I made the mistake of asking for directions to the Tapas bar where I was meeting Tania and Joanne Windle (Spruceland Colleague). I was apparently 15 metres from the restaurant and on the actually street that I was looking for but she directed me up the road about 2 kms before my spidey senses kicked in and I went back. I bumped into Tania and we loaded my bike in the car as well as my stuff. I brought my "human being" costume so I could change and look slightly presentable. Always present though, are my plastic bag wallet and plastic bag valise. Very Hobo-chic this year! Tania looked well rested and it was great to see Joanne again. For some reason, I thought she was still at Heather Park but she had moved to Winnipeg 2 years ago and was enjoying it. Now if she could just do something about that deadbeat husband of hers... We had a smapling of octopus skewers, spicy salad and a 5 inch thick Tortilla. They also had Ashai beer, A great night. Tania sneaked away and bought me dinner again! A true hero! We finished up with dessert at "Baked Expectations" which I initially thought was a head shop front where Joanne and Tania got all their drugs during univerisity but it turned out to be a dessert shop posing as a restaurant. I should mention that within about 30 seconds of me crossing over into the Osbourne district, I got offered pot to buy. When I turned it down, he asked me where I was coming from and going to, then commented that he suppossed it wasn't in the budget for me on the trip.
The highlight for me after dinner was simply sitting in Tania's car and being driven around. We did get to go to the legislature and saw the fossils in the limestone columns. Very cool!
We got back to her sister Pauline's place. Reg is a crop-duster pilot but the couple have numerous business interests. They also had 3 kids whom I met just briefly but they seemed like good kids. We had a drink in the back porch by the river and watched the sun go down. Interesting to see Tania's siblings. Same good sense of humour and love of laughter. Reg came back later and provided very valuable advice on the roads up ahead. HE appreciated the Gimli Glider incident and talked about how other pilots failed on the re-creation of the event. We talked 'til it was way past dark and then I pitched the tent on the lawn and tried to entice Tania's boxer dogs in for a cuddle but they were not having it! I thought dogs liked smelly stuff!!?? An issue of concern for me, and I feel a little akward talking about it in such a public forum is that when I tired to take Pauline and Reg's picture, there images would not re-create. I laughed it off in my head but after the 3rd attempt (inside the house even!!), it didn't work and I was thinking, "I just had drinks with vampires on the back porch!!!!". I also tried to take a picture of the boxers but they too had been turned unfortunately. Later the next day, I happily discovered that the boxers had not been turned and as for Tania, well, I guess the blood alcohol content is too high for even the un-dead to enjoy! :)