Back in Canada--Dessie's First Summer!

Waskesiu Lake, SK

Opening the parcels we had sent home to my Dad's from India! 

The last year has been fantastic. Following our travels, we spent a month living with my Dad and Marcia where we did a trip out to Waskesiu for a BBQ and spring dip in the icy cold Canadian lake, toured boom-town at the Western Development Museum, went to Wanuskewin where Dessie tried his first Bison Burger and saw a pow-wow and of course caught up with all my dear friends. We were able to be there to watch David graduate and celebrate with him. 

David and Des in tee-pee at Wanuskewin 

Des and buffalo

Dessie eating his first bison burger

Des enjoying the old cars like his Grandpa used to drive in Ireland (Western Development Museum, Saskatoon)

 David's grad celebrations at the Freehouse! (Followed by a dinner to Calories)

BBQ at Waskesiu

David and I out for a spring swim in the freezing lake!

 We then headed out west with David and Drew. David and Drew drove David’s budget truck and Des and I drove David’s purple bullet! We drove in convoy all the way to Jasper, AB where we had an awesome night in the rockies! Then Des and I began our hunt for wedding venues! We were intending on having a winter wedding in the mountains and therefore explored the best ski resorts in Canada!

David in the moving truck! On our way! 

The 3D's in Jasper

Des and I explored Jasper, Lake Louise, Emerald Lake Lodge, Fernie, Kimberely, Panorama and Kicking Horse (Golden). Our favourite was Kicking Horse (that is, until we arrived on VANCOUVER ISLAND!) The road trip was surreal. So much beauty and vastness that I had forgotten existed in Canada! We saw plenty of wildlife including moose, a mother bear with her cubs, deer, elk and mountain goats. It was great to see the wildlife bridges as crossings built along the highway in hopes of giving the animals a safe route to the opposite side.

Moose

Mother bear with her cubs

Taking a good look at us as she ate her dandelions!

Wildlife crossings

Mountain Goats

Emerald Lake Lodge resort

I love Canadian Trains! 

Lake Louise

Radium Hot Springs

David and Drew in front of us on the road in the budget truck

Train tunnels in the mountain

Leaving Kicking Horse

Kimberley Town

Kimberley ski resort 

Panorama

Kicking horse mountain villlage

We met Drew and David in Vancouver where we explored Stanley Park, Gastown (the first place I actually brought Des accidentally was Hastings Street with all the drug addicts and prostitutes—oops!), and Granville Island. Des got a real taste for hockey when the Canucks played in the playoff finals while we were in Vancouver and riots broke out! It was great watching the games in Vancouver and the buzz in the city was unreal! I missed hockey! 

Watching the Canucks during playoffs

The 3 D's and I on Granville Island

Putting on the Canuck tatoos for the big game!

Celebrations after the win! 

Tatoo'd up! 

Downtown Van.

Go Canucks Go! on the buses

Des discovers Howe Sound beer!

Canada Place, Vancouver 

Des and I then took the ferry out to Vancouver Island where we met my dearest mother and Graham and we were spoilt with home cooking and hospitality! We then moved our stuff in to the place David had lined up for us on Cook Street, Victoria. It was a beautiful little quaint apartment in the Hampton House. Mom helped us get settled in and life was truly great. I love that city. So much beauty and character and not to mention a 45 minute drive from Mom and Graham in Arbutus Ridge!

On the ferry

Our apartment in Victoria

We re-assessed the winter wedding idea as Vancouver Island reminded us of the beauty in Canada’s summer-time (and many of Dessie’s family had been to Banff in the winter years before so this would be a truly different experience) Also little miss Maia was coming along in February and we wanted to make sure everyone could be there--including her! 

In late June, after doing some research we discovered a resort in Parksville on the island called Tigh-Na-Mara (Gaelic for house by the sea—coincidence, I think not!) We decided it was the place for us! With a year to our wedding we got busy and I began working at an Oyster Bar called “The Oyster” in Victoria Harbour.