A Day of Successes (aka) NANAIMO or BUST

19:59 hrs.
30 June 14

     Up with the birds, the day started slow with some fine coffee and an episode of HOUSE OF CARDS on Netflix. If you like political intrigue, especially the slimy back stabbing variety, there is nothing that compare to American politics. And Kevin Spacey is fantastic in his role.
By the time everyone else crawled out if bed Ivan was standing at the door. We had planned a road trip and to keep THING 1 happy we invited his pal to join us. Thing 2 didn't need any extra encouragement.  He likes to go on outings. The surliness gene hasn't raised its ugly head yet.

     While the BETTER HALF and I puttered at some yard stuff Things 1 & 2, along with Ivan's help, delivered the local TATTLER, the twice a week whiners rag. As soon as they were done it was off to the races. Within an hour we pulled up at our first stop in Nanaimo to do some minor shopping with the adults going one way and the Three Caballeros going 180° in the opposite direction. Naturally. Twenty minutes later we regrouped and headed to location #2 where we broke for lunch.

     Other than the minor but necessary shopping mission the second reason for the trip was to meet up with an old friend from back home. He and his family live at the south end of the ISLAND and we get to see each other a couple times a year. He too had his kids late in life. In fact, just today he was bemoaning the fact that "Freedom 55 will be more like Freedom 75 by the time they're done their schooling". How right he is.

     My buddy and kids are vacationing Mid-ISLAND so we decided to meet them at RIPTIDE LAGOON in Parksville. It has a double mini golf course. Two complete 18 hole courses to challenge your putting abilities. After the trouncing Ivan had leveled upon us during the previous mini golf match it was decided that his skills would be severely tested this time around. In the end my BETTER HALF and I shared first place with a score of four over par while Ivan was another eleven strokes back.

So There!!
    
     And another point. Does it make sense to go out on a hot day doing outside activities while wearing black?  My Darling Dearest referred to them as the Three Johnny Cash's. The Men (wannabees) in Black.

     Then, all the boys and My Darling Dearest decided to jump on the bumper cars. The cars are slow and more for younger kids whose head doesn't go above the seat back and thus reducing the likelihood of whiplash. This makes them good for old people too. Take a look at the following pics.