Bella Comes Home (e-mail)
Well if this were a Newspaper, the Headlines would read:
BELLA LEAVING FOR MIDWEST CITY, OKLAHOMA
We really enjoy having your class' friends join us on our family excursions. And it was great how it turned out that Max was able to go to Michigan, then on to England, and then on an Alaskan Cruise and finally to Canada. We know it couldn't be helped that they got off to a slow start this past year, but we're praying that things will go better for you and the class this coming school year.
Bella should be leaving this afternoon or tomorrow morning and hopefully arriving in Oklahoma around Tuesday or Wednesday (8/21 or 8/22). We're going to miss her, but we're hoping the children will enjoy having her back even more. Attached is a group shot of all of Bella's friends that threw her a "going away" party. Notice, even Gilbert's cousin, Frankie, was there.
Along with Bella, I've enclosed a CD with well over 200 pictures. I have some Video also, but I'll still need another week to edit through it. I'll forward that on when I've finished.
The Journal should be pretty well inclusive, at least for the major things that happened. We've included some souvenirs (coins) from Strom Thurmond Dam. Hopefully we made enough for everyone in class.
We've also included some information on the places we visited. Some for the class and maybe some for the other teachers. The Kellogg's Mansion was of exceptional interest.
We didn't exactly know what to use as a theme this year, but 'fish' sort of came to mind. So we sent a couple of book (booklets) on sea animals from Sea World that you may be able to use in class. We think they will especially love the Sea World picture packet.
A RECAP of HIGHLIGHTS from the JOURNAL:
3/03/07 Arrived in Sun City Center Florida
3/05/07 Got to see Manatee at the Tampa Electric Power Plant
3/06/07 Went to Sea World in Orlando Florida
3/07/07 Max left for Michigan with Ms Ginny & Ms Julie
4/05/07 Left for Michigan - stayed in Knoxville overnight
4/07/07 Colored Easter Eggs
4/08/07 Happy Easter
4/13/07 Thought we we're going to see Max, but he had already left for England
4/14/07 Left Michigan for Greenville South Carolina to visit Ms Vivian
4/17/07 Left Greenville South Carolina
4/22/07 Attended a Birthday Party in Lake Whales Florida - everyone dressed as Pirates.
5/28/07 Went to Coquina Beach near Siesta Key in Florida.
6/21/07 Went to Epcot Center in Orlando Florida
6/22/07 Spent only a couple of hours at Sea World (2nd time)
7/19/07 Left for Michigan a 2nd time. Aunt Mary's 90th Birthday Party
7/24/07 Left Dearborn Michigan for Homer Michigan. (West of Marshall)
7/25/07 Left Homer for Gull Lake in Hickory Corners Michigan. (between Battlecreek & Kalamazoo)
7/27/07 Went to the Kellogg Mansion
7/27/07 Drove to South Haven Michigan. (about 1 1/2 hours away) On Lake Michigan
7/28/07 Mr Frank tried getting up on ski's (maybe next year)
7/30/07 Left Michigan for Greenville South Carolina (again)
8/04/07 Met up with Ms Gwen and her brother Mr Geoff in Simpsonville
8/06/07 Picked up Ms Gwen and left South Carolina for Florida (home)
8/12/07 Going away party for Bella
Thanks again for the opportunity to be a part of your class project. If there is anything else we can do for you or the class, just let us know. Gwen, Cleo and Nell also express there having fun with Bella this year as well.
Hopefully you received my last Email. It may have been after school had gotten out already !
Frank
WHO'S WHO IN THE PICTURE:
Gwen Mackenzie Bella Bunny Jenny
Fluffy Frankie Midway Edie
Daisy Morgan Judy Donna
Carey "Dust" Bunny Murphy Beary
Posted by: Gilbert
comments (20)
Victoria, British Columbia
Coach trip from Vancouver to Victoria, where the Titanic Exhibition was on show - see boarding pass.
Then the magnificent Borcharst Gardens - they are in an old quarry and reminded me a little of the Eden Project but smaller and in the open air.
260 kilometers
Posted by: Gilbert
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Vancouver, British Columbia
A 9:00 a.m. start for our visit to Capilano bridge and Grouse Mountain. I got a certificate for crossing the steel rope and wood suspension bridge. It was very scary! Then up in the clouds to the mountain - saw 2 grizzleys and some wolves. (I was glad they were in a pen!) Also some wonderful cedar wood carvings in huge trunks of the trees. I chatted to a carver who was woring on a mask and plaited bark for the top knot of the mask.
The first Nation People's name for Capilano is Kia-Pillara, the Squamish name for Sacred Mountain.
36 kilometers
Posted by: Gilbert
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Back aboard the Big Red Bus to China Town where we enjoyed the Daoist garden with it's peace and tranquility in the heart of such a busy area.
Back on the bus to Granville Island. All local organic produce from local farmers.
Posted by: Gilbert
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Disembarked at 9:45 a.m. and off to our totel base for 3 days. A hot, humid day. Visited Gastown, China Town and the ferry terminal and had lunch when we visited the beautiful Stanley Park - the largest urban park in the whole North America!
A lot of trees were down after the storms and high winds in May.
Posted by: Gilbert
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Inside Passage, Alaska
Still cruising the Inside Passage. A calm, still, bright and sunshiny day.
More sea birds and wonderful, deeply carved mountains with snow on the peaks and in the valleys - very beautiful scenery. We are now too far south to see whales anymore. To Vanciouver - where we tie up in the morning at 7:00 a.m. My last night aboard.
Posted by: Gilbert
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Inside Passage, Alaska
We are all at sea today cruising the Inside Passage southwards to vancouver.
I was keeping watch and was the first to spot some porpoises alongside. We also saw 2 whale spouts away in the distance, ducks, petrels and seagulls.
Posted by: Gilbert
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Skagway, Alaska
Very windy
After a morning shopping we took a coach ride city tour to the base camp for the gold rush and had a baked salmon lunch under the trees at Liarsville* - so called because the news reporters made all of their stories of gold find up! We did pan for gold and I'm sending it to you. We sat under the trees for our entertainment of old folk tales and songs.
Back on the coach to the cemetery and more tales of old rogues of the gold rush days.
*This was the last chance for the prospectors to do any laundry for 6 months!
Bald eagles were cruising the forest near where we tied up for dinner.
Posted by: Gilbert
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Juneau, Alaska
Early morning in Juneau. Took a walk in teh rain to the museum and learned a lot about the changes of name of the city - the capital of Alaska. We were glad to reembark out of the rain.
Off to Tracy Arm P.M. It was scary! There were so many ice floes our captain was worried about damage to the propellars so we turned around and came back to the Inside Passage and are up to Skagway.
Posted by: Gilbert
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Ketchikan, Alaska
Cloudy and cool
Today we took a horse drawn buggy ride around our first land fall. I stopped at so many interesting places that I have included a map (#2) for you to check out.
I took the lines for the horses and sat up front with a real rusky dog. He was pleased to have a fellow canine on board!
Posted by: Gilbert
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Bella's Travel Journal
Gilbert's Travel Journal
Max's Travel Journal
