dawson Creek is farm country.
We made it! Well done Old Blue! Well done Bill! Well done girls!
The official marker.
Before going to the grainsilo where there are old pictures of the building of the highway, we cross the street to have a donut at Robin's (of course to Robin's delight!).
Delicious!
From filling our bellies to filling ourselves with history.
Necessity.
Old artifacts.
What do you think of this Underwoods?!
An old picture of the Kiskatinaw bridge.
After some sightseeing we're heading out again. Via a very indirect road to Gabriola Island: East to Grand Prairie, south(ish) to Lake Louise, west(ish) to Vancouver, the ferry to Vancouver Island and the ferry to Gabriola Island.
There is no limit to the joys of child's play. Whether it is playing hopscotch or flying a kite. The joy it brings, the feeling of invigoration, the increased heart beat (whether from the exercise or the adrenaline to keep that kite flying), the sense of being alive, to spent quality time together. From now on, if you're disappointed with an expectation that did not come through, I recommend you to "Go fly a kite!"
Our expectations of selling our book are sky high, admittedly so. Expectations based on so many people’s voices telling us to "write a book" when we were traversing the continent on our five person bicycle. Perhaps an expectation based on the equation of "you should write a book" equals "when you do so, I'll buy a copy". An equation that has never been proven, as far as I can tell, but that we're putting to the test.
We took the "write a book" advice, and put our heart, body and soul into it to make it the best book on the planet (in our, probably not so humble, opinion). We wrote and rewrote, had it edited, rewrote parts again, had it proofed. We designed the cover, the body, and the inside. We found a printing company in the US, and had them print it. Now we have it in our hands. It is exactly as we'd envisioned the book to be. It truly is a master piece, and not only by our description, also by the description of folks that have bought a book, read it and couldn't put it down until they were finished.
So far we’ve sold approximately 300 books, in person and online. That means we’re still 99,700 books away from our goal of 100,000 copies! We have one state behind us and have 49 still ahead of us. The calendar is filling up with events in Washington, Oregon and California, the first three states we’ll be visiting. But Old Blue is hungry now! We’ve got to feed the beast to keep on moving. Buy your copy online, then we can put your town on our map and we might just be swinging by!
We ferried back to the lower 48 on August 28th and have a week’s time before we continue the Blue Collar Book Tour in Seatlle, Washington, where we’re a guest of the Flagship REI. We’ll be giving a presentation of life on the road and will be doing book sales and signings before and after the event. There is still space available if you want to be part of this event!
Before I sat down to work on another update of our website, I decided to take my own advice and "flew a kite." Enjoy the journey with us, and when you're done flying your kite, buy a copy of "A Pedouin Life - Stop and Smell the Artichokes", by clicking here, to share with your friends and family, to give as a great, true American Christmas gift, or to enjoy for yourself in a comfortable lounge chair on one of the last summer days of the year.
We’re playing catch-up for just a little while longer:
Tuesday-Sunday, August 16-21 of 2011 From Dawson Creek, BC, to Gabriola Island, BC
After seeing the sights in Dawson Creek, we head east to Grande Prairie, Alberta. In short, we hardly ever take the shortest route to our destination. This time we're making a detour via Jasper National Park to see the Icefields Parkway.
Alberta, Wild Rose Country.
Yeller is by our side.
The sun sets behind us.
An almost full moon rises over Grande Prairie.
We spent the night in the Walmart parking lot in Grande Prairie. Before we take on the road again, we put our stickers on the side of Old Blue. We want to pick up a sticker from every state and province we go through, but sofar have only managed to secure a sticker for Canada and British Columbia. Alaska, Yukon and Alberta were sold out! Keeps us in mind when you spot them somewhere else!
On the roadside: Indian Paintbrush and Clover.
More roadside beauty.
Creek stop!
"Can we bring these rocks? Pretty pleeeeease?"
On the Bighorn Route, from Grande Prairie to the Yellowhead Highway.
Down the road a bit.
And a bit further.
Framed by Yeller.
What on earth happend here?
Getting closer to Jasper NP.
Voor jou Sas.
From a different point of view.
Arrival in Jasper.
First view of the Icefields Parkway.
Read the sign.
Looking the other way.
A fresh coating of snow covers the mountaintops, when we wake up in the morning at the Kerkeslin Campground.
View from the Kerkeslin campground.
Robin "drives" Old Blue.
We're staying all day in the park, slowly driving south, stopping at every beautiful turn off.
The Athabasca River.
What looks like snow along the road, is actually a patch of flowers gone to seed.
Sunwapta Falls.
Nature's finest.
Raindrops.
Top to bottom.
Glacier alert.
From upclose.
Wildlife...
Canadian entrepreneurs!
Robin keeps her eyes on the goat.
What a "goat" view.
Glacier in view.
Robin has her eyes on the glacier.
A freh wind blows down the glacier.
Robin on the rocks.
Heading for the bridge (board is more like it) over the glacier run off.
Pedouin girls cross glacier run-off.
On the Athabasca glacier, which is part of the Columbia Icefield.
Hands on the glacier.
Feet on the glacier.
Chilly!
Happy Birthday Omke Watte!
Cheyenne is building a shepards memorial near the glacier.
Glacier rocks.
Flowers near the glacier.
Dwarf fireweed near the glacier.
Same area, different view.
A flower patch graces the area below the mountain.
How small we are in nature's picture.
With the glacier in our rearview mirror, we're starting down the road again.
Mountain view.
The road goes through the valley below.
Somehow we've got to make it to the bridge. It's a steep drive down.
On the valley floor.
...
At Mistaya Canyon. "The river has worn a deep, twisting gorge into the limestone bedrock," says the Milepost.
Nature's beauty with man's ingenuity.
Pine trees cast a shadow on the canyon walls.
The canyon is so deep and windy, that you can't always see the water below.
The beginning of the canyon.
From Mistaya Canyon, Old Blue takes us slowly up to Bow Summit, at an elevation of 6,849 feet. From there, a small hiking trail takes us to the turquoise blue Peyto Lake. At a description sign, it tells us that the light reflects the blue and green colors off of rock particles (rock flour), giving the lake its color.
Bow Lake, at the foot of the Crowfoot Glacier.
Through Yeller's spinning front wheel.
Bill at the wheel once again.
At Mosquito Creek campground, where we camp with the Hughes family from Ontario.
Kaleb pushes Robin around on a bike.
Half moon over the rocks.
Frost covers the ground.
Parked in the sun for breakfast.
Cheyenne and Jasmine take Marley for a walk.
There is always another creek to dam up.
The sunny side.
The island princess.
Jenna and Kaleb hop on the Pedouin Express back to their campground.
Another clear blue day guides us on our way. We've left the Icefields Parkway and are driving the Trans-Canada Highway 1 to the west.
"Better gear down Bill!"
That's quite a cut.
Look at that, a herd of Bighorn Sheep. Let's pull over and watch them for a while.
That would have been nice, to look at them for a while, if it had not been for Old Blue deciding it was time to backfire! They were off in a split second after that!
One of the avalanche tunnels.
Avalanche evidence.
From the steep mountains of the rockies, we arrive in the dry desert like area of Kamloops. South of her is the Okanagan, where lots of fruits grow.
Kamloops by night.
Breakfast high above Kamloops Lake. Today we're going to drive the Sea to Sky highway (in our case Sky to Sea), which will take us from Cache Creek, Lillooet and Whistler to Horseshoe bay, where we catch the ferry to Vancouver Island.
We're back in snake territory.
Crossing the tracks.
Robin tries to lure the horses at Hat Creek Ranch, just before we're heading down the Sea to Sky Highway.
Winding road ahead.
Distances in kilometers.
The canyon through which the Frazer river flows is visible through Yeller's spokes.
We wonder how long the electric cables are that span from mountain to mountain.
Gulp. Follow the road down.
It's already a hairy road, winding its way along the canyon, a 10% downhill adds quite a bit of excitement.
Shadow of Old Blue and Yeller.
Several one lane bridges are part of this highway.
We're climbing and climbing.
Playing Uno with Robin.
Tense moments on the Lillooet.
Am I in the dog house?
We made it to the top, now all we have to do is get back down...
Jasmine enjoys a good hand of cards.
Put it in Granny gear Bill!
Ten degrees all of a sudden doesn't look so bad anymore, after we've just come down a 13 percent one.
The girls enjoy the ride.
Crossing Cayoosh creek.
We pull off the road after crossing another one lane bridge, to let the traffic go by. To our surprise we hear a call from one of the vehicles: "Berea!" What are the chances to meet a neighbor of friends right here in the wilderness?
Welcome on board Gwynneth en Ken! So fun to meet you out here!
Avalanche zone ahead.
Driving along Duffey Lake.
Duffey Lake.
A great break at Duffey Lake.
Warmed by the sun, cooled by the water.
Jasmine at the lake.
Our book is going to Switzerland!
Wading in Duffey Lake. What are boots for anyway?
Time to empty the boots.
Trying to catch all the numbers.
I think we got the picture!
Eye on the coastal range.
Another one, but not as threatening.
OMG! And the smell of brakes are still in the air from the previous downhills.
Bill is taking a deeeeep breath before tackling this hill.
Flashers are on.
Just came down this steep mountain road. The brakes are hot!
Yeller's brakes are still cool...
The Lillooet mountain range is behind us.
As the steep mountains are now behind us, we expect the coastal range to be at least as challenging. This turns out not to be true. The roads are wide, the inclines and downhills not so bad (especially considering we just came down a 15% one), before we know it we're past Whistler.
We get a beautiful view of the Coastal Range, before we find a Walmart in Squamish to stay for the night.
We wake up early to drive the last 30 miles to the Horseshoe Bay ferry port. There we'll catch the ferry to Vancouver Island, before catching another ferry to Gabriola Island.
We're taking the right way.
Taking to the water again.
Icecream aboard ship.
Arrival on Gabriola Island where we spend a week at the Slow Rise Bakery.
The Blue Collar Book Tour continues with our first engagement at the REI Seattle on Tuesday September 6th from 6pm till closing time.
Sunday-Saturday, August 21-27 of 2011 Making holes on Gabriola Island
You’ve got to love a child’s mind. We came to Gabriola Island to help Paul and Michelle get their back room ready to become a kitchen. This meant lots of holes in the walls, moving windows around, structurally improving walls and building a pass through between future kitchen and current dining room. Lots of noise, quite a mess, and after a week’s work, the observation from a child’s point of view was: “There are big holes in the walls, but where is the kitchen?”
We're back at the Slow Rise Bakery.
Fresh bread and vegetables await our arrival, as well as the company of friends!
Bill is ready to make some holes.
This is where the pass through is going to be.
It's a dusty job taking out the drywall.
...only to discover a hotch potch wall of jerry riggin'.
This window opening becomes a door opening (temporarily filled with another window while the doors are being made).
Michelle observes our handy work (our = Bill, Paul, Michelle and myself; we worked on the project together while the girls were at yoga camp). The wall with the pass through is structurally improved, the window-to-door opening is ready for the door.
Robin and Bill enjoy the end result.
The end result is a totally changed home.
While we're working on the kitchen, the girls' time is filled with yoga camp and outdoor activities.
Cheyenne and Robin are having fun playing with Rosie.
Jasmine decides on the color nail polish Thea is going to paint her finger nails with.
Thea teaches Jasmine how to make a doll with sticks and leaves.
Girly gathering on the trampoline.
After we leave Gabriola Island, we spend a day in Victoria before hopping back on the ferry to Port Angeles to put our feet back on US soil.
